Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

Monday P.M.
Somewhere in France
6-11-17[sic]

Dear Mother:–

It started to rain about 4.30 A.M. but we were dry sleeping upstairs in our billets I enjoyed several hours ride by day in a first class coach while I was not out sitting on the top of the car. The country in France is beautiful at this time of the year we surely like to see the open prairy like there is here in lots of places but not such big stretches as at home

we had about a three mile march today and are billeted in a big brick hay barn 35 of use, lots of room and lots of hay and straw to sleep in. someone just asked McKeith if he got a good dinner he said yes, Considering that there was nothing coming to use, te he. he is billeted in other qts. well you know we are getting lots or I wouldent be seeing the funny side of things I have my old haver sack over loaded all the time I have stuff in it that I got at Witley yet so don’t worry at all.

We are starting a M.G. coarse so I guess I will be a M. gunner yet. I am glad I have the experience because this will be a short coarse. We have not seen any mud yet I saw the best metal road this A.M.. that I have ever seen yet, any where.

Five of use are still together from Hazenmore but we lost Fred Nelson this A.M. he went to a different line of work, we are getting closer friends each day I am glad you can’t here what we here every minuit of the day or night you can’t have any idea what the bombardment sounds like. it is at Pontex and we are at Kincaid Sask. do you get me. I wish I was back at old Hazenmore for a few hours only to tell you all about what we see and how we enjoy the novelty all I carry or have in the world is a shaving out fit tooth brush, knife fork spoon two out side flannel shirts one pair of short over knees summer drawers no under shirt no sweater four pairs of good socks 4 handkerchiefs a small kit that is my sewing and darning outfit gray coat towel tunic pants puttees khakie cap no mittens or gloves we can’t think of carring a stitch more so don’t send me any thing at all for I can’t use any thing. we will get issued with the stuff we need in the fall.

6 P.M. Supper is over we had rice evaporated cream good tea, bread and cheese I never tried to starve any one at my place but if any six men would have come to my place and cleaned up the same quantity of cheese as they issued me tonight at one meal I would say that they were particularly fond of cheese, so I have enough for the next three meals anyway, we get 1/6 of a loaf of bread to a meal or two big army biscuits that are good, the biscuits seem funny they taste better to me if I take them and eat them alone, instead of having jam or butter, they are good, we have no crumbs yet,

I lent my endelible pencil to night and I like to have it because I am afraid before the letters get read all around the last one will have a hard time to get all that I write with a soft lead pencil.

The people we are billeted with have ten nice red cows all look alike well bread, and they have a cage of pet rabits that I like to pet all draft horses are driven with jerk line, I don’t know how they inspire the horse to turn yet tho.

The boys are playing ping pong, I am in the Y.M.C.A.

We are in for a few good days here because they started use out to shine up our stuff and that is a good sign that there an’t much doing,

The French people are about the same stage in –– as the minenites that is the people we see going across country in the towns and villages. but the wemen are very well built and strong and health. little boys that can walk can smoke fags and the ones that can talk ask for them, the little girls ask for souvenirs and the Hawkers follow up the soldiers with candy and oranges for sale just like the crows do in England for the remains of our lunches.

Well good bye Mother dear as ever your dearest boy Laurie

P.S. we have seen coal mine on our trips and the nicest couleys of big trees and long grass on it is great I don’t blame the French boys for fighting for there country.