Thank you very much indeed for the parcel of socks, which reached me safely yesterday. It was very thoughtful of you all to remember me, and as a matter of fact you could not have sent me anything more acceptable at the times as I had just come in from wet and muddy trenches to find that I had no dry socks. The arrival of the gift, too, almost coincided with my birthday, but I don't suppose there are any present-day students who in the pre-historic days "celebrated" a birthday with me.

I keep wonderfully fit, and have done all through except temporarily on receipt of one or two Hun donations. I do not get many V. C. students in this unit, but plenty from the College in the province from which my unit is recruited.

I understand that you have new one of my old company commanders lecturing at the College. I shall be glad if you would remember me kindly to him, but don't believe all he tells you about me—I am not as bad as that, really. I was close by him when he was hit at Messiness, and he will probably tell you that I am a most unsympathetic mortal. I refer, of course, to Capt. Jas. Thompson.

I saw de la Mare in London hospital when I was on leave some six months ago, when he was a near relative of a "sieve," but I understand he is due for N.Z., and has probably let by now.

This war seems almost interminable, and I am longing for a suit of "civies," but don't think the time is just yet. Four years is a big slice out of man's life to spend Hun-strafing, but it will be well worth it when he has been put in his place.

Once more thanking you for your kindness, I remain,