20.02.15

My dear Mr Mansford,

Just a few lines to explain my telegrams of a day or so back. Our battalion is sending out some little comforts to the first battalion in the trenches. Each man has asked to subscribe to the fund. Practically every man gave in one of their day's pay and those who could not give that owing to extra expenses, gave in half their day's pay. It was awfully ripping to see them come up and say "I give one day's pay, sir." I was on the field the day before yesterday and a cyclist orderly raced up with a message from the Colonel. He wanted to know how I got those mugs for the men of my company. I went down and saw him and explained matters fully to him, He said he had made inquiries and found that our men in the trenches, among other things, thought that a mug was a treasure of treasures, and he asked me to ask you the price of them and how many he could get. He said he would like to be able to send out a mug to each man besides other little comforts already obtained by our fund. I told the Orderly Room to send off that telegram in my name. Your answer came to me direct but I sent it on to the Colonel. I do not know what he did about it, I am sure for I have not seen him since. As you see I have changed my quarters. I am staying with an awfully nice family and they make things very homely for me. I am often running up against Plant during the week and on Saturdays and Sundays we often manage to spend some little time together. Letters from home tell me that my youngest brother has started his days at The D.G.S. I sincerely hope that you will make his career as successful as you made mine although I must admit there is not much difference in the raw material. However he will be the last of a long line who have given you so much trouble. Yours very sincerely, Percival T. Smith.