France,
December 22nd, 1917

Dear Brother Earle:

Twelve midnight and half an hour until I am relieved so will drop you a line. I am on duty on the exchange. Have a big fire going and am perfectly comfortable but a bit sleepy. Received your letter of November 23rd yesterday.

Well we are again on the line and at work. We had hoped for at least two weeks rest when we came from Belgium but it did not materialize and we came out to the line again yesterday or at least a part of the battery did and we went into action today. Some more of the boys came up tonight and the rest are coming tomorrow. We are back again in our old position which we vacated on going north to Belgium and as it is the best position we have had since coming to France we consider ourselves very fortunate indeed and are not sorry to have missed our rest for after all one is more comfortable in one's own little dugout in winter than in billets back of the line which are actually old barns, open to the weather and with just enough straw in them to make it unsafe to have a fire. We are having splendid weather, clear and cold. The ground is frozen hard, a pleasant change from Belgian mud, and we have had a couple of flurries of snow.

Well the election is over and the Union Government is in again. P.E. Island seems to have returned opposition members. This may possibly be changed when the soldiers' vote is counted if any of them have a small majority for the soldiers' vote went strongly for the government. Personally I would like to see Warburton and Sinclair in and yet I think that a change of government at this time would be rather unfortunate and a change in government could mean the delay in reinforcements and possibly continuation of the voluntary system which is dead and so I felt that I owed it to myself to support the government. I believe the auto question on the Island was the chief factor against the government and that is rather a pity for the introduction of autos is going to be a great thing for our little province.

Well my relief has come so I must say goodnight and go to bed. Will write again when I have more time. All well. With best wishes for New Year and with love to all

Your brother, Harold