56
I think

Feb. 9, 1918

Dear Dad:

How are things going with you? I have had no letters for ten days but I suppose you are now sending them direct to the squadron and I will get them when I get back.

I have just read that poor old Do[?] Hurst has been done in. Died of wounds I believe. I saw him last August but did not even know that he had left England. I am writing to his people before I leave here.

I ran across Reg Hoidge again in Prince of Wales theatre last week. I see he has a bar to his M.C. Looking quite well but was very "happy."

I think I have squared myself with Metcalf. I gave him two pounds of sugar yesterday. It was my two weeks rations but I had brought some of Ferns over and did not need my allowance. I hope Metcalf will not get into trouble by having it as quite a number of people have been convicted of food hoarding here and have been heavily fined and sometimes gaoled.

I will leave my trunk here as before but I am taking the bag to France with me this time. Bought a pair of ankle boots last week, just ordinary tan boots; quite cheap; only £2/15/6, about $14. However I am quite well off. Tell me if my letters are censored much.

I see that the Dominion Permanent Loan Co has gone to the wall. Didn't we have umpteen pennies in that place? Did you have anything else to do with it? I

I am staying at a place about three miles due south of Cassel and Present but expect to move back to where we used to be, right in Bailleul. I don't know how to spell the name of the place rightly but it is about seven miles south of Poperinghe and the same distance S.W. of Ypres.

People over here seem to have the wind up about the great Hun push this spring. I think it will come of just south of armentieres but that is the southern limit of our patrol so I probably will not be in it.

I am flying a new machine known as the dolphin. It has not been across the line yet but we will probably be beginning about the end of March. I am sorry to leave the spads for they were fine buses, but they are a French machine and we couldn't get enough of them. The new bus are just as fast and are the best climbers I have ever flown. We also carry four guns to the Spads one so that should be a big advantage too.

Just had a telegram from Max to say that he did not think he could get up this week-end. I think I will go down to Folkestone on Monday and spend a day with Art Hairclough down there and that will save me getting up for the early morning leave train from here on Tuesday.

You might ask Fern to send me some papers occasionally. I think I have only received one lot so far.

Take care of yourself, and wait until next July or so when things your way may be a little cheaper and then lay in butter, sugar and tea and anything else you want because the war isn't over yet by any means and you'll want those things before you're through.

Love Gord.