No.1 Company, 1st Canadian Casualty Training Battalion, Shoreham-by-the-Sea No.5 Lines
November 5, 1916
Dear Jeanie,
I received yours a few weeks ago and glad to hear you are all well. So Neil has started to learn a trade! Well, it will be a lot better than the farm for him. But for heaven's sake, Neil, stay out of the army! It would kill you over in England in a week. Soldiering in Canada is a picnic but not here. If you want to join, why go into the C.A.S.C. (Canadian Army Safety Corps) or the Medical Corps but stay out of the infantry, Pioneers, or anything that is a fighting unit. Stay out of it altogether. You are too young. I know and so does Archie know what the army is. He'll tell you the same as me. Stay out of it before it is too late as once you sign your name you cannot get out of it, and this war will last a long time yet. When your country needs you she will take you. Well I have passed a medical board and I am warned for a draft but where it is going I do not know. It may go to France or it may only go to reserve battalions. So I will soon have the family represented on the front again. I have not heard from Archie lately but I suppose he is well enough as Aunt Nellie says he is cheery. Well I'll close now. As usual I have not much to say. Remember me to all.
Your affec. brother Ronald