Camp Valcartier
April 9, 1941

CANADIAN GRENADIER GUARDS

Dear Donald,
I just received your box of maple sugar and it sure is good and many thanks for it. I guess the syrup season is nearly finished now. Willie Robert told me in his last letter that the syrup making is nearly finished. I suppose you had lots of fun gathering sap and boiling at the house. There is one sugar camp about 2 miles from where we are here. But they would not let us go over where it is was. I would have gone only we were told if we went it would mean trouble for us when we came back so I did not go. How is Irving and all the rest of the people at your place. Have you started back to school yet. I have started on a course it is for the training of new men when they come into our ranks from Montreal. It is a very good course and interesting. I guess it will last for 4 weeks or more. I went down to the big city of Quebec it is only 20 miles from our camp. We went down in our big transport trucks it was a nice drive but the roads were terrible. We put on a band concert for the ladies of Quebec and his highness the Mayor everybody had a nice - our band played from 8 pm until 11:20. After that we were given permission to dance with the young ladies until 1 a.m. All the ladies were dressed in evening gowns I had a hard time keeping my army boots from stepping on those evening dresses. The evening was held in the biggest ball room in the city. Well Donald I do not know when I will see you again as our leaves are few and far between. However if I get a good leave I will come and visit you. How is nipper I suppose he is eating his fill of maple candy. Well Donald I guess I will close for now if I want to mail this letter tonight. So will close for now hoping you are well and be a good soldier.

Your Gdsm Archie Thompson