April 30 1917

Ps: There's no use in carrying these pictures around with me, you can keep them or burn them if you want to. GSR

My Dear Mother;-
For a week now we have had what you might call ideal weather. That in just what we have been craving for, because ever since last September we have been anxiously hoping for a warm dry spell and this is the first we have had.

We are now in support of a detachment of Canadians who went over the top or few days ago. Needless to say, it was a success-as it generally is when the Canucks attempt it. Some of our boys were talking to a Frenchman not long ago and a part of the talk was on fellow Can "What do you think of our advance?." Frenchman "Tres bon; French take Vimy, no keep it, Germans take it back. English take Vimy, no keep it, German take it back, Canadian take Vimy, Germans no get it back." And I think he is right. Mason and I were finding our supper the other night just before pulling out for 'up the line,' when who should come along but his dad. He had only been in France about 3 days. It was a lucky he saw Mason because it was just by a mere chance that we didn't go up in the morning.

The place we are now at is our original front line. It is now 8.05 a.m and at this very minute we were just going over the bogs. Now, there is not a more healthful spot around. As I said everything is dry and Mason and I have a dandy little funk hole in an old trench. We nestled some fine wood and got hold of a brazier. Every night and morning we have a big fire going and make cocoa and heat over mulligan or tea if it gets cold.

There are numerous mine craters around there and yesterday two of us went over to have a look at one. You remember I told you about them once before when I was on patrol at night. Then they were full of dark shadows and water covered the bottom, and the shadows might have covered anything. Now however in daylight, there is nothing mysterious about them. True there is a very large hole and a trench runs up to each side and stops, showing where a piece of trench, months ago was blown up and whatever it held. The warm weather has dried the crater and everything which is in the bottom is revealed. Everything, in this case consists chiefly of German bombs. Do you remember me telling you how easily Fritz bombs his wire if he thinks he sees anything? Well this crater seems to have been a favorite place for him to practice throwing his bombs. Maybe some poor Fritz on the firestep at the edge of his side of the crater, would imagine he saw a British Tommy or a number of us creeping to wards him. He has no love for our little bombing raids and so immediately throws a bomb at the same time warning his pals, who also throw a couple of bombs. This must have happened dozens of times around the particular spot because there are hundreds of old German bombs in the crater. I haven't seen Hennie lately. His company is some little distance from ours. Wes isn't in this trip so he'll be O.K.

This all the paper I have so I guess that's reason enough to quiet. Will write more as soon as we get out again. Remember me to all. I hope you are all so well as I am.
Good bye, your loving son Gordon.