France
Mar 15/17
Pte WR Gullen
772521
1[st?] Batt16 platt. 1917
Dear Fred and Agnes
Received your dandy parcel last night came fine and at a good time we are out just now soon going in again, have a letter writen to Mother our letters do not come very good just now will get a few when it does come, had a nice little box from Mary the other day, I have been on light duty for a day or two fell on my ribbs some days ago it is very wet underfoot at present hope it is dryer befor we get in the line
I sent Mary a pin with 1st Batt on it, from the pay master cost 28 Francs will put something from France in this for you folks hope you are both well this winter has been some winter Fred hit it when he said this thing would see 1918 one of the papers said the same the other day the people have not woke up yet they are the ones to finish this thing well bye bye yours
Roy
with love and best wishes
PS The maple sweet is great and the candle every thing comes in very fine
W Roy
Mount StEloi
[added at top of first page, date/author unknown: “19”; “Rec’d Apr 9/17 Mon.”]
[Editor’s note: Dot code used by Gullen to secretly indicate his location. Characters that appear to have been clearly marked in the letter with dots underneath them have been marked in the transcription with an underline. Written together (with space added) they spell “st eloi” (probable reference to St Eloi, south of Ypres, Belgium (Dutch name of Sint-Elooi).]
Original Scans
