Still in the line, Sherriff wrote a short letter to his mother, and began by thanking her for the parcel he had received that very morning:

Sherriff’s mother, in nurses uniform. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (Ref: 2332/6/6/3)

‘The Veda Bread came in for its usual share of applause as also did the chocolate biscuits…I love that photo of you in your nurse’s uniform, I think it is one of the best that you have had taken so far although the little one in the leather case wants a lot of beating – I have carried that in my pocket ever since I found it in my stocking the Xmas before last.’

He told her that he was keeping the new photo in the case that his Company Commander [Tetley] had given him [ to commemorate their time under heavy fire on New Year’s Day]. It was a very good photo indeed, he thought  (‘Jones is really quite a good man at photos’) [Chaplin Jones was a well-known Kingston photographer].

He promised a longer letter when he came out of the line again, which he hoped would be very soon.

[Next letters: 2 April]