A.A. Laporte Payne letter 27 February 1917

B.E.F.

France.

Feb 27 1917.

Dearest,

Please forgive scribbled note in pencil. I make no excuses for it so you must please pardon it.  Thank you so much for your two parcels of cigarettes and chocolate.  You are really a very naughty girl to spoil me so.  Think what I shall become.

We are in the midst of handing over so you can imagine the confusion & worse still as I am acting as adjutant as well as trying to cope with my other duties, but I am afraid they are left to look after themselves.

Last night we had a lively time and the Boche must have been very uncomfortable. No doubt you will see a reference to it in the papers.

Yesterday I started work in the office about 9 a.m. and finished at 3 a.m. this morning so now I am not in very good form. Thank heavens the Colonel has not worried me much.

I should very much like to go to sleep for a month with just you to look after me. But that is not likely to happen, I am afraid.  It would be such a delightful change to piles of papers, worn pencils, noisy telephones and typewriters.  What an awful grumbler I am.

I ought to be most thankful that I am not on duty in the front line in this mud and general unpleasantness but such is human nature or at least my nature.

How are you keeping? Quite alright I hope.  Is Mrs. Cross better?  I do hope so.  I am so sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Griffin.  How did you get on in your errand?  I like to think of you doing such things.  They are the only things worth doing.

Yes I remember a cousin called ‘Tim’. So she is staying with you now.  I hope she will look after you well – but could anyone do that!

I must close now as I cannot write to you properly when I am being interupted all the time.

Au revoir

With love & kisses

Ever yours

Archie.