May 23/42
Dear Francis and Sisters:
This of course goes for you and Georgia john. It is hard for me to believe just how big you kiddies are by now, a young man and a couple of young ladies going to school is about all I can picture. No doubt you have grown slim now and are all with good appetites and keen on school.
Last night I sat in an underground shelter with a young lady, her brother and parents, way down in the deep chalk cliffs. I being a Canadian and Canada on my shoulder was quite a novelty to the little boys and girls some much younger and some much older than you. They were asking me questions about Canada and our winter. One of them has two little sisters in Toronto. I couldn’t help but think of Francis as one little blonde fellow reminded me of him. I told them about you ? little triplets over there and of course I always carry a few snaps around and one of you three kiddies with your grandfather and grandmother. This is there home every night and sometimes day as they have had 2000 air-raid about here since the beginning of the war, also shelling from the big guns a few miles across that big body of water.
They all seem happy and not afraid. They had their dolls and trains and played w/ each other, and seem to be having the time of there lives. The sirens go in the daylight, they leave their school and go below in the pits or shelters, deep below the chalks and continue school.
Well Francis, I suppose you are quite a help to your daddy by now, and Alma and Catherine I know you help your mother as best as you can. Your uncle Cecil is well and hopes to be going to France sometime this year. Say a little prayer for me so someday soon I will be home and tell you all about away over here and more about the poor little English children live.
John no doubt you think I have forgotten you back there. No I think of you all the time and hope you are getting on successfully no doubt the barn has blown down by now. Is the new road completed? I’ll bet it’s a swell highway now.
Well cheerio and all the best
Love and kisses.

Your uncle and friend Cecil