From: France
Sat. 18 Aug. 1917

Dearest Mother -

I am not writing this from the same place I wrote the last letter. You would be surprised if you knew where I am. You see, it is like this. Up at the guns there for a week or two back, I had not been feeling very well. Not much you know - a little feverish one or two days, then a little stomach trouble and a cold - so that I wasn't feeling much like work at times. Now, the battery is allowed to send a couple of men at a time down to a Rest Camp for a couple of weeks. I haven't been long enough in the battery to be entitled to a leave of absence or anything like that but, as I was quite well, they chose me as one to go. I had to go down to the waggon line last Mon. night and left there early Wed. morning to join others from other units and entrain some distance away for the rest camp. The camp is right at the sea coast so is a very healthy place. I feel real well now.

There is a parade down to the shore every morning about ten, when we can go in bathing. I was in yesterday morning and had my first experience of salt water bathing. The waves were rather high so we could just splash around a little piece out. A funny thing happened. I left my clothes with others on the beach about ten yards or more from the water. When I came out again, I had some little trouble finding them. You see, there were a whole lot of others around. Finally, I found them and just in time. The tide had been coming in and the water was not more than three or four feet from them. You may be sure I will remember the tide next time.

It is windy here - also cool, being near the sea but the air is so fresh and invigorating and it is good sleeping in tents and away from the sound of the guns. It is very pretty here too and interesting. The people, houses, everything, all are a little different, you know. There are two villages - one on each side of us. These are typical, I suppose of all the little French villages along this part of the sea coast. The houses are much alike - walls of white or greyish plaster or stonework and roofs of red tiles. Some of the houses look quite nice & well to do - have decorated fronts and names "La maison blanche", Villa Marie, etc. I was through the catholic church in the next village. It is much the same inside as our anglican or catholic churches. It has a cemetery around it where are buried the people of the parish.

In these villages are a great many estaminets (es tám inãys) sort of taverns where beer, ale, wine are sold, as well as lunches and a few groceries. French girls & women with baskets of fruit and chocolate come around just outside the camp and do quite a business.

Oh, this is quite a good place. We can get passes to places around and altogether it is quite a rest & change. The fellows in my subsection are all wishing they could go, when I left. I was rather lucky in being able to go as none of the new section had gone yet. But then, I get along nicely with everyone and I think our Sergeant put in a word for me - thought I needed it.

I suppose you have been reading of some Canadian successes a few days previously. You see, I was on my way here then. Hope all at home are well.

Yours affectionately,
R.G. Brown