H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

3.xii.15

Dear Mother

Thank you for your letter – and the parcel of clothes arrived to-day – for which also ever so many thanks. I’ll look after them all right.

I couldn’t write before – because we’ve been at sea since last Sunday & I’ve got a perfect mass of work to do in consequence – don’t know when I shall get settled down again – so you must excuse a short letter-

Filthy weather we had at sea – except the last day – & then it cleared up a bit – but it was bitterly cold all the time.

Poor old Topher. I had a letter from him too – he doesn’t seem very happy at present. I’ve sent him a parcel of cigarettes – tobacco etc from Dunhills – & several papers.

Dick appears to be having plenty of leave- I hope he is at home when I blow along –

Bee Dudman has written to say she wanted to send me some more food of sorts- They are kind are’nt they-.

I suppose there’s a certain amount of Christmas hustle already at home.

The things I want for Christmas are so fearfully expensive – i.e. a good luminous wristwatch & a blue Burberry – with a lining – My watch is always going wrong, & I had a Blue Burberry – but it was too big & I sold it to another fellow & bought an oilskin coat – souwester & trousers with the money – of which ½ is yours really – but a Burberry is so useful ashore – specially in this kind of weather-

I must stop now – ever so much love to you all – Hope to see you soon-

Your ever loving son

Paulie