Gunner Hale 1st Battery 6th Brigade F.A. 2nd Division C.E.F. Moore Barracks Shorncliffe England 11/4/15 My Dear Alice, I received the letter I expected yesterday and thank you so much. Do you know that is the only thing I look forward to? I look more for Canadian mail from you than I do for letters from home. That may not seem right to you, but its true. I am keeping those pictures that you and Lily send me for later on so we can look at them again, you and I. It is a grand day today - Sunday - but our battery is Duty Battery for the week so we have to go to stables three times today. We have been twice today so far and we have to go again at 3:45. After that we can go out except the men who are told off for guard. I am not on that so I will go to church tonight. I am also official dishwasher to the house but it is my turn today so I don't care. I was going to stay in today anyhow and write you a letter. I have a confession to make now. I lost my temper this morning in stables. It was like this. One of the Ammunition Column fellows was grooming the horse next to me and he was swearing all the time. The horse got nervous and restive and then the fellow kicked the poor horse in the stomach. So I went round and gave him a call. A corporal came along and wanted to know what the trouble was so I told him. He was going to report the guy but I would not go as witness so it dropped. After stables the fellow came to me and said he was sorry and thanked me for not taking him to office. So, it is O.K. again. But I don't like to see horses handled like that when the man himself is to blame. Do you? I think I was in the right that time. Don't you dear? Dear Alice talking about girls, I know you were only joking what you said in your letter, but really I have not been for a walk with a girl since I left you. Now I don't want you to think I am just writing this to fill up a letter, but I want you to know that I am not fooling with any girls in England. You are my own little girl and dear one is enough for me. I have not seen a girl in England who could compare at all with my little Canadian rose. Now do you trust me dear? Some of our fellows are married and some engaged and even then they go out with girls. It's a shame. I don't want you to think I am better than the others, but Alice, I love you sincerely and I know it now better than ever I did before. I am glad you say a prayer for Pat and myself. It is great to know that someone is thinking of you. Pat and I went for a nice walk last night. He is coming to church with me tonight. He is a catholic but that does not matter. He is a good fellow. I had a letter from Jack Kearney yesterday and all the boys and Cox wished to be remembered to me. He told me one of the moulders who lef the shop to go with the first contingent was killed in action. They are still only working four days a week so I am glad I am here. Yes dear, I will be glad when we go to the front. I want to help to clean up the Germans and being on the guns I will be better off. Gordon and I don't go out much at night. We stay in and talk about home in Montreal. Dear Alice, I don't think you would like to live in England again. It seems so different to Canada. So my little girl is going to be a bridesmaid. Well dear I hope it is nice and that you have a good time. I think you will look just lovely in a pink dress. Save me a piece of the cake and give the happy couple my congratulations and best wishes. When I can afford the change I will send you a money order so that you can buy a present from you and I. You don't mind me sending money because it is not the same now is it dear? You understand don't you? I had a letter from Jock this morning and he told me he was awfully sorry he did not see me before he left. He said his mother Aunt Sally would probably write to me and asks me to go and see them. I don't know what the fare is to Southampton, but if it is reasonable I may go and if not I won't because I am thinking now of 1917. Speaking of Easter, it rained the whole time from Friday until Tuesday so I stayed in barracks. Well dear Alice, it is nearly time for stables again so we shall have to go and visit our long faced brothers for the last time today. Tell Lily I am very sorry she has not got my letters yet. I think I wrote her three times. I will write her again this week. Well goodbye Sweetheart for this time. Give my love to Ma and Pa and Lily and remember me to all the rest of the people. (I do wish you were here tonight so we could go to church together.) I remain Your Loving Boy Bob Lots of love and kisses XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX When far away in foreign climes, My mind will wander with the (chimes) guns. And when at night in reverie. My sweetest thoughts will be of thee! Thanks so much for that beautiful little verse you sent on the P.C. Bobie XXXXXX