Winnipeg Aug 13

Dear Mother.-

Well I have got settled down to work again for a change. I have joined the 76th Battery for a change. There was a draft of 50 went away on Thursday and Moon and I came in on Friday and we have been on duty nearly all the time since we came in. We are on guard today and barrack fatigue tomorrow and I go on guard tomorrow night at [?] oclock again, but thank goodness there will be a new bunch of fellow in tomorrow and that will ease things up a bit. As soon a they can get 50 more men together they will send us away in a draft but that will not be for another six or eight weeks yet. There will be three or four 53rd lads in this before long as there are three now including me one was a Sergt. We sure have a dandy new uniform, there is nothing around here for neatness to compare with them, and they are so keen to make the fellows dress up to the top notch, of course we have to get our clothes altered at our own expense, but it only cost me 60 cents to get mine all fixed up. I am going to get my photo taken some of these days before long by myself and Moon and I are going to get some snaps taken with both. Has Jim Bourke got back home yet, I have seen him around here since he was to have gone home. I was down at the Depot the other night to see the 128th Battalion from Moose Jaw leaving and ran across Harry Higgins, who is a sergeant, that will be a change for the Battleford Born Boys' column in the paper. I saw Harry Ashton on the street this week but did not speak to him.

It has been kind of chilly for the last few nights but it is nice and warm today. I was after them about my subsistence the other day but have not heard what they have done, but they are taking the matter up, I put in a claim for $109 to the Clearing Depot and told them that I had a couple of accounts with the A.D.M.S. and the wrote them and said that if they did not pay them they would give me my subsistence but would not be entitled to both and told them. I did not expect but that I wanted either one of them paid. I have over $60 coming to me on the 15th but it has been transferred to the battery. I will send Mrs. Hoskins back her cap as soon as I can get the rest of my equipment, they only gave us enough to get along with but will be giving us our whole outfit very soon. We are stationed in the Strathcona Horse barracks and it not too bad a place to stay, one thing we have lots of room.

Address my mail like this

Gr. G. A. DeGear
No. 441266
76th Battery C.F.A.
Ft. Osborne Barracks
Winnipeg
Man

Love to all

From your loving son

Gordon.