France

Nov 21st 15

Dear Jessie, - Your letter of Oct 26th arrived on the 15th of Nov. and I was as usual glad to get it.

I am sure that you were busy on getting home again and as you said the boys would be busy with the roots ploughing (?).

Mr. Ford and Raymond are still with us. They knew the men you mentioned in your letter. It surely was funny having that announcement sent to our place at home.

[written up the side] I must ask you to excuse all mistakes for I am not reading this over.

And you saw Aunty Nancy when home, I just would like to drop in & see her myself. She is a wonderful old woman being so so smart at such an age.

Yes my boil is all well but It has left a small bald spot on the rear of my head. It is below the hat and cap band line too and shows quite plainly. Perhaps the hair will come on it yet though. My foot is pretty well just now because we have not been doing much heavy marching ie - marching with heavy loads. It is on the long marches that it pinches. I hope that you have not said anything about it at home. I am feeling find and we are getting plenty to eat. Now and again we buy extras.

Last night Muir, Raymond, Ford and myself went down town and bought some steak then went to a private house and had it cooked & served with bread & butter, pickles & ate and wine if we wanted it: but no thank you. It was a fine supper and we all enjoyed it.

I am slowly learning to talk French but it is slow. I am sorry that I did not pay better attention to it when we took it from Miss McIntosh (?) Williamstown for not a body here speaks English except our own fellows. Ford can talk pretty well and we get along nicely.

I don't know how long we will be here. It may be for a long time and it may not. We can never tell.

Now Jessie to begin again I left this letter this afternoon before supper which we have about 430 here. That is pretty early is it not but bought some apples today and we can supplement our supper later if we feel so inclined. We generally have something like this on hand and what is more we get our rations a day ahead and if we wish we can use some of them.

Just tonight Jessie your letter of the 2nd of Nov. came and I think it did pretty well to get here in 19 days. The mail seems to be coming again a little better now.

Yes I heard from home that Gordon had decided to stay at home and I was indeed glad. He does get along well at home and is a good foreman.

We are pretty well provided for Jessie re - the rain & etc. We have a rubber sheet about 3' by 6' which is waterproof and which we often use as a cape. We have a blanket a piece just now too and we are quite comfortable. Muir and I are sleeping together and we are quite comfortable. Just now are billeted in a stable but we have a coal fire and are quite comfortable. My foot is pretty good just now.

Insect power rec'd. and many thanks for It. It is really Invaluable here. The sulphur and insect powder both came some time ago.

I had another note from Wallis the other day & he is still (?) fighting (?) he says.

Homers address is "(?) England", 2nd Leiut H. L. Matheson.

Yes Jessie tell Marion that her oatmeal cookie came. It tasted fine and was just enough to make me wish I had a few more. We have plenty plain food though and should not be wanting extras under those conditions.

By the date on this letter you will know that it was written on Sunday. We were at service this morning at 930 and had a presbyterian preacher for a change the 1st presbyterian I heard since I left Shornecliffe Eng. All the men we have been having were Eng ch preachers. Very good men but I like our service best theirs seems to be less (?) about it.

Our preacher today was a fine (?) fellow. He spoke on "Fight the good fight of faith".

This afternoon (Sunday) what do you think we did but have a group picture taken. The same four fellows. We ordered a dozen and that will mean that we will have three apiece. Perhaps if they are worth while I will send one to Florenceville. I am thinking of sending one home too and it will have to be their only xmas present from me this year I think. I sent a brooch to Mama some time ago. I wonder if she got it. It was cut very pretty but it was a P.P.C.L.I. brooch and thought she might like to have it.

I was in a place this afternoon and bought some apples. I then asked the woman if she had butter for sale and she said yes she had butter, bread, hens, chickens and she said pointing across the table to her daughter, who is a nice looking French girl with red hair I might give you my girl. I hardly knew what to say and finally said apres la guerre (after the war) and she seemed to be quite pleased. I'll not likely see either she or her mother again though. The people are really wonderfully cheerful and hopeful about the future.

There are eight men in our room here and Just to show you how different our occupations were I will name them.
1. an Edmonton Foreman, Muir
2. A Bank of Com. Teller Stone
3. A Royal Bank Ledger Keeper Chisholme
4. B.S.A. Ford
5. B.S.A. Raymond
6. A sailor of 8 yrs service, Peters - a nice quiet fellow
7. A (?) maker in a Glasgow Foundry. Ross
8. Myself.

We have some good times sitting around our fire here and over and over again Canada - the Empire's eldest Daughter is spoken about.

Now Jessie I must close this letter. I will mail it tomorrow and you will know how long it will take to get an answer from yours of Nov. 3rd.

Write soon again.

Jessie Remember me to Stuart and all the others

Your loving brother Leslie

P.S. I had a letter from (?) today and also one from Gordon & one from Ina. Their party was quite a success I guess .

(?)