7/12/39 4.

881937 Gnr. Faulkner
157 HAA Battery RA
53rd HAA Regt. R.A.
A.A.S.F.
British Expeditionary Force

Dear Edie,

Your parcel, sent on the 30th, arrived safely and undamaged yesterday together with Dad's letter of the 1st (post stamped 2nd). Thank (you) very much. The small cakes certainly made a change and a few which I gave away at teatime (just after they arrived) were certainly enjoyed. Fancy you still having apples in your store!

I also received your P.C. 3 days ago saying that you were busy with decorators in the house.

You mention leave in your letter but I am still unable to say anything definite on the subject. One thing is fairly certain and that is that married men will get preference. There seems a reasonable chance that a small percentage of the men will get Xmas leave but even if I am unlucky for that period I know I shall have quite as good a time when I do get leave. You'd better keep the paper-chains and balloons stored ready for the occasion!

To go back to cakes, perhaps a seed one would be nice. Fortunately the people of this country don't shrink from people picking their teeth! But you say that you and Anne are making me a Christmas cake so the seedy one may be expected in the New Year some time.

The weather turned warmer after the brief fall of snow but we've had a fair amount of rain and cloudy weather. Today has turned out fresh and sunny. Is Ernie keeping well in spite of the soakings he gets on his motorbike?

Sorry to hear about Anne's cold but you don't sound very worried so perhaps it wasn't too bad. I hope she is better now.

The scarf is very nice and I shall certainly keep it and look after it. I don't need slippers - thanks. I still have those I bought soon after our arrival in these parts but I don't wear them much now as it would mean changing into boots every time I go to meals (usually it's wet under-foot). The main billets are about 2/3 minutes walk from the Battery Office and we feed there.

The building we sleep in is not a factory. I don't know what it's used for normally. The building has large rooms which were completely bare when we arrived. Anyhow, we are in the dry and it's warm in the office where we have an iron stove.

I've bought some presents for you and will be posting them during the next few days. Nothing very expensive but it's something and I hope you will like them. Nevertheless, I could do with a £1 as Christmas is coming so perhaps you will ask Dad to take it out of my P.O. Book, please. Don't let him do anything rash because I'd rather it was my own money.

The ------------- are not around here but I'll keep my eyes open for John Rutherford.

I shall be writing to Dad in a day or two so anything I have forgotten will be included in that.

Thanks again for the parcel - I had the Mars while writing this.

Fond love to you all and xxxxxxx for Anne.

Frank

p.s. Am quite fit and well. F.