Still in the line in Calonne, Sherriff wrote to his mother to thank her for the parcel he had just received. He had particularly enjoyed the Veda bread [a soft, sweet, malted bread] that she had sent: ‘We had a dinner party last night and it came as a most pleasant surprise – it is such a change to this unsubstantial French bread and ration bread.’

He told her that he knew how much it cost to send his parcels, and that she should economise, by only sending small parcels with the cheapest things in:

‘I have heard how expensive things now are and I know what a difficulty it must be to get these things – so I will always appreciate anything you send me – the greater pleasure is not in getting a lot from you, dear, it is the idea of it coming from home that makes it nice. That Veda bread is really delicious and if it is not expensive I should love some more – everyone likes it.’

He told her that he was now Mess President to the Company, which involved a great deal of work in keeping accounts and laying in provisions, and promised to tell her more in his next letter.

[Next letter: 6 March]