A letter from Sir Wilfrid Bliss Spender (1876-1960) to 'his folks', i.e. his family. The letter is to be forwarded to four different family members, and eventually back to Lady Lillian. This is Spender's self-described 'Xmas mail' to his family. He sends them his 'dear love' and Christmas wishes, and assures them that his mother's present is more than enough, that he doesn't wish to receive any more gifts, and that 'really one has to think of every ounce of kit' that one will have to cart around while on the front. He suggests that he and his fellow staff officers arguably 'overdo our creature comforts' at the present time. He recounts a recent visit to the trenches, writes about '5 chaps who had just been gassed', and curses 'the brutes' who began that style of warfare. Spender praises the cheeriness and hard work of the Ulster soldiers, and gives details of life in the trenches, noting that many trenches are cut off from communications during the day, and the men can be 'isolated in the mud' for up to 24 hours. Spender discusses the problem of fuel, the men's attitude to him, and their relationship with soldiers of the Irish regiments. He promises to return home soon on leave, and sends love to a number of named individuals.Sir Wilfrid Spender was a member of the British Army until 1913 when controversy surrounding his signature of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant resulted in his resignation. Spender was called up for military service in 1914 and from 1915 served in the 36th (Ulster) Division. Throughout the war, Spender wrote a collection of letters to his wife Lady Lillian Spender. The letters date mainly from 1915 to 1918, when Sir Wilfrid was serving in France. The letters concern politics, the Irish question, personal life, and Wilfrid's experience of the Great War.'