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Copley, Pattingham, Wolverhampton 24th Feb. 1943 Dear Chaps, Its Stew's birthday today so I must write a letter to you. We could not very well have a birthday party because Stew would not be there and it would be "like playing Hamlet without the Prince" - Do you know what that saying means and what Hamlet is? Let me know next time you write. Anyhow, I hope Stew got our cable wishing him all the best and now I can say that today we have been thinking about him and wishing again that his birthday is happy and that he will have many many more. Nine years old - my word how time flies. He must be filling his years and is getting a big fellow. I wonder if he will be growing a beard like uncle John for his next birthday