Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Lydd, Kent. Discusses idea of spending one night in London with parents and shopping prior to visit home during leave / possibly visiting with editors / firing practice / state of his hut / gifts for children. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/212
244 Siege Battery
RA Mess
Tintown
Lydd
19.12.16
Dearest, my telegram of last night and the letter following it will have put you right, I hope, though I suppose it will hardly cure a boil. It is now, so far as I can tell, settled that I leave here on Thursday afternoon. As I had better spend one night at Rusham Road that will be the best night, wont it? Then I have a little shopping to do, and I can see Eleanor and John Freeman too, so I will aim at reaching home by Merfyn’s supper time on Friday, say at 7, when as possible.
I have been moderately busy, chiefly practising on a miniature range - practising both my
Operation with field glasses and my knowledge of the rules of shooting so as to hit an invisible target.
We have had to do a few things and furnish our room, such as buying a lamp and a basin to wash in. The smoky fire is the worst thing about it. But it gets warm. I had to be up early this morning to help in gun drill from 7.30 to 9 - breakfast at 9.
Write to me at Rusham Rd in case you have anything to suggest I should get for either and all of the children or if you want me to join in anything for
Father and mother. I shan’t think of giving anybody else anything.
It is raining now so we are going to practise again this afternoon.
Goodbye. I hope I am going to find you all well and warm.
Edward.
Mrs HB Thomas
8 High Beech
Loughton Essex