Shoreham-by-the-Sea
September 15, 1916
Dear Father,
Just a few lines to let you know I am still in the same place but do not expect to be here long. I was up before the doctor and he gave me another week P.T. (physical training). I will then likely go to Folkstone for a Medical Board. I will write you from there. It is now getting on to winter again over here. It was pretty cold this morning and last night. I had to get up and walk around a bit. I've seen the time when I would not care to get up to get warm but little things like that don't matter much now. When we get back to Canada we will be easy satisfied as far as comforts go and will appreciate them all the more. In France the boys wash, shave, clean their feet and boots and wash their mess tins in the one duck pond and have to chase the pigs out first. All the tools a man carries are a spoon and jack knife. If they get meat to eat they take it in their hand. So you see we can put up with a lot of things. I hear the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions are down on the Somme front but the 3rd and new 4th are still at Ypres. I did not get any of the parcels you have sent. They would likely go to France and the boys out there will share them out. And they need them. I'll close now hoping this finds you all well as it leaves me.
Your affectionate son, Ronald