Belgium
October 30th, 1917

Dear mother & father;

It is only just now and then that I have time to drop a few letters so I am making use of this short spell before going back to the guns. I dropped you a "whiz bang" a day or so ago but of course this did not give you much news.

The last five or six days have been the busiest we have struck since arriving in France. It has been one continuous shift of work but notwithstanding I never felt better and am in the best of health. We received a Canadian mail last night but there is a previous one which has not yet located us. I got your letter of the 7th last night and also the dandy parcel of chocolate cake, sugar, peanut butter etc. The cake was simply great and I can assure you that my old-time taste for chocolate has not been lessened. By the way, don't worry if those boots are delayed in coming as I have my old ones fixed up and they are "ok" until they arrive. Those boots have paid for themselves ten times over and are just the thing for this country.

By the way, I saw Hillinan for the first time the other day We were buzzing along a road in a motor lorry and he was standing alongside it with a horse. I just had time to yell at him and that was all. He seemed to be looking fine. Perhaps I may see him again soon Things are pretty lively around here and we are seeing lots as well as working hard. The ground can best be described as one continuous swampond it is a job in itself pulling yourself through it. However where it is a general grievance it is not felt so much. People can talk as they like, but Fritz certainly is putting up a remarkable fight. If you could only come out here and see on what a gigantic scale this war is being waged it would certainly astound you. One has no idea of its immensity until he sees it at first hand.

Lester is at Reading now and I got a letter from him and Duke last night. They are both well and are having a fine time. So Mr. Austin spent a short while with you. I guess by now Mary is well into her fourth year at Varsity. Things must be very "dead" there, especially as now they have brought in conscription. However as soon as we finish up this business, we will liven things up there.

This is only going to be a short letter as time is very precious these day. My mail is getting badly in the rear but it is important to do much writing at present.

I hope you are both well and don't worry over us. I am in the best of health and ready for lots of work. Will write again soon. With much love as ever

Your loving son
Vaughan