Monday Morning.

June 17/1918

My Dear Mother:

Yesterday was the first Sunday I missed writing since coming to France. I put if off purposely until this morning hoping the mail delivery would bring a letter from you. And it did.

I can never say I am sorry to hear from you but I am sorry to hear the news this one brought this morning. - So Syd is missing. I hadnt heard from him for over a month. He owed me a letter for some weeks and I was beginning to wonder if anything had happened him. - It surely is hard luck. Missing is such a terrible thing It is better to know the truth and be finished with the agony of course there is always the chance of him being prisoner. A fair number of Flying Corp chaps are forced to land and consequently captured probably slightly injured but no more. We see a fair number of similar cases among the Germans brought down on this side of the line. Lets hope Syd is only missing and we will hear better news soon. With the number of prisoners the Bosche claim to be taking lately it means all the longer before any one is reported captured to our war-office However by the time this reaches you we may have heard more definite news. - It is hard to write Mrs. Hustwill under the circumstances. Because she will know definitely one way or the other before my letter would reach her. If I tried to write a cheery letter she would probably have heard the worst and think I was unsympathetic and on the other hand a letter of sympathy would seem ridiculous if Syd was reported o.k.

We didn't know May 12th was mothers day in the English army. I was sorry to have missed it but then I wrote on that day anyway.

So Auntie Norrie was down for a few days. Arthur must be a wonderful boy. They are evidently making some fine improvements about the old house

Aunt McClain must be sinking fast. I hope I will be able to see her again. But it sounds hardly likely.

Baker certainly is a fool to marry before he knew his examination results. He must be a queer chap from different things I have heard recently.

Hard luck about Wallace. I hope they wont need to amputate. Was it the left or right hand he hurt? I will be anxious to hear what they have had to do with him. - Was he going to try his matric too?

Things dont sound very healthy among our friends with Mr Gollop dead. Ruth Duff and Gordon Eaton serious also Aunt McClain.

Dont worry about sending Laura Secords If there is any trouble. Parcels are very uncertain in France and by the time I do receive them it is very doubtful if it is worth it. I get along absolutely fine for every necessity so you have no reason to worry about things at all.

I have had letters from both Vance and Stew today. How is Mrs Graham keeping up? Stewart is having a fairly lively time of it I hope he is keeping that side of it dark from his mother.

This has been a rather uneventful week for me. We have made one complete trip from ‘up line' down to ‘base' and are now nearing our advanced loading town for another load. - We have taken in a few army concerts and movie shows during the quiet evenings. Outside of that nothing exciting has happened.

No doubt Lorene is hard at it these days. I will try to send a wire off to her on Thursday so she will have it for Monday. She should get her exams alright.

Was glad to hear you are finding the car so good. No doubt the Chevrolet has improved a good deal since it first came out a couple of years ago. You people will have a decent time this summer and father should surely find his work a pleasure if not a picnic. What time does he get home now? - Noon?

Well there is certainly not a great deal more to say today I hope the mail deliveries decide to come and go a little more regularily in the future. They are certainly none to brilliant lately.

Lovingly

Charlie

PS.

I almost forgot to mention that I received another grand letter from Aunt Berry last night. My opinion of her as a poor correspondent is changing at least She is doing fairly well at it this year. She and uncle are very anxious that I spend my hospital time in a Chicago hospital. In someways it would be a good idea I would meet knew men and get new ideas But on the other hand by going back to the General I will find more sympathy for my "lost knowledge" since coming overseas. The suggestion is certainly worth considering. Evidently Auntie and Uncle are anxious I should take up work with them when I want to settle down. There are a good few advantages to be working with Uncle and again there are other advantages in Toronto. However it is too early to worry yet.

CJW