Transcription

142556.

1st Entrenching Batt:

1st Canadian Divis¹

B.E.F., France

Dec 4th

My Darling Minnie.

I'm anxiously waiting for your letter to come this week, and I sincerely hope my little girlie is still well. I didn't have time yesterday to write, as I was away with two men, taking them to be examined, as they were put out from the base after being slightly wounded. 

The weather has been fairly fine lately, frosty at nights, which makes us break the ice in old shell holes to get a wash, and I hope it stays fine as it will help to end the war instead of slowing up for the winter I suppose you will have it nearly cold enough for open air skating, I see by the papers that the arena, opened up on the first of November for public skating.

I received three bundles of papers this week from you dearest, and have me (three)2 enjoyed reading them sitting around the fire at nights, the pictures are always so good in them, and some places, were rather inclined to make one home sick. Mother wrote me this week, her usual letter, full of motherly advice and telling me to take care of my self in every detail. This will make the third Christmas I've missed being home, but hope next one to be there again and you with me of course, and believe me we will have some time D.V. Well I guess it will be near or past Xmas by the time this reaches you, how I'd love to be coming with this letter but I suppose the time for me to come back will come some day, I hope soon. Well darling I happened to get to a small shell torn town today, and saw a small article I thought you'd like so will be sending it on in a day or so, it's all made by hand, and the place I bought it is all the time liable to be shelled by the Germans, so dear I hope you will like it, as it's the best little thing I've seen yet. Well it's nearly time to get to bed, and there isn't any more news this time so well done, with fondest love and kisses from your ever loving soldier boy

Dudley xxxxxxxx

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(is that enough?)

¹  *Archivist note:* "Divis" abbreviated for Division, as written. Year inferred as 1916 from correspondence sequence.