The following is the text of a letter sent by Dad's sister Ciss, The home address is given as "179 Britmore Lane, Semley, Nr Shaftesbury".
"My Dear Bob,
This is just to let you know how pleased we all are that you will be home at last.
How excited you must be as each day you get nearer England.
Last Xmas we so little thought that you would be home for this one as mother had only the one card from you and that nearly two years ago.
We always felt you would come back & mother had such alot to do with this ???? buisness & Mill and for 8 or 10 months, it all helped to occupy her mind in the day time but I guess she sleep's better now.
Mrs Smarts son at Colletts Cottages bottom of hains Hill was missing just before you & Bert Gard (?) who used to be at Conduit they are both safe.
You will be luckier than some of the poor fellows there must be some whose homes have been bombed and families killed.
We are all as you left us with 4 added. Betty, Eric & the twins.
The boys have all grown tremendously, George is taller than Cyril, Arthur as tall as yourself & Bertie a big lad at work, Zillah grown & Sylvia as big as her. Pat is still as fair but her curls are now long.
Dad is a real football fan in his spare time, he is going to make a fortune at it but his turn has not come yet.
Conduit farm has just changed hands again and Fred has been taken on for the new man also Mrs Prior. They are "horsey" people but not sure in what way. Blanchard is the name and they do training, point to point etc.
Fred is busy pulling down old buildings to make new ones so gets both wet and fine weather jobs.
It was nice to see Cliff as he looked so well, he just turned up as usual. I should think he will be soon home again, he was not going back for long. Bert has only about another 8 weeks.
Old Jim, Mrs Teddy, Mr Tom, and old Sally Harrison are still about the same. The other ? have passed on.
I was a most beautiful day when we heard the good news that you were safe, a sat morning followed with 3 weeks of it wonderful for October. We had a rotten summer. Its changed for the worse again have had two very rough nights.
You will probably feel the cold after such a long time in a hotter climate.
Chubbie will be as pleased as anybody to see you, he enjoyed himself when Cliff was home.
We still have Shot she has had two lots of puppies which made a good price,
Jack is a road man now and is glad to be home, he was at Poole some time & lodgings were not so good.
We should all like to see your ship come in especially the boys. You will I expect have a grand welcome.
I have written this on the 24th Oct so we, like you, are counting the days and hope they will not be many more.
Love from us all
Ciss"
