My dearest old Dodie, Well, damn you, how the devil are you? Haven't heard from you for months- nonetheless , I thought I'd write & wish you a very Merry Xmas, notwithstanding the war & lack of men. No doubt you'll manage to have a real glorious rowdy time, anyhow, I hope you will for you deserve it for your hard work this year (some poor conjunctions in this sentence).

I heard Graham Anderson had again been in hospital with his old trouble, & I also heard from a man named Daniel that [Laura?] Reeves has broken off her engagement - this ought to make Graham sit up & take notice.Bye the bye, Daniel, I think knows you, do you remember him?

The 131st Bn from New Westminster blew into the 30th 3 weeks ago & we are now broken up. The 158th are at Shoreham waiting the same fate. The 88th from Victoria were broken up 2 or 3 months ago & so it goes on.

Gwyn(?) is xxx? Major at Shoreham & Gardner is Lt Col commanding combined(?) troops at Shoreham. I think you know both.

I've been turned into a ruddy clerk at Shoreham, & I'm so fed up that if something doesn't happen in a couple of months I'm going to chuck the whole blank business. For over two years I've been trying to get to the front, & I'm no nearer now than I was when I started.

I offered to revert to subaltern when the 62nd was broken up in order to get to France? to get to France, but no,they wouldn't allow it. God only knows why, & I've just again offered to revert as soon as I have taken the Combatant(?) Staff Course - Honestly, I'm ashamed to go about wearing a uniform