An extract from a letter James Arbuthnott wrote to DW from Ceylon on 14th December 1945

My dear Dennis & Joan,

A very happy Christmas to you both & 1946 and so it should be in your lovely home surrounded by adoring children & happy guests. I do think it was wise of you to mortgage your brains, full of faith in yourselves & the future, to buy Grove Place when everyone else is selling such places. That I admire, especially in these times, when everyone is full of gloom & lack of confidence.

As you know, 'Supremo' has departed to Singapore from Kandy & I think D Division is completely disbanded. Has anything been heard of P. Fleming? The Offices of the War Cabinet & all that seem like a dream already. A moderately pleasant one, but it wouldnt have been even that but for you Dennis. I wouldnt care to do those two years again though – feel I might be court-martialled for throwing things at Johnny or having three rounds with Harold the Earnest. I wonder if Johnny has recovered his poise – if not Im afraid Bevan, Bevan & Bevan in the city is not a cheerful place to work in.

...

So long Joan dear & Dennis & much happiness to you all Wheatleys and otherwise

Love from

James