Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. In envelope postmarked Codford St Mary, Wiltshire, 17 Jan 1917. Request to send supplies as the battery is likely to be sent to France shortly / possible walking visits / probability of not seeing one another at present / best wishes to Helen Thomas and the children. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/218
Codford
Wednesday
Dearest I think I have had all your letters. Now I thought had one written after mother left. This is not a letter . It is to say that if you have not already sent off my things, you need not send anything but the socks, the waistcoat and the slippers, because he captain says my servant can wash my underclothes. But send the kit bag as I may have to put my blanket in that for sleeping at any place on the way, where the lorry would be unterrible with my big bag in it. If only the hold-all had been marked that would perhaps have been best, but it doesn’t usually
Much.
I have got a pair of army boots, yes, I shall get a pair of tall field boots in France. So there is nothing you need get. But dont wait too long. A battery that came last Thursday is leaving next Monday. That is 10 days and we may not be any longer.
Mother says she is coming to you and I understand I was going to walk over there on Saturday or Sunday. So I must write and say I wont come in any case.I wonder shall I go to Sevenoaks of Swindon instead?
I expect we will go from
Southampton leave at night. You must not hope to see me just yet. Goodbye God bless you and make you hopeful and confident. Kiss the children Edwy

25 foreign envelopes would be useful
Mrs HB Thomas
High Beech
Loughton
Essex