Gen Depot
Shorncliffe
8th April 1918
My own darling Wife
I received your darling letter of Saturday today. You see you could, after all, have written a much longer one, it would have reached me just as soon. Doll darling, please write me a nice long, long one next time. I feel so lonely away from you, and your letters are the only thing I have to look forward to. They cheer me up so much that I feel quite happy for the time being.
I am afraid I wont be able to come up tomorrow after all, I saw that fellow today noon, and he said I would stand a lot better chance if I waited untill Wednesday. So I guess I’ll have to wait. I am going to see him again tonight, however, and will ask him if he cant stick it through for me. Of course, you see, he doesn’t want to get caught, and as the Col is signing about 50 passes on Wed he can shift mine in , without anybody noticing it. They have such a grand system down here that once I get my pass, they wont know how I got it, or who gave it to me.
I have heard nothing more concerning what it going to happen to me. There was a part of about 50 left here this morning for Brighton, 90% of them being farmers. The remainder were old men, so old that they have forgotten when they were born. However I have great hopes of “making the grade” yet. I heard that there is another party leaving either on Saturday or Monday. So things are looking up. If the blasted Germans had only held their old offensive over for a month or six weeks, we would have been on our way to Canada by now.
How is your eye getting along? You did not mention it in your letter. Does that mean that it is well again? I hope so.
I met the fellow today, who used to be in charge of “The Lodge”. We had quite a little chat together, and he invited me around to his house to have tea next Sunday. He is with the C.A.S.C. and has a sleeping out pass, so goes home every evening. Quite nice too. He is the fellow, I told you, who married the girl who nursed him in hospital.
I hear that all the London officers are having a board, and that they are combing them out in great style. They started with the Pay Office and are only boarding 25 a day. There were about 150 men there, who were all A class, that they refused to board at all, and out of the others I hear that they are marking about 1 in 5 fit. I don’t know if they have started on the R.O. yet, but they will get their turn, believe me. There ought to be some good jobs going in London shortly, so if I don’t make Canada, I am going to make a great fight for one of them. I suppose I’ll just be in time for the Spring raids, but that cant keep me away from you. We will have to look out for a place near Worcester Park again I suppose. I wonder if Mrs. H has let yet. But then, I dont think I would to ever go back to her again. We want some place with a piano, so that Doll can play and sing to her hubby. Dont you think so?
As there are only a few more lines on this page I will have to close. I suppose you have heard that there is a paper shortage! Will write lots and lots tomorrow
Tons of love and kisses
Your devoted hubby
Sid
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