December 16th,
1917
Ristow Barracks
Shorncliff, Kent England
Dear Mother
I received the money all
right Mother and my how glad I was. I
quite realize how scarce money is just now but Mother I needed it so bad. And this fall I shall be able to pay it back
to you. Thanks very much Mother you
don’t know how many ways I tried to get it, before I wrote you as I know you
and Dad haven’t got to much just now and it was only at the last minute that I
had to ask you.
I am still in the office
here and working fairly hard mostly writing all day long. Young Billy Faulkner called on me yesterday,
gee but he is getting to be a big fellow he was saying that a lot of the
Dauphin boys had been put out of action, he had a slight shrapnel wound but is
fit again. Young Sutherland has just
gone over and one of the Hamilton boys are here. Our Mons medal came out the other day and the
ribbons to wear are red white and blue, about fifteen Canadian in England are
entitled to wear it and just imagine I am one of the few. Out of all Western Canada there are only
about three get it, and I am the only one from Winnipeg. “In France before Nov 22nd, of
1914” Gee I am proud of that decoration and more so because I am among the very
few Canadians that got it.
How is VV getting on at
her teaching. Say Mother if you haven’t
spent any money on me for Christmas I would rather you did not. I know how tight money is getting to be and I
am old enough now to realize all about Santa Claus. I know Mother both you Dad and VV would like
to buy me something for Christmas, just because it is Christmas. But Mother I would rather you bought
something for yourself. I can get along
all O.K. That explosion at Halifax sure
hit some of the boys here that had their parents and wives in it. Just imagine being over here and not getting
any word if your Mother and Dad were safe.
Lord it would drive a fellow crazy.
After all Mother we are lucky, taking it all around we are alive and
that’s a lot these days.
I would like to go to
Buxton this Christmas I know they are counting on me being there, but I can’t
afford it. Sot that’s all there is to
it. Do you remember twenty-five years
ago the 29th of this month.
Every time my birthday comes in to my mind I think of the day Annie
heard a baby cry and we afterwards discovered VV. Do you remember. Gee I can, just as well as if it was
yesterday. Now she is a school teacher
and I am a soldier. Lord but time does
fly.
Well Mother I am going
to close. I know you wonder what I
needed that money for. Well I’ll tell
you someday but for now you trust me.
It’s for nothing wrong. Tell Dad
I am feeling fairly fit and may not have to go to France for a little while
yet. Tell the kid I will drop her a line
soon but for the last month I have been working night and day in this office.
Bye bye
Love Chas
(The back of the first page ~ likely figuring done by his mom after the letter was delivered and read ~ same for the sums on the back of the envelope)
It's titled "Portage Paragraphs" with the catchy byline; "Snow-show Tramp and Entertainment, Wedding Bells, Sudden Death" "The unexpected death of Mr Charles Bailey, of High Bluff, on Tuesday is regretted by his many friends here and sorrowing friends have the sympathy of the townspeople." 
