Transcription

Belgium Sep. 19/15
Sunday 7 P.M.

Dear Mother, -

I have been "going to" write for about 4 or 5 days, but I have been too lazy & had so little news that I can write about. I got 3 letters to-night one from you & Ed & Father & a big cake from the McMillans at Winnipeg. some cake too, it is a great big rich fruit cake with about half an inch of white icing on it. It is sure some cake & has gladdened the heart of more than one ignoble warrior. The only thing I dont like about it is the cost for the postage. I think its up to some body to make a kick to the Gov't about it. I guess the McMillans could afford to pay more than $1.50 to send it, but its not every one can do that. I dare say that lots of guys never get parcels on that account & believe me when you get a parcel you are unusually popular while it lasts, I can get nearly anything done for a piece of cake, gee its swell. Lottie baked it & I dont know who made the icing but they are both in for "Iron Crosses." Brock had a letter from Marg. Lind & she said she was sending me a parcel too, so with yours coming - good-night!
I am very sore about the kids not getting those handkerchiefs & Skinny his letter. They & the P.Cs cost about 10 Francs but tell them first chance I get I'll send some more. I wrote a letter to Mary Marlatt the same day & I guess it went with the Arabic too, so you can tell her what a "rare treat" she didnt get. I'll make some German suffer for that, you can bet.

Well we are having a whale of a time just now but its too good to last. for some days we have been at a farm a couple of miles from the firing line, we have just been having rifle inspection, eating & sleeping, (heavy on the eating & sleeping) every afternoon there is a good baseball or football game to go to & last night we had a young Rugby game. My poor knees got it, but so long as I never get hurt any worse I wont holler. To-morrow there is a big final baseball game which promises to be exciting, & the next day -- ? goodness only knows where we will be or what we will be doing. we dont usually get such a good rest & time for nothing, perhaps they are working on the scheme of "shooting us while we're happy." I expect to see Big Archie & Mr. Scott & others next week sometime. I was talking to Mr. Campbell's nephew the other day about the big fruit farm etc. at Merton. He is not in our company. I daresay Ed & Pork have read about him in connection with Varsity Rugby, he was quarter back for years there.

I am writing this letter all cramped up, there was no room inside this time so I had to sleep out & made a shelter with my rubber sheet & some bags. Its dark now so I had to light a candle inside it & write this, there is no room to get all in so I left my 'nether limbs' outside at the mercy of the elements. My house is just big enough to shelter me & my rifle. The weather remains fine & cool & it gets dark quite early.

I dont know what you must think we are when you ask if we wear ordinary socks, "I should shay sho." I had a letter from Uncle Harry & Mrs. Brooke & Mrs. Fisher so you see I am well supplied. Mrs. Fisher says they get lots of air raids in London but they dont have much effect beyond stimulating recruiting & killing a few non-combatants. I get the papers every morning while we are out of the trenches so I get nearly all the latest.

I am glad to hear so many of the fellows are enlisting, Rabbit & Carson went in for a good thing in the Artillery. I think I would go in that if I had the chance. I suppose Ed & Pork will be busting their knecks trying to come. I know lots of fellows out here where there are 5 & 6 boys in the family & they are all here. But I dont think Ed could stand it for a year or so any way & by that time he'll be a little late. Tell Pork a Bugler puts in a fairly good time out here but he's not old enough, lots of Buglers never get any further than England.

Well as I am lying in a rather uncomfortable position & my candle is burning low I had better wring off. I saw Bud Lobb last night & he said, "Hello Duffer, havent they got you yet?"

love to all

Gordon.