France..Lens
June 17, 1917

Dear Dad and Mom:

Thanks for letters and parcels of late. I think all the parcels arrive these days all right. The last one contained choc., chewing gum, etc.

The 6th brigade had a boxing contest yesterday and I entered at 133 lbs., had a scrap and won the lightweight championship of the brigade. A few days before we had battalion sports. I had two bouts, won one and tied in the other. That left two of us for brigade sports. The other fellow however did not enter so I won. In a few days I have some more bouts for the divisional championship. After the brigade sports General (censored) of the 6th brigade gave out the prizes and shook hands with all the winners. My prize was fifteen francs. I'd a few days previously received another fifteen francs for the Batt sports. As this is Sunday Dug and I are writing home like good boys should.

The weather still continues fine and the French have started cutting their crops. Jake crops at that. The country-side looks like one big field. Out in the part of France there are very few fences. The neighbours fields lie side by side for miles without an intervening fence. If cattle are turned out there are always boys or girls to keep them on their proper ground. Also in a radius of five miles there are nearly always four or five villages to be found with the houses with red tiles roofs and, in a good many cases mud walls.

Everywhere the troops are -behind the line- your find numerous women and kids selling oranges and etc. Not only that but actually soaking you tuppence ha'penny per orange - as much as you pay in B.C. the robbers.

With very best love,
I am your loving son,
Sid

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]