France, Dec 4 /17

My dear Fern:

I have not written to you for four or five days which us quite exceptional for me I think, however I have been fairly busy lately and have not had many opportunities; I have not had many letters from you lately but plenty of boxes.

I had a letter from Cox & Co. the other day saying that they had forwarded fifteen pounds to the N.T. Co. so I want you to go ahead and do as I asked you to some time ago. Have you received my photographs yet? How do you like them. I had another letter from the little devil to-day; he seems to be getting along very good so far.

I have done quite a bit of flying lately. Am a regular pilot now and am getting along very fair. We had quite a time a couple of days ago; Five of us went out on a patrol. We had been up above the clouds for about an hour and finally started to come down to find out where we were. Four of us; Fairclough from Toronto, Blythe, Scotty and myself were following the leader, Jennings. We came out of the clouds at five hundred feet over a town that nobody had every seen before. We did not know if we were in Hunland or France, wandered around for an hour and saw several strange towns and finally some French soldiers so we knew we were in the right country. Fairclough spotted an aerodrome and came up and waved to us so we followed him and landed. We stayed there for a couple of hours, got filled up (the machines I mean not ourselves) found out where we were and finally got home three hours late. We had been away up in the very North of France right along the coast. However we got back all right and although we had been reported as missing we're not.

Things are very quiet in the air around here or at least I mean there are very few Huns about. I have been over the lines quite often now and all the huns I have seen have beetled off home as soon as we showed up. We go over four or give to-gether. It is good sport and I like it quite well. We have not moved yet as I expected but may do so soon.

Thanks very much for the boxes. Everything is in good shape. Don't bother to send me any more sugar. I have plenty now. I do not need it here but it will come in fine when I go on leave. If you care to you might send me some chocolate bars next time. It is very good stuff to eat just before a flight as it keeps me warm. Buy me a couple of 25� bars of Neilsons or Cowans etc. I can get choc here but it is not as good: and costs like �

How is Dad getting on? I hope he is better again. Don't let him worry about me. I am O.K. According to Max you are looking better than you did. I hope you are. How is the girl getting on? Tell Grannie to take care of herself and not to worry about making me any more socks. I have plenty. The last pair were certainly fine.

How is the car going? Don't let it freeze up these days. Will you keep it going all winter or put it up?

I went up to Canada Corner to-day and voted. Some class, eh what. Couldn't find out who were the candidates for our constituency so just voted for conscription.

The cold weather has just started here. We had a little snow this morning about 11 a.m. However it must have been quite cold as there was quite a bit of snow over the trenches this morning. I manage to keep good and warm and wore Dad's vest this morning. It sure is a peach.

Dec.5 /17

Couldn't finish this yesterday. Have been on a couple of patrols this morning. It is not so cold as yesterday but is just nice.

I expect you will be receiving this just about Christmas so I hope you have a happy one. I certainly would like to be there but not this year, maybe next. Remember me to Mr Eakins & Norm and to everybody else.

Heaps of love,
Gord