April 14, l917
Dear Mither

Well here it is Saturday and I'm not gone yet. Still waiting for marching orders. We have everything packed and could move off on ten minutes notice and would be glad to do it to but the army (British) is a slow moving machine but judging from late reports it is pretty sure to get there. We are getting kinds of men ready for France and its nearly time too for on the draft I am on is a man who came over with the 65th and he is going back for his second spell and enlisted a month after I did. One consolation there are others who are still here and been in the army a lot longer.

I got you letter and five others yesterday after a spell of 2 weeks without any. Yours was written on Mar. 14th so you can see just how long it takes for letters to travel, but like the army it is slow but sure. I think you have a much to great an opinion of the damage being done by the German subs. They are getting very little of the British shipping as compared the no of ships in and out. All the British boats have been fairly small ones and the Gvt assures us that they are building them faster than they are being destroyed. As for other countries of course it is a slap at foreign commerce with Gt. Britain but every neutral ship they sink hurts them more than it does us. Now that the U.S. is in with armed merchantmen, I think the subs the last hope of Germany (which they admitt) are practically defeated. The U.S.A. I see is going to guard Canada. Very good of her I'm sure but what has guarded Canada all the way through. I don't think they need any more guarding than they did before.

I wrote to Emmie and Jim last night and as I sent Emmies to Biggar there is no use putting anything in here that I did in hers unless perhaps that it is raining which might be news to you folk.

I had a letter from Beck the other day also but as there was no news around Findlay there was none in the letter. However letters are always welcome, news or no news. It was very like the most of my letters filled up with nil about nil.

I got a post card from Mrs. Graham and a parcel from Amy Frampton a few days ago and believe me the parcel was jake, The Candy chocolate and Toffees etc yes and even the Canadian chewing gum looked good. It looked much better as I chewed it myself and did not have to watch anyone else chew it. You know how I loved to see anyone chew gum. Especially girls. But believe me I'd like fine to see a girl chewing gum now for I'd know she was from tother side the sea for the girls here very seldom indulge in chewing gum. Thats one bad habit they havent got. I should not say that I guess for I haven't made the acquaintance of any of the gentle sex and consequently know very little about them except that what we used to hear about pretty English maids is all bunkum. I'm going to feed my face on sausage and eggs tonight in this hut for the meals are extra poor lately at the Batt. However I am not failing any on them for I weight close on to 200 lbs. now and since I have been on draft we have been put away at the back of the lines in two huts by outselves and we have some pretty rought house affairs sometimes in which yours truly usually takes a very active part. We in hut 24 have the remainder in hut 23 scared white. They came in the other night and spilled our beds for us and then beat it so all last evening and up till midnight they had to keep their door barred to keep us out or we would have returned the compliment with them all at home. However the Sgt Major interupted our fun so we are ready for him when we get orders to leave.

16th 1917

This is Monday and no move yet. We were supposed to go last Friday so an officer told us today but owing to a little oversite somewhere at headquarters we were not warned and so did not get away of course it was only a little matter, forgetting to issue orders for fifty men to go over to France when perhaps we were badly needed over there but what can you expect when you see the things they give the good jobs too. Some poor cuss over in France will have to suffer for there neglect, thats all.

We half expect to leave in the morning but its hard to say. Anyway we go whenever they get transports arranged. We are doing well out of it except in pocket for we only do any hour or two of work per day but the less we do the more we spend for we usually eat down town someplace which costs a lot but is very gratifying.

Well Mither I guess I'd best close this and get it mailed for the Canadian mail used to leave on Mondays but I'm sure I don't know when they leave now nor does anyone else for that matter. I will write again from France ?

910921, Pte G R MacKay Yours lovingly Rae

46th Canadian Inf. France.