France
June 13 / 17

My Dear Betty:

I have received your letters No 24-25-26, got them yesterday, so have got them all up to date, am trying to write this evening & answer them as I am joining the battalion tomorrow - you see for the past 10 days I have been with an entrenching battalion, going our in charge of working parties etc, & though the C.M.R's have not been very far away, yet I have not as yet joined them - however I hope to be with them this time to morrow evening, & I shall be very glad to be among the boys one again. I believe we are on the eve of big events here, & probably long before this reaches you I shall have been in the thick of it, however dear I can only repeat what I have already written in my previous letters For myself I am not afraid - my only anxiety if for you & the kiddies, may God bless you with all needed blessing is my continual prayer.

Yes dear I can imagine how you would feel when you heard that I was still in England & I can imagine Shirley & Billy ministering to you the kiddies are going to be a help & a comfort to you.

You have certainly had the cleaning fever, but I guess it is intermittent with you - nothing would please me more than to drop in, all unexpectedly & have the opportunity of passing an opinion upon it - however I am sure that it must look nice & cosy & bright, & I am looking forward to the great day, when I shall return God willing to enjoy it with my little family won't we have the time. I try to picture it again & again as I march - work or sit or lay in my dugout - but it seems as far away as yet.

I have decided again & again how I would take you all by surprise & then when the greetings were over - how I would take a big - long bath - get into my dressing gown, & ly on the lounge (so glad to rest with my family about me) & let you all talk & talk & talk etc. etc. This is the only hope which keeps a fellow going over here - for all are so sick & tired of the war - Though without exceptions all are equally & steadfastly determined to see the game through. The long looked for day will however, dawn at last dear, & the past with its hardships - worry - suffering & sacrifice will seem like a dream. I too was surprised to hear of Mrs Riley sending the $1-50, it would some in handy. Yes didn't I think of you on the anniversary of our wedding you will have received my letters ere this also the little book let us hope that we celebrate our eighth together. I am not quite sure whether or no I received the 4th box - but I think likely I did - anyways if I did I have acknowledged it. You are wise in getting in all you fuel, I would get in all that you need & not leave any until fall, it will be cheaper & better in every way - then you know if I should happened to come home in the near future, what an easy time I shall have for a while, get other men to work while you have the chance, for I'll want to visit with my family for a long time - play with the kiddies & let you talk to me. ah-ah. Its real good though of Mr Burchill thank him for me & tell him how I appreciate his kindness. Its just as well to let the children stay away from Gunns - I appreciate their kindness, but its just as well not to be too dependant, I am very sorry that Mrs Gunn had been so sick & hope that she is better, remember me kindly to them all. With you last letters I also got one from Mr Stout & J. George Sinclair they have written me several times - pretty faithful friends etc? it would be nice if you could go out to Gildo this summer if only for a few days, they would be very pleased to see you I'm sure. When I read about Billy & the bicycle I kind of wished you had bought him one, but on second thoughts you did the best thing, he would need lots of looking after - But tell my little sonny that if he looks after Mother, & is a real good boy - When Daddy comes home he'll get him one of the best that is going - my couldn't I picture him counting over his coppers - & couldn't I just understand his thoughts & his longing - I've been there myself, & with no prospect of having my longing gratified. Am glad Shirley is getting on so well at school & that she likes it thought I'm a little dubious of the lover proposition, she's starting kind of young, I'm afraid that I shall scarcely know my son & daughter when I get back, especially if it is another year or so. In one of your letters you spoke or asked if I had thought of taking a farm - I have thought of it, & am thinking seriously of it, it is not a bad offer one would get 160 acres & $2,000 loan without interest for 10 years, then I could homestead another 160 acres, and there is no doubt that these settlements will be picked land we should have the government behind us, & get everything we wanted within reason. Then I have had thoughts of being able to organize a Union Church - one church for the whole community, & run on practical lines. Am thinking the thing out & certainly do not feel like going back to the old conditions - let me know what you think. Re the matter of the past dear Betty & your feeling that I have kept myself bottled up etc - I guess its true enough, I have realized it often myself, & I know that I am not a very sociable being, but I suppose there is a reason or perhaps more than one = You know Betty, that mine has always been some what of a sensitive nature - taken things too seriously & then along with that, my joyless boyhood; altogether mine had been a rather lonely life & a hard one. I have never chosen the easiest part, & I perhaps have made the mistake of expecting others to take as serious a view of life as I.

However I can say this that the best part of my life & the happiest is the last seven years, & without doubt the mistake has been mine in not sharing more of my interests etc with you. However we can only look to the future, & if God spares us, profit by the past, & it may be that this time of parting & anxiety may teach us both lessons in value & teach us also to appreciate each other more as well as bear & forbear a little more.

Well my dear I must close for now, I will try & write if only a short letter after I have joined the battalion my address will still be 1st C.M.R. Canadians B.E.F. Tell Shirley & Billy, I am going to try & write them a letter all to themselves soon. My dearest love to you all God bless & keep you dear ones lots of hugs & kisses.

Lovingly yours
Daddy
Will.

Betty xxxxxxxxxxx
Shirley xxxxxxxxxxx
Billy xxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. Am enclosing two roses which I picked from the garden of a Monastry now for a heap of ruins.