Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
Some where in France
8-5-17[sic]

Dear Mother:–

I am sitting out on the grass about 200 yds from my dugout. Moter while I think, the thing I would like the most is that you would send me the “Onwards” any time you get them. My how I like to see some of the boys get them there is always two good pages on them that I like to get. Use knew fellows seem to worry the older boys, for we go on laughing and talking about the shells and asking questions. they say I am a fright at asking questions, and some times as the shells would go thru the air I would imitate them, and this hurts a man that has been badly shook up, but I had no idea that I was hurting any one. I will try to not do it again.

There is lots of mud, but it is a kind that gets on your shoes and don’t wash off so your feet may get damp, but mine don’t get badly wet, I change socks when I get in after my trips and sleep like a top. If we work nights we get breakfast when we get in and sleep till noon, and then clean up. An aroplain just went over so low I could see the mans head in it. You should see me walking down a trench with a rifle on one shoulder and a shovel on the other laughing at the fellow ahead sliping and sliding around I suppose the man behind me is laughing at me. Well Mother I must quit for we are just going to have our little service in shell hole.

5.30 P.M. 8-7-17

Dear Mother I got a letter from Mrs Peel tonight and it was fine, she has a great christian experience, and it seems a shame that her family are not like her for think of the real joy she would get from there discussion on the night and a.m. readings and there influence would help other to, it could not be other wise.          I am in rest billets tonight, and it is a dandy night. I am lying in the clover grass out by the Y.M.C.A. The Y affords great amusement and a writing tent, but nothing in the way of a place for worship or a service of any kind in the evenings, we hold our little service on the hill side not far away.

I havent been tired yet to speak of, not as much as I was on Monday you will remember me mentioning it in a letter when I first hit France. It has been no harder than England training, and I have never worked longer yet with out sleep, all tho I expect to later on.     I got a package of candy cookies from Annie last night they were fine.    Well Mother it is great to see hundreds of army horses eating the best of clover here loose, there is no crop to hurt so the boys turn there teams loose and ly around while they fill up, We drill here lots of times on the nicest clover parade ground, we did not have that in canada. [written around a large pencilled note "Mrs H. E. Duncan Rhein Sask."]

I took this address as we marched in one evening for fear any thing might happen and I would write his wife. You remember me speaking about Duncan on the transport, we are side by side all the time in the gun team, he is still rough, he don’t seem to want to change, he may tho up the line yet. My entire crumb role has amounted to 14 now, but the eggs seem to be bum they don’t hatch right te. he. You should see the batches some of them have If they could put finger nail pressure on there whole shirt at once there would be an awfull death roll.

Well bye bye Mother dear as ever your loving son Laurie

[margin] Did you ever get Bristol photos or post cards, and the transport photograph

[margin p.2] 8-8-17 6 P.M. I was on fatigue fixing tennis court at Y today. Laurie. Got two letters today