1st C.C.D.
Shorncliffe

Oct 6/18

Dear Mother.

Received your letters of Aug 18 & 29 the other days but there is one in between to come yet that is no. 32. No I guess it must be alright as you have 32 marked on the letter and 31 on the envelope, also Pats letter and one from Cecil of which I have answered this afternoon and have it addressed in care of you as he might not be in town when it gets there. Had a letter from Gordon this week but it was July 30th and have received two or three previous to that. I have seemed to have failed a lot in my letter writing lately as I do not seem to be able to write very little but I tell you it is mighty hard to write any thing as there is so little to write about, as every day is the same old thing over and over again. But I had a change for a couple of days answering defaulter for not having my bed made up in time and what made me sore was that fellows who made theirs after me got away with it but the next time they get me I will give them a good chance and do something worth while. After going this long and the only time I ever was up to start on a trifle like that make me sore, but will be careful first to see how I make out here because this is where it tales the tale - Canada or France - but I am very much afraid it is going to be the latter unless my old stomach doesn't do any better to help me out than it is doing at present, but of course it has no had much time yet. It is not by any means good a present but they seem to take it just for an ordinary stomach ache and only this morning got some pills for a laxative but nix on that stuff. I was on fatigues digging potatoes for three days last week and reported sick one day and got off of it as any lifting or any movement that puts a strain on my stomach hurt me quite a bit and mostly at nights the jabbing pains in my side makes things very uncomfortable and keeps me awake for quite a while at nights. Of course I have four classes to go through yet and each one gets a little harder so if I cannot get through them all will most likely make a category but even at that it might not be of very much benefit to me but if there is any possible chance of an operation am going to have one. I think the unit will be moving to Witby next week but am not quite certain although there has been a bunch gone already and pretty nearly everything is packed & ready to go and even if we do go you can still address my letters to the 1st C.C D Shorncliffe as they will get there just the same. It has been rather cold for the past week with quite a few rain showers but has brightened up pretty good this afternoon. I was going over to see the Young boys today but looked too much like rain and thought I would have a chance to see Alex Collie & Herb Price as I think they are both over there. Uncle Dick should be home by now if he sailed with that last bunch of returned men and heres hoping that your Uncle Dudley - me - will be doing likewise before Christmas. I am pinching my nickels uncase that I do make the grade and have about $125.00 to the good already so you see I have not been spending very much money in the last year. Well I guess I will draw to a close now although I will have to try to write to Pat very soon. She writes a pretty good letter for a kid so it should be my duty to answer them the best way I can. Hoping this finds everybody well at present. Love to all

Your loving son

Gordon