Nov 23 1915

Dear Father,

Sorry I haven't written before, but I didn't know quite what I was going to do, so I kept putting it off, so I am writing now, as I have a little time to kill here in Nanaimo, as there is no boat to Vancouver till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. I didn't intend to write till after I got to Vancouver and found out just what regiment I am joining in but I can write again, and let you know then. The 62nd is going as a separate unit, and they are trying to get permission from Ottawa to have a motor-cycle unit with them. The 47th which left about a month ago had a M-C corps attached. If the 62nd manage to get a M-C unit I can get in it. They have my name now, I will find out tomorrow. All I have to do is swear in. I passed my medical exam nearly a month ago. At any rate I can enlist, and make an application, and be transferred to a M-C corps in England, but I would sooner get in the 62nd as they expect to be in England about Xmas. I have been home about ten or twelve days. Went duck shooting a couple of times, and got a few. I put in a week up at DeBeaux's near the Golden Eagle deer-hunting but only shot one. I shot at two more, one running a long way off, and the other standing about 20 yards away but I could only see its head and neck and I was puffed from climbing. I knocked it over, but I only grazed its neck, as it got away and didn't loose any time about it. If they are hit in the neck at all inside the skin it always knocks them right down, so I suppose I made a pretty bum shot. I cleaned your shot gun up real well and greased it, and Tom has promised to go over them once in a while. I shot only 130 ducks this season with it by actual count. I can use it pretty well now. Did you ever notice that the stack was put on crooked. When I first noticed it I thought I had broken it. Then I thought it was warped, but I soon saw why it was done. It allows you to aim easily without craning your neck. I often wondered how it was that when I threw it up, I was always looking straight over the barrels without bending my neck. Since I have found out this is what is knows as a "cash off".

Everybody is fine at home, including Billy. I lost him up at Cloverdale early this fall, and though I advertised for him I couldn't find him, so I took a M-C and rode up there, and luckily hit an auction sale of farm stock implements etc. and by making inquiries from the numerous farmers finally located him, and took him back to Vanc. on the motor-cycle well I must close now, will write again in a few days and hoping this finds you quite well.

I remain Your Loving Son
GM Bird

P.S.
They got your presents all ok at home. Suppose they have thanked you already.