"Same Place"
18th Dec 1917.

Dear Dad.

Just received your letters addressed to Lydd and dated the 9th Oct. so you can see it has taken some time to find me. It was very welcome as it seemed so long since I had heard from you.

About my commission - it was quite optional about my going back. I was asked the last day whether I wanted to go back, or stay and go to Cadet School - I chose the former for special reasons, which I hope to be able to tell you in my next.

Your letter mentions John Hurst being very low but I have had letters since from Mother saying that he had died.

I am very sorry indeed to hear about that but he surely must have suffered a terrible low - I will write to his mother this week.

I remember seeing Stewart Cummings at Shorncliffe and it beats me how in hell he made Canada - doth not see much wrong with him and dont think he has ever been in France.

Am enclosing those pictures I promised and should like them kept for me - the one taken this year, is by far the best, but you should see the original.

Have no more of myself as I only had a few, being afraid to have too many taken as I generally take such a rotten one. Shall have some taken the first time I got out in my blues and shall surely send you one along.

That picture that was in Maffin and Webbs of the gun and crew must have been No 5 Can. Siege as they also have 9.2 howitzers and Kay belonged to that battery.

You will remember Kay as he came to Montreal with me that time, he was transferred in France to be Sgt-Maj of the 5th Bty and received his commission later in that battery - he has since been killed.

Am glad to hear that the business is still good and please remember me to any of the men that knew me.

We have learned by this mornings paper that the Government won the election in a walk and it is just what we wished for over here.

You well know what would have happened if the Gov't had lost - we would have had to withdraw our armies from the field.

My foot is very comfortable now as they have it in plaster - paris and am now able to get about the ward in a wheel chair, and that is very nice as I make a very poor bed patient.

Had a letter from the battery (Geo Reid) and he tells me of the cigarettes that came for me from W.S.J.
Have thanked him several times for cigs and shall surely do the same this time.

The nurses here are just lovely, so patient and kind - they cant do enough for the boys

Their really is a great and good work and they shall always have my blessings.

Please use that address I sent Rita as it is the surest.

Received your cake also notification from the bank.

Shall close but will write again soon. Love to all.
Bill.

Tell Jean I will answer her letter soon.