Sept. 19th 1915
France
My dear Sister
I wrote you a card yesterday, but I've got a little more today. It's Sunday and we're having ½ a day for ourselves. We are kept working pretty hard, of course its not what we call heavy work. Anyway in another 9 days will be back to our Batt./ I hav'nt heard a world from nowhere for nearly 2 weeks I hope there's nothing wrong, I expect my mail will take a little while longer to reach me here, its got to go via my Batt. Whenever you write always address all letters to my old address, if I'm not there they'll know where I am.
Well theres nothing new no word about my leave. I expect it will take about 4 more weeks at least and I will never get a chance to let you know for sure till I'll get to London of course. I'll telegraph from there. Donald J. Macdonald Benbecula expect to be going soon when I saw him last. All the Uist boys were alive and well when I left the 7th but very likly they had another go at the trenches since A.J. hunted up another Uist fellow some time ago. He is from Locheport, and a brother of Mrs. Doddie Mac Vicar [?] he came out with the 47th Batt./ and was drafted into the 7th. I was talking to him once and he seems to be a decent lad, and dam near as quiet as Donald Mac Donald A[?].
We're waiting patiently for the Germans every day, and I hardly think myself they'll ever try to advance on the front we're at present holding. And its very likely if they wont start to as any advancing, we will.
We wittnissed a thrilling air duel yesterday which resulted in the death of two German aviators and their machine being smashed to bits. We could see them at a distance. At first we thought our boy's were lost as the Germans got above them, but by a quick manoeuvere the Britishers succeded in getting above their enemy and opened up with his machine gun on him, which pierced the petrol tank of the German machine and smashing its propeller blades. It reminded me of shooting wild birds at home, The German Machine came down like a wounded big cormorant from the clowds.
I has'nt heard from D.C. since I left England I wrote him several P.C.s but with out a reply. I some times get a card from Archie. Alick. In the 5th Cams I was wondering wheather Archie Nicholson [?] is out here or not. He was also in the 5th Cams was'nt he? Has Kate MacCorquodale heard anything about her boy? If not, I'm afraid he suffered at Festubert. We took over their trench after they had charged on the 21st of last may. And I'll never forget it, we had to take a little of the German trench they had left and we did'nt do it without terrific losses.
Well I suppose I better come to a stop in case you'll tired. Kindest regards to all.
Youre affect Brother
