L/Sea HJWoodgate V33300
H.M.C.S. Drumheller
c/o G.P.O. London Eng
Thurs Aug 24th 1944

Dear Wally :-

Received your swell letter a few days ago and I was very pleased to hear from you once again.  Was glad to hear that everything is O.K. with you down there.  All is well at this end of the line and am enjoying the best of health.

I was ashore last night for the first time in a month and a half and believe me it was good to get back on solid ground for a change.  I wouldn’t have gone only I wanted to test my will power as to drinking and you’ll think that surprises never cease, but it held firm and didnt go anywhere near a pub all night.  Good eh?

In the afternoon my two chums and I went to the show and saw “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and was it ever good.  After we came out of the show we went to the new Canadian canteen which has just opened up here.  It really is a swell place and had lots of good things in it which I hurridly bought.

Gee kid I had a lovely parcel from Doris the other day.  It was for my birthday and it took over three months to reach me.  But as the old saying goes better late than never.  Here are a few things it contained.  1 A lovely picture of herself  2. A lighter with my initials on it and also and four words inscribed on it 3.  A cake 4.  Biscuits  5. Chocolate bar and a host of other swell things.  Doris is really a dear no kidding about that either.  She has that bag Maureen beat a couple of million times.  What say kid?

Had a couple of nice letters from Viv.  She has more boyfriends now than you can count on an adding machine.  She really is getting around.  I guess she is in Sudbury now on her holidays.

So you are having quite a hot time of it down there eh?  It hasn’t been too bad around here.  It can’t seem to make up its mind as it wants to do.

Why you naughty boy, going out and getting drunk on wine.  I’ll bet you had a swell time though so I guess thats all that matters.  These Italian babes must be giving you the time of your life eh?  I would like very much to take a trip down around that place and then maybe I would get to see you.  God if that ever happens we sure would have a swell time eh?

Well Wally I guess this is all I have to say for this time but I shall write again soon.  So until then So Long and take good care of yourself.

Good Luck

Your Best Pall
Jake