Basingstoke

Dec. 2 1917

For God, For King & For Country

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. Forces on Active Service

Patron Y.M.C.A. National Council

H.M. The King.

Patron Military Camp Dept.

H.R.H. Duke of Connaught.

My Dear Ones at Home, -

It is just 5 o'clock, and I have walked down from the hospital to go to church. As there is an hour & a half before church goes in, I thought I would come in to the Y and write to you Having a permanent late pass now I can come down to church on a Sunday evening. There is a special missionary service at the Weslyan [sic] church tonight and so I think I will go there.

It is a beautiful night, clear & cold, with bright moonlight. We have had most exceptional weather during November. Warm bright sunny days have been the rule, and scarcely any rain I wonder what it has been like at home. The last letter I had was written in the middle of October, and you were having a regular old winter then. I had not been so long without Canadian mail since coming to England, and I am very much afraid that something has happened to it. Every morning I wait anxiously for the mail and every morning am disappointed

I have heard that 'Xmas parcels sent to Canada are being returned to the senders, and it is possible that such may be the fate of the one I sent to you. However it hasn't come back yet, and I do hope that it goes thro' and reaches you safely in good time.

We start voting tomorrow on the Dominion election. There is no doubt how the soldiers vote will go I think. We have piles of campaign literature and there has been a great deal of interest taken by the boys

Lord Landsdowne's letter has aroused quite a stir over here, altho' I am afraid the Jingo press and the never-endians will not allow much to come of it. But I believe that Lord L's proposals are all right, and I wish something would come of it. Surely an honorable peace could be secured by negotiation at an international conference. I am very anxious to know President Wilson's attitude. I am afraid that there is too much of that British Bull Dog pride, and the people at least want a definite statement of our war aims

It is drawing near to 'Xmas and I am hoping to be left here until then. I beleive [sic] that the Doctor has an idea of sending me up to Buxton, where the Ramsgate special hospital has been re-established, but know nothing definite yet

With a world of love, from your boy

Markle