France
Aug. 10/1917

Dear Mother -

I received your letters of July 8th & 15th this week but have been too lazy to settle down to write before this. I also got a letter from Aunt Minnie & will have to answer that some of these days. There is not much news to write about anyway but will try to scribble a few lines anyway. I saw Young Hurley this week and he was telling me Bill Waite got killed the first day he was in the line not long ago. He was working in the Y.M.C.A. since he came out here but was marked active a short while ago & got it right off. Poor fellow he enlisted the same day as I did along with Charlie Hawlett. I saw the fellow that used to work in the bakery for Jack Taylor this week too but did not get a chance to speak to him. I was talking to a fellow trying to find out where Andres battalion was billeted when I saw him pass & they spoke to one another but it never struck me that I knew him but I seemed to think I knew him so asked him who he was but cannot think of his name. We had a good weeks rain but it has cleared up quite a bit now but still have a shower or two each day. I had a parcel from Aunt Mabel with a small parcel of candy in it each for Andrew and Fred so took it over to them. I think they are safe from going in the line any more. It is funny Gordon White never mentioned about being turned down as he said he would be due for France before long. There was three of our boys recommended for the military medal a few days ago and our Sergt was amongst them and I happened to be mixed up in the fun too but we all got off scot free with the exception of a few mules. For some reason or other I have not got any Winnipeg mail for quite a long time. I guess my girls have all gone back on me. My old stomach has been no bon for a long time and when I went to see the MD. He told me that I would have to buy whatever would agree with me as I cannot eat meat or anything like that unless I got a bad touch of indigestion. He just politely told me there could be nothing done as I could not be dieted with the rations we get and the worst of it has to be done one $1.50 a week unless I can get on the good side of the paymaster, and often get the Sergts goat for laying off work. The boys are just home from a concert & are telling about what happened and there is another one tomorrow night. Well I guess I will close hoping these finds you all well at home, and will indulge in a hand or two of 500

Your loving son

Gordon