May to David                     Beckenham                        16.10.18

My dear David,

I told you the other day Mrs Taylor went up to Thurloe Place about your parcels not containing all they should, and they gave her a list of what they sent. Each parcel weighs approximately 15 lbs when packed. Sometimes the contents of these parcels are slightly altered.

A ParcelB Parcel
2 lb Beef1 ½ lb biscuits
½ lb vegetables½ lb cocoa
1 lb tin rations1 lb milk
½ lb tea1 lb Lyles syrup
1 lb tin milk1 lb rice or dates
½ lb dripping or margarine1 small potted meat
1 lb tin jam1 tablet soap
1 ½ lb biscuits1 lb tin rations
1 pkt quaker oats, grape nuts or milk pudding1 lb tin sausages
50 cigarettes1 lb sugar
1 tin sardines1 lb suet pudding
1 tablet soap½ lb chocolate
1 lb tin herringsOne 1lb tin veal, ham or beef loaf
1 lb beans1 pkt quaker oats, grape nuts or milk pudding
¼ lb cocoa2 oz tobacco
½ bacon1 lb corned beef
C ParcelD Parcel
1 lb beef1 lb tin rations
1 lb bacon1 lb tin beef
1 lb beans1 lb tin Irish stew or haricot mutton
¼ lb tea1 lb biscuits
1 lb tin milk1 lb tin jam
One ½ lb tin beef, ham or veal loaf1 lb tin pork and beans
1 lb biscuits¼ lb tea
1 lb rations1 lb sugar
½ lb tin dripping or margarine1 lb tin meat and potato pudding or tripe & onions
1 lb rice, sago or tapioca½ lb cheese
1 lb tin jam, tinned fruit or dates1 tin sardines
1 small potted meat½ lb tin margarine
100 cigarettes50 cigarettes
1 tablet soap1 tablet soap
One ½ lb veal, ham or beef loaf
½ lb bacon

I have not a list of the Stores parcels.

Last night I went back home again, and made the discovery that the coat I am making for Muriel is too wide. Am afraid the greater part of it will have to be undone. Fortunately it does not take long to undo – but there is the doing up.

You remember I told you Trafalgar Square was done up to represent a battle field, and that were dugouts where you could buy war loans. Well, several more millions of money were paid in than required. Everyone seems to be made of money.

I will add a postscript giving the news, so that the Censor can cut it off if he does not approve.

Did you ever get the letter I wrote to you from Watford, which Mrs Pratt censored by means of adding something saucy at the end? She and Minnie Capel are now at Eastbourne, but are having bad weather.

No more now.

Goodbye.

May

PS It seems to me that the Allies won’t allow armistices, but only unconditional surrenders. One country has surrendered thus, and apparently two others are considering it.