Dec. 5th 1916
Dear Doris,
Just a short scrawl to wish all of you “A Merry Xmas” altho I'm afraid it will hardly reach you in time.
Your letter of Nov. 9th was waiting for me on my return from England where I spent a few days leave. – Had a very nice leave and put a serious crimp in my bank account. – I had 10 days to start with and got a weeks extension and so the remunerations given me by a beneficent government for risking my worthless hide during the 5 mos. since my last leave, has been pretty well sprinkled along Piccadilly and Regent St. – London is a great town, even in wartime.
– Don't know what sort of a time we will have on Xmas. Suppose I will hang my stocking up on the front line wire, but so long as I don't leave a foot hanging up in it I will be jolly lucky.
Some topping shows running in London now and you may be sure I went the rounds. – It was once more a case of coming back to France for a rest.
We are having it fairly quiet now. – Lots of mud, rain, and cold though and that is worse than any other enemy.
Really must ring off and answer some of the pile of letters from home that were waiting for me when I got back. – Hoping you all have a top-hole time during the holiday season,
Sincerely,
Murray