March 14th 1915

My Dearest Kate

I received your letters of the 11th & 16th Feb this week while in the trenches so you can guess how welcome they were. I got the one of the 16th the day before the one of the 11th which seems funny & five days differences in the mailing of them. We are out for a rest now after three days in the trenches. We had a little excitement this time when we were in, out job was to keep the enemy in front of us busy while an attack was being carried out on the flanks which was successful. We are expecting the orders to take the trenches in front of us before long now at least we are hoping for it. We have got off pretty lucky so far with casualties. One man in our Company has been killed so far & two or three wounded. I got a bullet through my valise & blanket but luckily it was on the parapet at the back of the trench & not in my back. The blanket is cut up pretty bad. We have been having good news from all along the line the last few days & I hope it will continue to come in. I received the papers alright yesterday. Who had that picture put in the "Colonist" of Feb 21st? I wouldn't believe it when the boys told me of it. They all want to know how much it cost me to have it put in. I saw Jack Gibberd & Cecil Sivall the other day. J. H wishes to be remembered to you all. I didn't have a chance to speak to C.S as he was on his motor truck. Glad to hear that you had a good time at Mrs Martins. I suppose that was a farewell given to the boy's of the 30th Batt. I hear they are at Shorncliffe. I hope they haven't got it so muddy as we had it at Salisbury Plain. I should like to have seen Jims face at the party.I'll bet he was a little sore. It's a good job for Sam Heuson that he was having Victoria as there would be a death in his family. I am sorry to have to disappoint you about the badges but they weren't sent on in time before we left England & I guess its all off with them now as its awkward to send off any parcels from here. I got a letter from Jim & [?] yesterday. Tell them I will write them as soon as possible we have had some pretty rotten weather up to the last two days which have been fine & I hope the weather will brighten up again & dry up the mud a little. Its pretty bad in our trench & after three days of it we are covered in clay from head to foot & it takes us quite a while to scrap it off after its dry but "we should worry" Its all in a lifetime. We are billeted at present in a town which has been badly smashed up & there are very few civilians left here. The house I am in used to be a butchers shop & judging from appearances the people were pretty well fixed but had to close down in a hurry & leave it all. IT must have been hard for the people to clear out from their homes like they did. I see by the papers that you sent me that the Canadians reported to be in the trenches at that time. I think that was a little early although we were in the inside of a week from that date. I see the "Pats" have been mentioned in Sir J Trench's dispatches for valuable work done. Wait until this Regt gets busy. Well dear I must close now as the last call is gone for mail & I want to get this off Tons of love & kisses XXX
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Jack

Kind regards to all friends.