Envelope dated 3rd Nov 1916
Can Red Cross Hospital
Buxton England
Dear Mother
Have not heard from you for some time but I know everything is all
right or I would have before now. Things
in general are just about the same as ever here. Nothing doing only roller
skating and the rink is only about the size of a shilling so it's not much fun
on it.
Had a letter from Hess the other day and just because she had no mail
from me for a month or so she thought it was her duty to give me a talking to
well I answered that letter a few minutes ago and I don’t think she will write
another with the same intentions because she is not popular enough to give me a
calling down for one minute.
I’m smoking
a pipe now and holy gee my tongues as big and sore as if I had stepped on it
but I am trying to stop the cigarettes as I believe it is them that give me a
cough especially when I have no cold.
Well Mother just imagine Ireland a father. Crazy as he has let himself
in for it proper. Darn good job he got that fur coat a couple of years ago. What do you suppose he would do if by any
chance he was to make a slip and lose that job on the road. Do you know when a fellow gets away from home
and mingled in with every clan of people, it makes a person realize that this
marrying proposition is a pretty serious question.
I guess Dad is pretty near sick of farm life well I can't blame him but
for the love of mike tell him to get that Army notion out of his head because
it is the limit and believe me it's not all soldiering like you do in Canada.
Have had no word from Ross* lately so I can't say if he had been hit or not. The Canadians have sent over a new division and have had some pretty bad mix ups. Old Hindenburg claims we can't get through in 30 years so when you see me again I will have grey hair if that is the case.
Well Mother remember me to Dad and VV when you write her.
Love
Chas
Charley's friend; James Ross is also a family friend. He was employed by Charley's mom and dad when they owned hotels back in Saskatchewan before the war. Jim had also signed up in 1914 and is serving as a Sergeant with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, Saskatchewan Regiment.
The Battle of the Somme which would end soon, would be what Charley is calling 'some pretty bad mix ups'.