Nov 23^rd 18

My Dear Father

I am writing this letter back in our own lines again no longer a prisoner of war; arrived here yesterday.

It is grand to be free again & to see the back of Jerry; there is plenty to tell you & I shall no doubt have a lot of news to hear from you.  We do not know what has been happening in the world for the last eight months.  I am just anxious to get home now which I do not think will be very long.

You will be glad to know I received your private parcel last Monday week & I thank you all very much for the contents.  You may guess what went first the chocolate it was jolly good.  The razor goes fine it was a treat to be able to have a good shave also to clean ones teeth again.

Tell Peter the pipe goes fine.  I am sorry I did not receive any of the cigarettes Ciss sent for me but it took anything so long to come & just as we were getting started with parcels the war finishes; but it is a great blessing to think it is over it is what we have all been longing for.  I had a grocery parcel the same day as yours came that was the second one.

Well Dad how are you all in the dear old home-land I hope merry & bright.

It is a great to see our army rations again we are expecting a cigarette issue to-night.  I saw some of our boys to-day going through here they looked very smart after Jerry’s army & a bit different to what we look at present it is a case of holes in me coat & patches &c rather thin but we shall soon pull up now we are back with our own people again.  I am looking forward to some more good feeds of turkey ** again soon also some good old currant duffs.  Cheerio it will not be long now & we will make things lazy.

Have you heard from Southend lately I hope Albert, Affie & Joyce are quite well give them my love & tell them I will write soon if possible but I do not know the rules yet & I think we shall only be staying here a day or two.

Please remember me to Mr. & Mrs. Darvill & family I hope they are all well, I wrote in answer to his letter but I found out afterwards that the mail never went as we had to leave our camp in a great hurry owing to our boys advancing.

Well I think I must finish now. Keep smiling.  I hope you are in the best of health also Jess, Ethel & Winnie & all at the Anchor & I hope we shall all be able to drink our health there soon in a little drop of whiskey.  I believe we get a rum issue to-night.

Am going for a walk round the town now there are plenty of fine shops here & the flags are all flying.

So Au revoir

With much love from

Your devoted

Son

P.S. Have just seen two English papers the first since we were captured.