By 27 October 1939 Frank had moved with the Battery HQ from Epernay to the village of Villers-Marmery.
The Unit Diary records that the Battery was ordered to leave all its stores behind when it left Bramley in Hampshire on 8 October 1939. As a result no cooking utensils were avaialble which as the Diary records resulted in"inadequate feeding of the men." As of 27 October 1939 cooking utensils were still not available and whilst on route across France the facilities are described as "difficult and on many occasions nil." The diary entry concludes by saying that there have been no complaints as the troops have supplemented their rations at their own expense.
This letter was started on 27 October 1939. The final part will be posted shortly.


27/10/39 Started

881937 Gnr. Faulkner
157/53 ANTI AIRCRAFT
Regt. R.A.
c/o Army Post Office

Dear All,
During the last day or two I have had no less than 4 letters and 1 card either from Edie or Dad and I don't know how to thank you for such an array. Both Dad and Edie mention a parcel which I am pleased to say arrived safely this-evening. It is a fine assortment and I can assure Edie that the contents will be and the thought is much appreciated. Two or three of us devoured a packet of those 'Maltese' chocolates before you could say Jack Robinson. Not that we were hungry, having just had tea, but just that it was something different.

I must also mention how surprised I was getting a SIX-page letter in with it, too, after receiving all the other correspondence. A letter which Edie wrote me on the 12th October and post marked '13th' arrived yesterday: I think it was written the day before I had my 24 hrs. leave! The rest of the post is arriving o.k., usually 3 days after it is posted.