France,
October 15, 1918

Dear Mother:

Still we are very busy and I have only time for a few lines to let you know I am OK. We have been moving pretty rapidly the last week and have had absolutely no time for letter writing and tonight I am merely stealing a minute to scribble a line to you and Clemmie. We signalers are working short handed and consequently so much moving does not give us much time to ourselves. We have had a number of strange and interesting experiences for there have been quite a few civilians coming through the lines and we of course have been hailed as their deliverers. They have some great stories to tell and I have become sufficiently fluent in French to carry on a conversation and so have heard much of what they have had to endure during the last four years. For the last three weeks we have billeted almost entirely with civilians in many different towns and villages and so I have got to know pretty well from their stories just what their life with the Bosche has been and believe me they have reason to welcome us as their deliverance. People in Canada talk about making sacrifices. Why they didn't know what the word means. They have never made any offering yet which can be called a sacrifice beside what some of these people have given. The women of France are wonderful. Many of them, with homes destroyed, with husbands, sons and brothers dead and with no earthly possessions except what they wear, have come through the lines. Yet they tell you their stories without a tremor and if you sympathize with them they merely say: "C'est la guerre. Nous sommes heureuse pour les donner a la patrie".

Now I must say good night and get to bed. Am OK. Don't worry about me. I am going to be back home in a few months. The war will soon be over now - then back to good old Canada.

Love to all, Harold