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My dear Mother,

I received your welcome letter of June 16th with one from Vic enclosed, a couple of days ago. I suppose before this reaches you, you will have received my letter to Jim, which I told him to forward. I am writing this on a sheet of paper which has been given to us by the Elder Dempster Co. when we arrived in Cape Town, each of us receiving a portfolio containing a good supply of stationery. When we started on the march for Newcastle, I left mine in my kitbag, as our baggage was limited to a few things we could pack in our blankets. My stock of stationery is consequently getting pretty small, as I only had a little in my pocketbook. I had a good many things in my kit bag which I didn't want to lose, but it is doubtful if I see them again. It is hard to keep things even when I have them along with me, as the usual rule here in case of a man losing anything is for him to say nothing & quietly swipe the first he happens to see in a convenient position.