France,
May 14, 1918
Dear Mother:
Am on duty until two and must write a few lines home. Received two letters from you tonight, dated April 7 and 14 the first Canadian letter mail we have received for over a fortnight. Also received a letter from Dora dated the 15th. I wrote on the 6th thanking you for your parcels, cake, oat cookies and canned goods. They certainly went good. The Crisco came in very handy especially for frying bread at night for lunch. We got a dozen eggs a couple of day ago and the Crisco came in good for frying them. I am mess caterer this time and have made myself quite popular by getting eggs at the moderate price of four pence (eight cents) each. However they are certainly worth it for the change and we
enjoyed them. We have all been fortunate enough to get some parcels during my tour of duty and so have been living like lords.
You have had a cold rough winter of it and by your letters spring is going to be late. This is a lovely day but yesterday it was cold and wet. Am glad you like those verses I enclosed. I found them particularly good when I read them and knew you would appreciate them. How much the letters from home and the old memories have helped some of us over here to maintain that manhood free from shame perhaps we ourselves scarcely realize. Almost every second night we have some kind of a debate in the dugout and are subject last night was: Does army life affect the morals of the average Canadian soldier of today and if so are they raised or lowered and our decision was that while out here although some of the varnish was brushed aside he was at heart unchanged and that after the war he would go home a broader-minded, better man in every way. Of course you will find exceptions. This is found to be the case in any body of men but I think that events after the war will prove the big majority better citizens and better men because
of their army experiences.
I know you have been worrying a lot lately and there is really nothing to be worrying about. So far we have not been actively engaged and even though we had, we are in the Divine care and what will be is all for the best. It is almost two years now since I landed in France and during that time I have been exceptionally fortunate. Have never even had what I could call a day sick. Not a bad record is it?
No I had not heard that Albert had enlisted. Had not had a letter from him for an age. Nor had I heard from Claude - suppose he is pretty busy and has not time to write. I guess I am rather a poor correspondent myself. I make it a point to answer all the letters I receive as promptly as possible but otherwise am rather slow about writing. However must send each a line some day soon.
Never mind about the Trig as I am going to send to Blighty for it. There is no word of leave but I think it will come up before long. If it doesn't open until later in the summer, I may take my 14 days in Italy. Would like to go out and see that country but one has to be in the country for twelve months without leave to go to Rome and I would not wait very long if leave was open to Blighty
Well I think I must ring off. Everyone well. Will write again in the few days.
Love to call from, Harold
