France
Dec 8/16

Dear Mary:

Will drop you a line, wish you would let Fred read it if you see him, thank you ever so much for the parcel it was just the kind for a fellow out here, you were very thoughtful. but do not send any tobacco we get an issue every week, I never like smoking but do take a few puffs but give Joe most all my matches etc, Freds sade they mailed me a box on 10^th of eatables which will be great we are not to write very much so I will not write so often hope you keep writing often about the boys how they look in their school cloths, how the house looks, every little thing is the greatest news. we are going up the line every day on working parties fritz is getting quite nasty now makes you jump some puting over more heavy pills, I keep changing positions quite often filling sand bags carring up sheet iron and stakes

I wish it would end fefore Sunday morning but no chance but no one is going to gain any thing on either side, I got your letter and one from Fred’s which were welcome and Mothers your letters are real life to me, wish I new if I would ever see your dear face again I often think that I will, that no pill has my number we are to have some training after we come out this time we will be in the line four days soon we are just behind for eight days we are not were I thought first but on the right between two towns. Fred’s were wanting to know what is needed some throat tablets would be all right to drive the damp out of us socks are quite exceptable one pair once in a while but some are coming all the time some hair stuff my head is the same as of old, a metal comb would be good I hope you get the money O.K, we got seventy fancs this time so will get alonge fine with the boxes coming hope they all get here safe I have quite a cough, our temperture gets changed often

candels take our change very fast Joe lent me five francs yesterday so will get some more, I have been thinking about you and I writeing some of the big head ones about release you over their and I here my legs are quite painful and you are little wife alone and a big family fretting yoursef sick and I can serve King and country in munitions I have a notion to it would not hurt some do get out on things like that what I said we are no better than they are if you Mary had got half as mad at the things we people do you would have moved were the boys are, but I hope to be home then it will be all right again I do not know why you like our peoples ways these years and years for what has the working man got more than other places, not as much If I had of transferd might have been in a worse time and place we will pray for the best tell all to write my thoughts are all around you all you must let me keep a store to keep me tied up

Your old man
Roy

[Editor’s note: Dot code used by Gullen to secretly indicate his location. Some of the dots used as code markers are easily identified, others are more difficult to interpret. Characters that appear to have been marked in the letter with dots underneath them have been indicated in the transcription with an underline. Marked characters from the first page (with space inserted) spell out “rear lens” (likely intended to indicate behind the lines near Lens, France).
The remaining pages may have more marked letters but these could not be identified with any degree of confidence.]