Letter #84, October 20, 1918.

Oct 20^th, 1918 (postmark)

France

Dear Mother, 

Received a letter today from you saying you have had no mail from me for three weeks, well Mother I can’t understand it, because it’s a fact when I say I write at least once a week.  Ah well, as long as you know I am well and I know you all are then alls well.  Say Mother do you mean to say old Jim Brown “Shakespeare” is out here, for heaven's sake get me his address.  Give his address and I’ll find old Spoke shaves if I have got to travel to France from one end of it to the other.  Gee I should like to see him.  

         So VV is going to give up teaching, well if she doesn’t like it why not let her try something else, there is one consolation Mother, she can always fall back on it.  Although I am sure she shall find the business world a great lot harder to get on in than she imagines, but as I said she can do herself no harm in trying it.  She can always go back to teaching.  Seems so long since I did anything but soldiering that it sometimes makes me wonder if I shall ever be any good for anything else.  Never mind Mother just give me the opportunity.

          Have given up cigarettes.  I suppose it will only be for a day or so and maybe not that long, this infernal pipe has got my tongue just about four times its normal size.  Gee but its hard to get accustomed to a pipe.

          Some great news in the papers just lately.  I should like to tell you all I know but of course Mother you know I am not allowed to tell you anything but what you have already seen in the papers.  Anyway, all the boys are in the very highest of spirits.  So that means a lot.  We don’t expect to be in this locality long but may be up farther soon.  Oh well I have absolutely nothing to complain of as it has been a very decent summer for us and I suppose only right that we should take our share of any of the hardships so by the time you receive this it will be a case of “you're far, far better off in the mud”

          

       Annie seems to be having quite a nice stay with you.  Say Mother you don’t mean to say Ireland is going blind, lord I hope it's not serious because I like that fellow better than any of them.  VV was saying that Harry and Ruby are having some queer old spats together at the coast.  Let them fight they don’t belong to us, but if the men folks were to come over here and do their fighting the rest of us would like them much better and would consider them more as men. Instead of staying home and quarreling with women.

          You were asking me about my medal.  Well, Mother, it came through in orders authorizing me to wear it, but the medal itself, of course, has not been issued.  I have been issued with a ribbon to wear on my tunic to show I am entitled to it so don’t worry you shall have it as soon as I get it.

          

        Well, Mother, I have no news only that I am enjoying good health and that I don’t think it shall be long before I get a few days leave in Blighty, which will surely help some.  Remember me to Dad and the kid I’ll close with love

Chas

Letter # 83, October 9th, 1918 "We are all in the highest of spirits."

37 Coy Can Forest

Can Exped Forces

France

Envelope postmarked

October 9^th, 1918

Dear mother

          Just received your letter saying Annie was out there.  You are well fixed for visitors just lately.  Well, I am glad to hear it as it helps to make things much easier for you when you have company in the evenings.  I suppose you have seen in the papers our great victories well Mother believe me we are all in the highest of spirits.  If things continue we may be home before we anticipate.

           What had got into VV that she had taken such a dislike to teaching?  I am like you mother; I think that if she got into a town or city for awhile she would like it much better.  By the way, do you ever hear anything about the Richmond outfit joining up!  So Harry is a father, seems as if I am the only one left.  Yes, I guess my lot is a bachelor’s life.  “Eh What” Of course it is not much use trying to make you believe that.  But we shall see, No more word of my getting leave even to Blightly, never mind Canada.  Still, all the first contingent men that have kiddies and wives in Canada really should go before me, but after them, I come first.

          The weather has been rather wet here the last while, I hope it has been better at Holland, or poor Dad will surely feel it.  I should like awfully well to have you and Dad see this little dispensary of mine.  I have got it fixed up splendid it is by far the best around the locality.  In the back of it I have a little room for myself; the only thing that’s wrong about it is that the stove is so darn small it keeps me going all day chopping wood for it.  Oh yes, I am a regular lumber-jack now.

          Say Mother did you hear anything about returned soldiers getting any land, we hear all kinds of rumour, but of course, you can’t believe any of them.  Did you ever hear anything more about that rich uncle or aunt or whoever it was that was going to leave me millions, say how did that rumour ever get around?  Gee, you had me all upset.

          Well, Mother, there is nothing I can tell you from this side, as you know, so I really can’t make up a decent letter.  Tell the kid to drop me a line once in a while.  Tell Dad I am in the very best of health and I hope he is feeling well again.  With love to all, I’ll close for tonight Mother with

Love

Chas.