Marshgate House
Richmond
Surrey
3rd Dec 1915
My dear Eugénie
We have been at Folkestone for five weeks – only returned here on Wednesday. Polly told me yesterday that today would be the anniversary of your birthday, so I write to send you our best wishes and we hope it finds you in good health.
Last night Polly heard from George announcing his engagement. I see you have told Polly of it in your letter to her received this morning; I will write to George.
I am sorry to hear that Julius has a cold, but I do not wonder at it as the weather has been so severe and changeable. I was going to London this morning but the weather is so vile that as I have something of a cold, I have put off going, though it is very inconvenient as after being away so long, I have an accumulation of things to attend to. We left Evelyn in bed at Folkestone, he caught cold and got bronchial catarrh and was rather seriously ill for some days, but we left him better. I don’t suppose he will be able to do any work for some time; fortunately he had just arranged with an old friend to help at the church for six months; there is one curate left, an old resident clergyman who helps so, noth withstanding all the extra services for soldiers at the hospitals, things will probably go on fairly well.
Archie and Sylvia were here yesterday. Archie leaves for France tomorrow. Sylvia will go with the child to her mother at Emsworth. I saw Charlotte several times at Folkestone, she always knows all about your boys, she gave me their addresses.
[110|Charlie Hodson]] went out about three weeks ago to France and I have had several letters from him; he is in the trenches now. I send him what he wants and am arranging now to send him weekly parcels; he is very young for such rough work, the weather is so bad but I hope he will get on well; it will encourage him to send him things. Evelyn gave me some money to send him things; Polly, too, so I shall be able to keep him supplied. I shall hope to see him come back a well grown man fit to make his way.
Our love to you all.
Your very affectionate brother
Fred
