No. 22 Gen. Hospital

France 3/9/18

My Dear Mother:-

Tonight a Can. R[ed] C[ross] package containing some paper and envelopes, tooth brush, pencil and a few cigarettes was given to me by the N[ursing] S[sister][?] so as my time is entirely my own and to pass away the hours is the problem supreme I will write you a few lines. I am feeling fine. My wound is nice and clean and coming along nicely. I would like very much to get up but that is strictly forbidden. The lovely blue sky and the winding hills from which, I think, a fine view of the ocean may be obtained, are very inviting. The time passes rather slowly and I am glad when nine o'clock creeps around, my hour for snoozing. I have a marvellously good appetite and I wish I could get some of those boxes that were on the way to me. I have written and instructed the mail Cpl. of the Bde. to give what parcels come for me to N.G. Reid or Norm Storrey. They would probably get lost if they tried to send them on to me. I hope I get your letters and I wish I could get some money for cash is difficult to obtain while in Hospital.

In a few days I will know whether I go to England or not. I hope I do for now that I am this far away I would like to get right back. If I do go it will probably be three or four months 'ere I reach France again. If not I will go from here to a convalescent camp and thence after a short stay back direct to the Brigade.

I wonder how Freddie Carrothers came out. His battalion was in some hard fighting right near us and he'll be lucky if he doesn't get one. I don't know what's happening to our Brigade itself. The gains made are very gratifying and by the papers the Canucks are still in the very thick of it.

Reading material is very hard to get here. I had two Posts but both were back in the lorries. I wish I could get my hands on them now. I have been trying to read rather a deep treatise on Robt. Browning's Poetical works but it gets rather tiring. We get the daily paper every afternoon and I can assure you that not much of it misses my eagle eye after I re-read it half a dozen times.

Well, Nellie will be away to her new home in Mount Forrest. [sic] I hope she likes her position there. It is too bad Charlie can not get back to school but - "mais, c'est la guerre". He is doing his part in that way.

Now, Mother, do not worry in the least about me. I will give you my new or my permanent address as soon as I can.

With love, Yours, F.