Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Lydd, Kent, dated 'Sunday'. Formerly in envelope dated 14 Jan 1917, Lydd. Describes boredom and a day spent testing compass / a code to evade the censor's in order to be able to communication location once deployed / possibility of being sent to Le Havre as there is talk of a large upcoming battle / friends and colleagues passing through Lydd. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/216
Sunday Lydd

Dearest, This weekend is so dreary. But Flawn promises to walk to Rye and I hope he will. The place is cold and empty. All I had to do yesterday was to test my compass. I feel the beastly thing is absolutely useless, as it will only act freely in one position which one is not always able to ensure.
By the way before i forget, I think it will be a good thing to arrange a code for giving you some information about where I am. If I am on the Somme I shall say “I am pleased with my situation". If I am near Ypres I shall say " I am fairly pleased with my situation": If I am at Havre or somewhere far back in reserve, which may happen at first I shall say, " we are as safe as as at Lydd",
Also please enclose that thin canvas bag even if you do use the green
kit bag for sending my things - Mervyn should just add
2/ Lt. and 244 (illegible ) By.
The black enamel would be best on green. Don't leave it later than the end of the week in case we do push off soon.
At Codford I shall meet several Trowbridge people, but Thorburn will be away, he is to have his mobilization leave after all and Horton will be away as soon as I get these.
The reason I mentioned Havre just now is that I hear a good many batteries are accumulating there, waiting to move forward for the "great attack", and we may very likely be among them.
As soon as we get out Fennes will be Major, Horton Captain and Rubin a full lieutenant, but we other 3 will have to wait for something to turn up.
I may possibly see John Freeman
tomorrow as I shall be going through town
and there may be no immediate connection at
Paddington.
Blanco White is mobilised at Bristol
so I shant see him for some time.
I was wakened last night as I was
just off by an officer of the battery succeeding ours coming in to share my room in
(Thostronis place) He turned out to be an old
P squad man who had gone to Bexhill instead
of Lydd, like Blanco White. Everybody has to
come to Lydd sooner or later. People are
talking now rather tediously about the
British and who was in which company and
which hut. They are saying now that
Major Clarke at Trowbridge used that one
time to make all gingerheaded men bombadiers.
I cant go on writing now but I will keep
this open in case I can add. Goodbye
Edw.
P.S.Yes I had a very nice cold