France,
June 16th, 1917
Dearest Mother:
Wrote I think on the 12th and must send a few lines again today. I am on duty as battery linesman and may be called out at any time but hardly expect it as things are pretty quiet and I don't think there will be any trouble. This was my day off by rights but I took Ben's place on account of him wanting to go back and look up a cousin of his in one of the other batteries
Did not get your letter dated April 31 until yesterday, that is, only a month and a half on the way. The mails lately have been much more irregular than usual and have been taking on an average a month to arrive where before it came in from fifteen to twenty days.
I received your parcel containing the tin of pork and beans, raisins, milk, peanuts and the tin of butter from Irene. It came the day before yesterday. Sent Irene a line this morning thanking her for the butter. Have not used the beans yet. I am saving them for the next time I go to O.P.. They will come in fine for that as we do 24 hour shifts now and they will just make a good breakfast for us. The milk also comes in fine for O.P. while the raisins and peanuts are always a welcome treat. And today I got the can of Scotch cake Say! Perhaps it didn't taste good! Think I would have eaten about half of it at once only I was afraid it would make me sick. Many, many thanks for it all. No one who has not had
some time in the firing line can know how much these parcels from home are appreciated. I was especially fortunate in this mail as I received a pair of socks from Maggie Green and a box of eats from Lilla, too.
They have organized a rest camp for the Siege artillery in our corps and there are some fifteen or twenty men or possibly twenty-five from the battery to go back every ten days. The second bunch are back now, went the day before yesterday. Think I will wait until the hot July weather before I go. Ten days of outdoor life in tents will be very welcome then. Some of the boys also have got leave to but not to England. We drew a couple of weeks ago and fifteen names, of those who drew the lucky numbers, some are for Paris and some for England. The ones who put in for Paris are away now while those going to England have received no word of their pass and may not get away for a couple of months yet. Of course it would be nice to get to England and among English-speaking people But most of us have no relatives in England and have no reason for going across except to get away from the lines and have a rest and a feed. We have seen our share of England and it is the opportunity of a lifetime to see Paris so I think that most of us when our turn comes will go to the fair capital of France.
Well Mother is supper time so I think I must close. Will write again in a few days. All well and the enjoying ideal weather.
Love to all from your loving soldier son, Harold
