23 Squadron R.F.C.
Abourkir
Egypt
2nd Dec. 1917

My Own Dear Mother

I had such a lovely post from England yesterday. 29 letters, 6 from you & 5 from John. I am of course very happy today for I love getting your letters. I have just finished a long letter to John & will spend most of the day writing.

Its perhaps just as well Mother you've sold Aunt's house and the home must be lovely. Oh Mother I am so sorry you are worried over the paying for it and I am more than sorry you didn't cash that cheque for five pounds you have of mine. I thought you had cashed it months ago. Do so at once and I'll send another cheque the beginning of the year for five pounds and one every month.

I feel so sorry for the parents of the dear boys who have been killed and please Mother tell them so for me. I'd write Mr Rice but you didn't mention which of the boys it is and young Long - really I don't know how to spell his name it one of those extraordinary names like mine - Lollie or something like that.

I haven't written Lorene yet but I wrote Jack in Chicago shortly before leaving England. My correspondence is too large now without adding any more however I'll write Lorene the first opportunity. How on earth did she get it in her head that Billy Burke is a cousin of mine.

Expect things are as usual in Whitby. I haven't had any papers lately so am a bit behind the local happenings. Some of the boys must be a little nervous about Conscription.

The weather is lovely - we wear nothing but shirts, shoes & a pair of shorts. Hope I am not here for the summer it will be unbearable.

Have had several good offers for after the war this summer before leaving England but everything is so unsettled that its impossible to decide. Perhaps I'll get a trip over to Canada next year or if I am in England we can have can have you over- would you come Mother. If only for a few months it would be a nice change and good rest for you.

And poor old Auntie Barrett is dead. I remember well when we were children taking food & little things to her in a basket. Those were the good old days weren't they Mother. And we used to visit the Billings a lot.

My old friend Miller who came out here with me two years ago is finished as far as the army is concerned. He was shot in the lung you know & has had five or six operations.

Am enclosing a picture of my friend [?] who was married the day before I left London. I cut it out of a picture paper.

Now Mother I've had a lovely chat with you this morning. I hope you cashed my Xmas cheque for $6 & cashed the old one for $5.

My Best Love to all my friends and Miss Fraser and all the rest for your Dear Self.

Your Loving Son
Cullen

You can write me Mother to this address
Royal Fusiliers Attd. R.F.C.
c/o Messrs Cox & Co.
Alexandria
Egypt

if the postage is any more send them to Abbotts