Writing to his mother, he told her of the trip he had taken to Bethune the day before, and apologised for having been unable to find anything suitable to buy for her, apart from a souvenir knife he was sending her – ‘it is made with a French bullet as a handle with a French military button on top.’

He then thanked her – as he had Pips the day before – for the ‘fine parcel’ he had received, with ‘exactly the things I like best, and to make things better there was the gold pin that I shall always treasure, and the book and cigarette holders as well that will also become my constant companions.’ He continued later in the letter:

‘You have done everything in your power to make things happy for me at Xmas and you have not tried in vain, dear, for who could not be happy when one thinks of the dear home waiting for me and how well you all treat me – it is impossible to explain how much I appreciate everything dear – I must simply wait until the time comes when I can show you by treating you as well as you have treated me.’

Another view of Bethune, from a postcard sent home by Sherriff. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (From Memories of Active Service, Vol 2, facing page 387; Ref: 2332/3/9/3/4)

He was now very confident that he would be spending Christmas in his present post [the Battalion having moved back into the line the day before, where they would expect to remain for 6 days or more]. He and the other officers had ordered ‘a stock of good things’ which, supplemented by the things that he had received in his parcel, ‘ought to make things pretty happy – or as happy as it can possibly be’. He only wished that he could ‘indulge in that old pleasure of stockings – but if it is denied us this year, I hope it won’t be next.’ The only thing he could thing of to ask from her was a packet of quill toothpicks – ‘not a very elegant thing to ask for, is it dear?’

In addition to the letter to his mother, he sent a quick not to Pips, letting him know that he was finally sending him the postcards he had bought for him. Unfortunately, he was being forced to ‘obliterate the names of the places’, by order of the censor, so Pips would have to wait ‘until after the war when I will tell you if I know them’.

[Next letter: 20 December]