non est, if you ever see them on the table you'd begin to think there was something wrong! Cheese I haven't caught sight of either! The milk is some camouflaged preparation! They would certainly get a shock at the Willows if the Mess there was run on the same lines! If I had only known what I do now, I would have brought over a few "sweets" (but always had a feeling my things would be searched, as it was nothing was looked at) The T.P.s & the Aunts were awfully pleased to get the sugar and tea that I brought with me. I kept one box of sugar for myself also a tin of Lee's ginger which I find very palatable; an occasional tin of it sent over would be much appreciated also a bar or two of chocolate, you'll find I have a small balance in the bank which must be used for any expenditure.

Well enough of this, or you'll all be thinking that I think of nothing else except my stomach!

There are about 100 officers on strength of this Dept a curious mixed lot, some of them very decent; a great number have served in the ranks, & there are certainly some "rankers" amongst them, of course it is the same thing in the Imperials these days, though many of them are not gents

BC Archives, MS-2685 Box 17 File 3 / OLIVER, William Edgar, 1867 – 1920. Victoria; lawyer. / Erroll P. Gillespie, correspondence outward, 1917 – 1919.