Amroth
Woburn Hill
Addlestone
Dec 2 1915
My dear Eugénie
My best wishes to you for many happy returns of your birthday and accept the enclosed cheque to buy yourself a birthday present with. I hope you have good news of all the boys, I am always interested to hear about them. Many thanks for your good wishes for my birthday, and forgive me for not answering your letter before but as usual I have been very busy and had Phyllis and Tom here for some time. You will be interested to hear that he has a commission in the ASC of 2nd Lieutenant and has been training at Grove Park for three weeks, now he is at Bulford en route for Serbia, they go via Brindisi, but when I do not exactly know. He passed the medical after being declared unfit by his own doctor, time will show who is right; he has started with a bad cold and cough. Phyllis goes to Salisbury today to remain there until he starts then she thinks of taking rooms in a small village in Devonshire near some friends and go away at times to see friends, she may spend Xmas here, but most likely with her Father who has lately married again and lives at Condon near Bexhill, she will miss Tom very much, as they have always been together, never away from each other for more than two nights.
Fred was home on leave last month, he was not very well, but writes that he is quite well again now, he had a small cyst removed from his neck, and also had an internal chill, he was able to get a few extra days leave and was practically well before he returned. Charles Capon arrived at Salonika last Sunday, he wired his arrival there but as May is with Winnie at present, I do not know what further news she has of him. I have forwarded two letters since Monday, she comes home on Monday for a week and returns the following week to Winnie to be with her till Baby comes, it is expected about the 13th. Ted is still at Plymouth. I suppose later on he will be going abroad. I hope Ethel has enjoyed her holiday and is better for the change. Give her my love will you, also to May. I am wanting a cook once more. Mine leaves on Monday, I have engaged a temporary for a week, and after that hope to be suited, but as far as I know at present have no one in views. I have not heard from Fred lately but, when last I did, he was worried at hearing nothing from Gus or his wife. Will you ask Julius with my love to send me some more [?], the same quantity as I had last time. I forget how much I had but would like the same quantity. Hoping you will spend a happy birthday and be well and to enjoy it.
With love to you all.
Believe me
Your affectionate sister
Fanny E J Butler
PS – Will Mary be with you for Xmas?
