From: France
23 May 1918

Dearest Mother -

Two letters from you have come to hand since I wrote last week. On May 19, I received yours of Apr. 21 in which you said you had received the photos OK. I was greatly pleased to learn of the signal success Harold and Cecil made of their final examinations. It must have given you much pleasure indeed to think that they had done so well. I hope Harold will like his place at Stuart Booth's. He will find it hard at first going right to that after studying hard at school but he should soon get used to it and find it easier. Arthur's note in your letter was interesting and his stories in the King's Own very good indeed.

Next day, I received your letter of Apr. 28. Yes, it is indeed quite a long time since I had word from Aunt Lettie and I would like to hear from her. That box you are planning to send with maple sugar in it will be just the thing as sugar or sweets of any kind is scarce. Gladys is indeed doing well, is she not, to be able to handle such a crowd at all? She deserves much credit for sticking to it the way she is apparently doing.

About my assigned pay. I have had to see the paymaster again and get it fixed up. To make up the amount I overdrew, they reduced my assigned pay for May & June to $10. per mo. That makes the balance OK again and next pay day, I shall be drawing regular pay again. He then asked me to make my assigned pay $15. per mo. instead of $20. as before. This would make money accumulate to my credit for leave, or such like, more rapidly and lessen the chance of my running in debt to them again. So, I filled out papers changing the assigned pay. So, beginning July 1, it will be $15. per month instead of $20. as before May 1.

I had no idea that you would get that idea from what I said about the flying corps. I am British born, of course. And everyone has to be of European descent, meaning that no American, Indians, Asiatics or others could go in for it. I got my papers made out and was passed by the medical officer & eye specialist quite easily. We then handed our papers in and four days later had to see an artillery general who recommended the both of us. Now, I believe I only had to see some flying corps officer before I leave for England. Immediately on getting to England, one gets two week's leave. Two weeks in England in June say, would be pretty nice wouldn't it? I would like to get what money is left in that Kingston bank transferred to London so I could open an account and draw the money from the Bank of Commerce there. You have my bank book haven't you? How could it be transferred?

Love to yourself and all at home. Hope you are feeling well and having good weather. I am feeling fine these days.

Yours sincerely,
R.G. Brown