Jan 20, 1925

My Dear Mrs. Ellis,

I cannot tell you how pleased I was to receive your letter, and all your kind expressions also the enclosed not for Jo, it was most kind of you to send it.

I am quite sure that under similar circumstances you would have done the same for me. I have had a good deal of trouble in my life, but the laying of the wreaths for the dear brave lads stand out as moments of anguish. I therefore trust that you will not be offended with me because I return the note. I sometimes thought of buying something for you with it, & amongst other things one of the frames the description of which I enclose, they are really beautiful for the purpose, and again thought you might have something already of the kind. Should you wish I shall be glad to get one for you. I am also mailing a photograph of the Villers-au-bois military cemetery, it was the only kind I could get. You will see the Canadian portion by the line of white in the distance, in the foreground are the graves of the French soldiers. The French are very frugal & talk sentimentally, but there part is very badly kept, in the centre of the arms of the crosses is a metal rose the [?] the [?] red white & blue, & a workman told me that the bottles inserted neck downwards at the head of the mounds contained the identification papers of the men. To us it seemed careless for in digging the bottles might easily be broken & the papers lost. Villers-au-bois itself is a poor struggling village with a cemetery for civilians killed in the war also very badly kept.

If ever you come over I hope you will come to see us. My daughter & I have a small flat or apartment. I am really Welsh & was left a widow 37 years ago & my son Willie (William Anthony) was 37 when he passed away & your dear boy was so young. I had three children two sons & one daughter. My younger son lives on Long Island New York. has a very nice wife and two little girls. My daughter visited them last April & was away for six weeks. (her full holiday being in the Civil Service) I wished she could have stayed longer, all were so kind to her.

I have been twice to the U.S.A and was away from home when my son's Battalion came over. He had been away B.E. 15 years I never saw him for he was due for leave Oct 1st 1917.

I hope dear Mrs. Ellis you will forgive my long delay in writing. I have not always been quite well. & Last year we had a succession of relatives and friends staying with us, attracted by the exhibition.

My daughter& friends are going to Paris for [?], should I go to France I will take my little camera again.

When you come, you will think the distance very small after your big country. I went to Niagara I saw Toronto in the distance I have often regretted not going there.

With very best wishes for the New Year to you Mrs. Ellis.
I am yours very sincerely,
Gwen Fisk