Somewhere

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Dear Ethel

As I have received 3 of your letters this evening dated Feb. 16th, 24th & 27th & [?] night shirt I thought I could not do better than write & thank you Am getting along fine as usual & get plenty of work to do as things are beginning to open up & get partly lovely at times but think we are on the right side this time, What do you think of Fritzes retiring on the Somme & he will be going back somemore before very long & hope he will have sense enough to quit this summer I should be satisfied & a good many more too in fact I think everybody as had enough of it as it wants a lot of getting use to Well we are getting over the winter fairly well but it is still very cold & have had some snow this last two or three days but is fine again today Have not been on leave yet & guess it is all over now for this summer as things are too busy I went over to see Futcher about 3 days ago they were put on rest & sure had quite a talk with him & he looks very well of course you know he is a Major now & doing well. I also saw Burt & John Hirst last night & was talking over old times, they are looking fine & were going into the trenches that night I suppose you heard that Fred Bagnell was wounded & I believe he is in Blighty now.

Have not seen Ray Alf or Edgar yet but but they are out here but have not located them yet they are in the 54th Batt but have not joined the Battalion yet may see them in a day or two. Gordon is still fine I also saw Bob Boyd he is in the 29th with John and Barter. Have been out here over a year now & am getting quite an old soldier but think it is has added about 5 years to my life as well as 5 lbs in weight. That was too bad about Leonard Parker have they heard any more about him. How is Mia getting on has she set any more hens lately will be home this winter for some chicken young spring. Was awfully sorry to hear you had fell and hurt yourself do you feel anything of it now. Did you get my letter thanking you all for those eats, socks & other good things & it reminds me of what the boy wrote home after a pair he received thanks for the socks which were a very good fit. I used one for a helmet & the other for a mitt And who in the _ I learnt you to knit.

25-3. 17

This is another [?] & will try & finish it this time. Received another letter from you to-night it was dated February 8th & the Coombs post mark was dated the 15th, it had a letter of Allans in it. Yes my Dad is in the Arsenal yet [?] was expected home on leave but has not arrived yet. Have not heard from my brother Arthur lately And as for my own swift self well I don’t think I am any worse.

Tell Allan I was very pleased to get his letter.

Am enclosing one of my photos taken out there in Sunny France (I don’t think) it is not very good but you can see the resemblance

Well Ethel I think I must close for this time & thank John for the letter as well as Allan & not forgetting yourself for writing so often & remember me to every body at Coombs especially Mia

From

Your ever Sincerely

Fred.