I had a letter from John and Alick lately. 7th Batt in active Service July 4 1915 My dear Sister. Your two letters and a P.C.'s received some days ago. We were kept so busy for the last two weeks that I could'nt get time to write a letter anyway was sending somebody at home a P.C. every two or three days. I received your last P.C. today Sunday. I'm pleased to all you're all well as it leaves me the same. We are now billeted in an old barn about two miles behind the firing line, and enjoying our nest very much. We had a quiet spell in the trenches this last time but was quite lively the spell before. I suppose you've redd in the papers about the charge of our 1st Brigade and the way they had to give up the dearly won lines of trenches owing to shortage of ammunition and their reinforcements being late to arrive. They wouldn't have to give up our own lines if the 2nd Brigade hadn't arrived in the nick of time. Shouldn't be telling such tales but we've read them ourselves in the London papers fully a week ago. I admire the courage of old John McLean MacGrimsay. It was hard luck he couldn't pass his medical exam. I'm fully aware one Volunteer is worth three pressed men, the former is the kind that's wanted here. I mentioned in my last letter that I got your parcel OK and that the S.Cake could'nt be better. You don't need to bother sending any milk or Cocoa as I'm used to do without such nowadays. I will always welcome any cake and a few sweets, if you would send the sweets in a tin can they would arrive in better shape. You'll understand that the parcels get quite a lot of flinging around. I'm sorry to hear about James McGregor. I done my best to find him when we took up the line at Festubert. I suppose that's where he was lost. Still his mother should'nt loose her hopes as he might turn up yet. Our Batt/. lost heavely at that place. But they were too slow to catch me so far, and I hope they'll be the same in future. I afterwards found out what D.C. did, it was too bad neither of us knew, he never answered my last letter to him. I wrote him from Ypres when I first came out. I seen in an old Peoples Journal abut Murdo McLellan, I would be pleased if you would send mac a P.J. instead of your weekly P.C. I would get the news of the Highlands better, and should you like to enclose a P.C., it would be always welcomed. D.J. and Malcolm are in their usual, I suppose it would be somebody that was complaining about the heat. I don't feel it much. It's a long way off July in Canada. You wanted Malcolm adress for Mac na Carnell 16666 Pte M.M.D. No 3. Boy No 10. Platoon 7th Batt/. and so on. I don't understand how in the world did M. get such a wild name, as he's the finest and most obliging fellow I met in all my travels. D.J. is just the same old sixpence you know. I think I better come to a close with my best regards to each and all. Hoping to see you all soon. But if its not to be, You'll always remember that I fell in my favourite place, fighting for home and freedom. Yours affec Brother