Dec. 12 1940
Ord. Sea. R. H. Gray
R.C.N.V.R – V13438
Mess E 11
H.M.S. St. Vincent,
Gosport, Hants.

Dear Phyllis,

I have completely forgotten whether I have answered your letter with the snaps in it or not. But another letter won’t hurt any even if I had. I just had that letter out again and read it. I looked at all the snaps again and showed them to a couple of fellows who hadn’t seen them before. Everybody says how nice you look and you certainly do. You look really happy. It is just grand. By the way I see one of the pictures is taken at Horseshoe Bay. I went on a rather wild party there one week-end.

You sent me some cigarettes for my birthday. It is now Dec. 12 and they are still not here unfortunately. I seem to have been unfortunate with my parcels generally. Nearly all the others have received two or three. I guess it is just a bad break and they are more than likely at the bottom of the sea. But please send some more if you can afford it. I would greatly appreciate them and as a rule they have a very good chance of getting here. They are, too, something that are quite a luxury here. With our income at present, it is almost impossible to buy them in this country and we are forced to smoke nothing but the navy tobbacco, i.e. nothing our own. I wouldn’t bother with any knitting unless you have not got much to do in your newly acquired spare time. If you decide to do some knitting you might make a Balaclava. That is a sort of hood affair covering your whole head, except for the face, with a flap coming down in front and one behind.

As you will see by the above address I have moved again. I am now a cadet in the Fleet Air Arm. I think it is a good thing. I was getting fearfully tired of waiting around for something to move in that other scheme. This will take longer but it is a good course and an interesting one. Don’t let Mother worry about it, will you.

You gave me the address of Nancy, Ed’s sister. I looked up Redruth, Cornwall and found it was way down near Land’s End so is at the moment, out of the question to visit her. I might have been able to manage it if we had stayed where we were before in Devon but not now. However I have written her a note telling her that I am here. Tell Ed I am sorry I can’t make it. You can see why if you look up Portsmouth and Lands End on a map and see how far they are apart.

Well I shall stop now. I still hope to see those cigarettes but I am losing that hope rapidly.

Much love to you and Ed.,
Hampton.

P.S. I am sorry but I completely overlooked your birthday. It will be long past when you get this but Congratulations any way.