Feb 2nd 1915

16880 No 4 Coy
1st B.C. Regt
2nd Brigade
1st Can Exped Force

My Dearest Kate,

I received you letter of the 16th Jan today just one day later than the one of the eleventh. I was rather afraid that I wasn't going to hear that you had received the watch until we were in France. I knew that you would write as soon as you got it but it takes the mail so long to get across these days. I was glad to hear that you were so pleased with it dear. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get one as I enquired in two or three jewellry stores: have I spelt it right? before I could get what I wanted. The store I got it at was just a small one & they only had two of them so you see I hadn't much to chose from so you can guess how glad I feel that you like it. You must have been eager to get it to slip out of the store for it. I hope you didn't have to pay much duty on it I should have paid that on this side but I always understood that the duty was taken off things like that for a certain length of time before & after Christmas. I guess Miss Newton felt a little disappointed that she hadn't received her parcel after all that time but I hope she has got it before now as its very annoying to have to wait so long for anything when you know that it has been sent away. Tell Will that I didn't send you the watch to make you get up in the morning We had a raffle on a Waltham watch in the hut last night the drawing was on while I was writing your letter so if I made any mistakes you must excuse me dear as the row was awful. My pal was the lucky winner & everyone has been asking him the time about every five minutes since. I think if I do the same with you when I get back you will wish the watch somewhere else. No putting it back to keep me out late at nights because you know I always like to get home early (I don't think). Sorry to hear dear that you felt so lonely that night when you were waiting for Bee but glad that you were feeling better at the singing class. I often feel the same myself when I am alone especially at night when I am on guard & if it's a starry night, I keep looking at them & counting them & wonder what you are doing. Of course you are not doing the same thing at the same time as we are a little ahead of time here to Victoria, but I always think about the time long ago when we used to sit on the beach & count them together & long for that time to come again. I am afraid I shall miss the last car home the first night or two (but we should worry) I think you will have to give me some singing lessons when I do get back as you must be pretty expert at it by now. I think it would just suit you too: to watch me opening my mouth in front of a mirror. I hope Oscar isn't a German spy. Its too bad dear that you made the cholera belt too small as it must be quite a job to make those things. I have been wearing one of them ever since I was sick & I think they are a fine preventative against chills especially on this job as we often have to lay about on the damp ground for an hour on end perhaps after an hours marching or skirmishing around when of course we get pretty warm. I think these belts have helped to keep me fit ever since I have been using them. We have had a wretched day at the range today from eleven oclock until 4.30 & raining the whole time & we had to lay around the whole time we only fired 15 rounds each which we were supposed to get off in one minute. We had to lay down with the ammunition in our pouches & we were supposed to take the chargers out & load & fire the 15 rounds in 60 seconds I don't think any of us got them all off as we were supposed to take careful aim at every shot. I managed to get seven off & put on five hits on the target which was not so good as I have done, the last time I got off nine for nine hits. I hope you were able to get the two weeks holiday & that you had a good time but I hope you weren't broke when you got back to work. I hope the photographer will please you better than the last one did although I think that was a very good picture. Dont forget to send me one when you get them What do you think of the one I had copied? I hope you got it alright. Two of the boys here have just come back from a visit to the 16th Batt where those boys from Victoria are for the present. They are feeling pretty happy about it too at present they are singing? a duet. The boys from Victoria are attached to the 16th Battalion (Highland Brigade) but I think they are trying to be attached to us until the time comes for them to join the Princess Pats I believe they want them to wear the kilts over there & they dont like the idea so they are trying to be attached to the British Columbia's. Yes dear I am feeling fit for the best German that ever lived, after all they have been doing to the women & children over there, just imagine them doing the same in England. Its been bad enough here with the bombardment of the East Coast & the Zeppelin raids but that's nothing to what they have done in Belgium. They don't deserve any mercy at all after that & instead of keeping them as prisoners at the country's expense they ought to be shot at once & that would be a better death than lots of them deserve. We have a marching chorus for the B.C. Regt. It goes to the tune of Maryland I think its pretty good & it goes pretty good on the march I will write it down for you for your approval & if you like it sing it to Oscar to see what he thinks of it This is how it goes

We're the boys from the west of Canada
From the Province they call B.C.
We are out to do our best
Along with all the rest
All for the cause of Liberty
Oh! Motherland dear Motherland
We are one of the family
We're the boys from the west of Canada
From the Province they call B.C.

I dont know who the poet is but I think he is one of the boy's in the Kootenay bunch. I think this is all I have to say now dear so will close with tons of love & thousands of kisses XXXXXXXXXX

From
Your Ever Loving
Jack

P.S. Don't forget that photo when you get it. I shall be on the lookout for it in another week or two Please remember me to all

Good bye dear
Jack