Saturday July 1st 1916.

#460609 Pte L. Sinclair

“A Comp” 3rd Battln.

1st Can. Div. B.E.F. France

Dear Mother:-

Dominion day. I thought I’d drop a line. It has been lovely out all day, and a wonder it has not rained. Hardly a day goes by but what it rains a little and I suppose the cannonading has a lot to do with it. Sometimes the air just trembles with it and at nighttime with the flashes from the guns its like a thunderstorm in the distance.

You never saw such a bright light as that which is thrown from the German Star shells, and they must put up thousands each night. With their signals its like fireworks at an exhibition but as soon as any of this fancy work starts its [?] to move. One never knows what he may pull off especially when he is up in the air.

Without these shells, walking about in the mud here would be something crude, as it was I almost got round shouldered trailing my nose on the ground. Its funny walking, you’ve to continualy pass the word back of all the bad ground you pass over. You can imagine us ploughing through the mud, and its nothing [?].

Hole on the left,” “Hole on the right.” “Watch your step,” “Wire overhead”, “Wire underfoot, “Step up,” “Step down,” naturally ones eyes are on the ground, then all of a sudden some of your artillery may open up and it darn near knocks you down when you are not expecting it. Of course its nothing to sit down in the slush five or six times each evening.

Such is life here. I think most of Belgiums in sandbags. I know I’ve dug up about two acres of the soil already and I wouldn’t giveany one ten cents for it. I had a nice ride on a bus here one night. It was rather chilly sitting on the top about 2.30 in the morning but all you had to do was to imagine you were riding along the Strande, and watching Fritz’s fireworks.

Well mother everythings jake with me and I hope its the same at home. I’ve received no mail as yet but expect some any day now.

Remember me to all and give my regards to them. Your loving son.

Larry.