291494 C. Coy
19th Reserve Batt'n
C.E.F.
c/o Army Post Office
London

Jan 28/17
Seaford Camp
Sussex

My Dear Betty:-

Your letter No 22 to hand this afternoon Sunday. I may say that I am feeling O.K. again after nearly two weeks on the sick list. I am sorry that you do not seem to be getting my letters regularly, I am writing at least two letters per week, I am getting yours right along, I generally get one on Tuesdays & another on Sunday, these are the days I look forward to. I am sorry dear that you are working so hard & wish I were there to do your outside work & the furnace - my won't it be nice to get back again to our old home life! yet it will be different, for I believe it will be better if I should be spared to return (which God grant) for certainly my home will be appreciated as never before, & I always loved it, though perhaps I have not demonstrated the fact as I might have done, & you dear may appreciate possessing a husband, however you have already given & are giving eloquent proof of your devotion & love for the home & all that the term stands for, the thought has occurred to me Betty that it might be nice when I return, to take a trip out the coast, it would be a nice change for you, & possible I might be able to get a church out there somewhere, I think we shall be fairly well fixed financially, however there is time enough to think about that. My wouldn't I like to have a romp with Billy Boy & Shirley girlie. I'm afraid they will be forgetting their daddy am glad Mattie is so much better & I do hope that he operation (which I suppose by now is over) will effect a permanent cure, was very very sorry to hear of Ruby & hope that the trouble will pass away. Oh by the way sugar has come down to $5.oo has it not? perhaps you had better get a sack. Am looking forward to receiving my next parcel - my socks are in good condition as yet so that you can let up on them for awhile. I am certainly getting lots of comfort out of the pyjamas, & am very, very I brought them with me, also I still have the feather cushion & don't know what I should do without it. I might tell you by way of information that I have been lousie more than once, so you are not the only one to be so bothered, this is certainly is a rough - rough life without any comfort whatever. I am looking forward to going on 6 days leave, to Sheffield this time, so will, I hope write some longer letters & send more picture cards, it is almost impossible to sit down & write satisfactory letters in the hut - there are Twenty Five other sergeants in the room, so you may guess something of what it is like, you can't concentrate your mind. I hope also to see some of my old friends & visit some of the old boyhood's scenes I am glad to have the opportunity, tell Shirley I'll be visiting the school I first went to as a little boy just about her age. I'll tell her about it in a letter. Am sorry to say that we sergeants etc of our Battalion are having some pretty unfair treatment meted out to us. I told you that the 222nd & 196th had been amalgamated into the 222nd Reserve Battalion = The Col of the 196th "McKay" has command with the result that the 196th men are getting everything in the way of promotions = My name has been sent in twice now for commission, & was chosen (one of four) out of the Battalion to go to the School, but with the breaking up of the 222 the thing seems to be at a standstill, I am tempted to give up my stripes in order to go the front, & certainly will unless I get some satisfaction in the very near future. I am not bothering so much for myself, I would as leave stay as I am, but I would like to have got it for your sake, it may come alright yet though. Am glad dear that you have the phone at last, it will be very handy for you, & almost as good as company. If I were you I would let most of the plants go, they are too much work for you, I suppose anyway they will be dead before Spring. About the garden, you had better get some-one to bring you a load of well-rotted manure & spread on -then have it forked or spaded in - it will pay you to do so, I wish I could put it in for you dear, but please God another spring I'll be there, won't be glad to get planting onions etc again. Well I have just got my pass for Sheffield, so I expect to get away tomorrow Monday, & shall return Sunday, I may possibly spend a couple of days in London, wish I could show you around, the pleasure would be increased a thousand fold, for my thoughts are all of you & the kiddies, "God bless them", & I find myself saying again & again to myself when visiting some historic spot "Oh if Betty were only with me". Oh here is an interesting thing on Friday I had the pleasure of walking out to the village of Alfriston about 6 miles away, & famous as being the place where King Alfred burnt the cakes, you will remember the story it was a pretty & very gallant old fashioned village. Must close now sweetheart Remember me to your Mother - Mattie & Ruby & all the rest that you may see My fondest-fondest love to my dear wife & darling children God bless & keep you

your loving husband & Daddy

Betty xxxxxxxxxx
Shirley xxxxxxxxxx
Billy xxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. I am smoking again, & I should be glad if in a parcel you would send me a pound of Hudson Bay Mixture (Mild) also a cheap tobacco pouch. Tell me also dear how your fuel is hanging out.