Dear Ollie:

Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking.  I left the old Bn. a week ago today and went to Bramshott.  Stayed there the rest of the night, got four days and hiked it up here to old Scotland and I can tell you am glad I came it’s the most like home of any place I have struck since I left N.S.  Well Ollie, will try to give you a little idea of our last advance.  If forget the dates but that does not matter.  We left our own front one night but of course we did not know what was coming but thot’ it was about time we had a show.  We did all our traveling by night and never passed thro’ any towns at all but at last we reached our starting point in a wood several miles behind the firing line.  Got there at dawn and stayed until dusk that night then started and went up to our jumping off positions.  I tell you it was one grand maneuver to get all those men, tanks and cavalry into position without a mix-up.  But it was done and Fritzey was none the wiser.  Our guns opened up at 6 o’clock I think it was and they sure had some iron rations to give him.  We were crouched in front of our heavies and had rags stuffed in our ears but even at that the noise nearly lifted my scalp locks.  The first Div. that went over had the worst of it of course.  We just had to march along in the rear until afternoon before our task started then we had no fighting to speak of only a few shells and M.G. bullets to dodge for he sure got the surprise of his life that day.  They told us they had no idea the Canadians were anywhere near them.  Of course this old Coy had the final objective to take and hold until morning.  We got two Platoons from C. Coy and held a Bn’s. front, then about an hr. before dark, the Fritzeys began to arrive in motors and all kind of trucks.  I was sure we were up against it and we hadn’t an awful lot of ammunition to throw away but they did not attack that night and they did not get the chance in the morning for the good old 26th went thro’ us and started them on the run again, what did not give themselves up or was not killed.  We had about one thousand yds. of flat country in front of us and plenty of machine guns so you can imagine it wasn’t a very healthy spot for the poor devils to travel across.  One Coy gave themselves up without firing a shot.  The rest used their M.G.’s then started to run but it was a terrible slaughter on their side.  But only slight on ours. 

I say young Veinott in the distance but did not have a chance to speak to him and poor chap they told me he was killed a few minutes after they went thro’ us.  He was a Sgt. and the boys gave him a great name. 

Well, I must stop this.  It’s nearly noon and I have got to go out and get a shave.  Oh yes, Noble was in the line to see me last week.  Sun. I think it was.  He has a bombproof job now on the core survey.  He is looking fine and seems very much pleased with himself for getting married.  Will let us hope he is as well pleased in five years more time.

 Love to all,

Jack