Letter to Otto from Somewhere in France
8-25-17
Some where in France
Dear Otto:–
I want to try to answer with a deasent letter the last one that I got from you.
It rains out tonight. it is after nine P.M. in a rest billet hut. we are all lying around in our individual spaces of about 27 in. some of the boys are telling stories others writing and reading a bunch just listening and thinking I suppose of girls and loved ones a long way from sunny France.
Say Otto you can see a difference in boys up under shell fire, I have sat in a cellar under heavy shell fire for hours with bunches of men, the toughest of them don’t talk rough or tell stories that are indeasent but if one does tell a dirty story the boys don’t laugh at it or give it a warm reception but back here they go to the picture show and concerts that are all given free to the boys, they get rough as ever I think.
Well Otto you mentioned coming down to help me fix up my place this fall if I got back. Well I surely appreciate the offer but have nothing to do with the bringing about of the change that would bring me home again and I can’t even hope that I will come thru for I will be satisfied with what ever is Gods will toward me.
I have been sitting under shell fire and as they came with in a few ft of me I got up thinking that the next one would blot me out, but remember it was not making me worry in the least, as I think of that trip, I can’t hardly realize how I went thru with out more thot or unesiness at times.
Why I have ran down a trench carrying the m.g. with my head down and waiting for a shell to strike that was sending dirt bricks and every thing from 50 to 100 ft straight up. I have been cover with this dope from head to foot, but never buried remember just showers, I saw a big shell strike and not explode raise and go about 75 yds again but it was a dud, it did not explode.
When it is dry in the line there is nothing to make it hard at all only the worry or strain they speak of, well I will have to get a shell closer to me before they starte to worry me, so I have a good time up the line, we stand to all night and sleep or eat or talk all day now look the boys that it bothers don’t eat much and can’t sleep so you can easily see how the strain works them down well I sleep from 8 to 10 or 12 hours a day and eat just a good meal and quit. We make tea once a day or more and had this trip in, fresh boiled beef once a day. we only ate bully once on the whole trip as you see they look after use good. I have to roll in for lights are going out now.
(Next day)
We had a little parade for a short while this A.M. it is windy today and lovely now, if it don’t rain it will soon be dry again.
We have received poor reports of the crop conditions up to the 1st of Aug. but I still hope they will turn out better than the letters make me think.
I salvaged some hiney souvenirs that I am sending home. it is fine to chose a bunch of them out of a trench and get there oil sheets to sleep in while you are there. I brot one back, it makes a good sleeping bag.
It is hard when you think of the acres of villages that are lying in heaps of bricks with the wood frame work sticking out of the piles.
We take cover in cellars and behind walls and any such places as that.
It is an experience that would be great for any one if they werent going to get hurt, to be up there at day break when an advance starts why the old air is just alive with shells and m.g. bullets, It is great to see the over head sharpnel shells burst they just seem mad as they explode the flame and black smoke mixing with the air.
Any pictures of the canadian infantry you see you can picture me in the same perdicament at times for we have it all to go thru sooner or later.
We don’t get but very little wind in this country and it is warm in comparison to canada, It wont bother use to stay out here over winter if she lasts and we do, The marching is all right now I can handle any of this life just like a joak, and old boy I am glad to I never knew that I could be a tough guy untill they put up against it, but I never catch cold and feel game for any thing
Well bye bye to Kate and the dear little also you old boy as ever Laurie