1 57 Mess Sunday
H.M.S. Excellent
Portsmouth My Dear mother, I was very glad to get
your letter I got it on Friday night as
I had no fags we do no get them as
cheap here as we did on board ship,
I went ashore Saturday night
for awhile. I sent Jessie a doll I hope
it will arrive in good order. Well I
never saw my purse since Jack has
lost his oilskin so you may guess what
kind of boys the Derby dodgers is. It
is nearly all them that came in here
there was another draft came in on
Friday night from Devonport, so you
see they come and go every week from
this place. There was a chap caught
last night opening letters that did
not belong to him, he was I
expect he will get 14 days cells.
I see by the paper that Mrs Jones had
a good funeral 2 I did not get any word from Sam
this fortnight I am glad he is at
the base I hope he will stick there
for awhile. The Albemarle went
to sea on Thursday last she was
bound for Birkenhead but had to
return I think it was the destroyers
that was out and she had no
ammunition she was going to refit/refill
I just was thinking that Lizzie
would not lef like the city it is
not like Portstewart. I get your
parcels on Monday midday I got
the paper this morning. It is
blowing and raining like anything
today we are having bad weather
as well as you. I am glad to see
the fishing is keeping good I will
close now with love for every—body
not forgetting yourself Your loving son Willie PS I expect my father
is writing the fishing
notes today
W.