March 5, 1916
Dear Lola,
Just a few lines to let you know that all the Huttonville boys are over in France now except Fred and I'm not sure where he is now. Will Booker George Simpson Billy Bull and Frank Cookson came over here on the 4th of February and they left this base on the 15th of February all except Billy Bull and he was a little sick and I came over on the 21st and so I met Billy Bull here at the Base then he went up the line on the 29th of February so I guess he is with the other three now. Bob Dexter and Arthur Hornsey were the last to come. They got here on the 2nd of March. I guess they'll be here for a week or more but as I've been here two weeks tomorrow and that's as long as we are kept here I guess I'll be going up the line to meet the other four again some time during the next few days. When the first four got put on a draft together we thought that we were unlucky but my luck must have turned for I got picked out for a draft to go to the same battalion as the other four but Bob and Arthur were not so lucky but they got put on a draft to go to the 42nd battalion 3rd Canadian Div. so we'll not see much of them most likely nothing at all for we are all in the 2nd Division. We are having fine weather the last week just like spring. I guess the spring will soon be starting in Canada now. You said in one of your letters you had only had one skate but I guess you've had more by now. We haven't had any skating at all this winter but we've had so much else to do that we have not had time to think much about skating. I suppose every-body in Canada is anxiously watching the papers now to see when the big spring drive is going to start. You must excuse any mistakes and bad writing for I'm laying on the tent floor to write this for the military authorities won't allow the Y.M.C.A. to open any day only between the hours of 11 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8:30 PM for if they were open all day there would be some of us missing on some parades. How is Mrs. Passmore and Jennie getting along and remember me to them please. We are having a pretty easy time here at the base so we have nothing to complain about. They won't allow us to write our address on the top of the paper for fear the letter was opened and the address would be the first thing they would notice. I guess the best address to find me now will be Pte G.H. Tripp No. 135315 19 Battalion 2nd Canadian division. B.E.F. France. There isn't much news here so you must excuse this letter if it seems brief for to tell the truth I have to keep stopping to see what I'll say next. I think I told you I was down and saw Fred about the first of February and he seems to like it fine. I guess your father got a letter thanking him for the box of apples which came on February 9th or 11th I don't just remember the date exactly, but please thank him for me. I was confirmed to camp on account of being on the draft when the card came but I gave it to Bob Dexter to fetch and he got it and he promised to write and thank Mr. Passmore so I guess you know we had received it. Four of the boys were already in France and I was confined to camp so we couldn't even get to Shornecliffe to take any to Fred. I think they were all good and I'm sure what I had of them were. It doesn't seem true that there is a war going on in this country for everything looks so pretty and it is all getting green now. Although we are in France we are farther away from the firing line now than we were when we were at Sandling camp England for over there we were less than a hundred miles from the firing line and here we are nearly 200 miles away. Well Lola I guess you'll be tired of reading this dry stuff long before now so I'll take pity on you by closing now Remainin
Your Sincere Friend
George H. Tripp
P.S. Don't forget to thank Mr. Passmore for the nice box of apples. Au Revoir.
