291494 C Coy 222 Batt C.E.F.
Army Post Office
London England
Dec 10th /16

Sunday 5-30 PM

My Dear Betty:-

Sunday again our 3rd in England, & it has been raining a good part of the day, also we were firing on the range in the forenoon, Sunday is the same as any other day now - firing in the morning & in the afternoon preaching at the Y.M.C.A. seems funny dosn't it?

I suppose you will be thinking about getting your lunch now & then a little later getting the kiddies ready for Sunday School, how I'd like to look in on you

Well I guess the colonel's recommendation has been accepted - I am to report at Brigade Headquarters on Tuesday Dec 12. It may be that before you receive this letter I shall have cabled you for money in order to procure my officer's outfit, so that you will have some surprise, though I do hope dear that you will not worry or have trouble in raising the money. By this mail I am writing Mr Barton of the "Confederation Life" & asking him to put through a loan on the Policies they hold ($1,000 & £2000)I think this will be the best way of getting it, & then as soon as possible, when I receive my Government outfit allowance which I understand is about $200 or 250 dollars we can repay it. I shall also write Mr R.J. Kennedy, & ask him to help you in arranging it - also sending the money across if it can be managed. I shall need at least $150 dollars - It seems quite an expense to begin with, but it will only be a matter of a month or two before it will come back to us. About the mortgage I would not bother about paying any of the principal just yet (you are protected on that) just pay the interest, though even that you are not compelled to pay. In a few days I hope to let you have more particulars

In regard to the money I may be able to borrow it from some of my people, until such time as I receive it from you I have not asked any of them as of yet. I am afraid that the last two or three letters will not be of much interest to you & probably the cause of some little worry etc but I hope not. The thing has come very unexpectedly & I guess now that I shall not be able to see my people for some time to come, as I have learned sence commencing this letter that the Officer's training course which I am to take is to commence on Dec 15th (Friday) at the Canadian Military School, Crowborough, Sussex I am alittle disappointed, but still there is a little compensation in the fact, that if I am successful I shall be able to go home with a commission, & it is possible that we may get a short X-mas leave from the School. How is my little family getting along? I do hope & pray that you are all keeping well & better from colds, For your dear sakes I'm going to make every possible effort to make a success of the job I have undertaken - get as much as possible out of the experiences that come to me, & of God sees fit to bring me back to you in safety, We will have many happy days in the enjoyment of all that comes to us in these days of mutual sacrifice. Remember me to Mr & Mrs Gunns & family, I will write then when I get settled again. "Good Night" sweetheart fondest love - kisses & hugs to my dear wife & kiddies.

Daddy.

Mother xxxxxxxxx
Shirley xxxxxxxxx
Billy xxxxxxxxx