2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol June 20th 1916 Dear Joy, Thanks very much for your nice letter, which was very welcome. I got one from Mary at the same time. So you have the German measles when you last received my letter. Well what do you know about that. You are not very patriotic why didn't you get Canadian measles? They are much nicer. You say John has not written since the end of May. Well I think he is all right although I wrote to him on the 8th June, but have not heard from him yet. When I left him at Belgian he was working in the YMCA for a while, so I think he is safe. You ask me to tell you about things out at the front. Well get a map of Belgian and see if you can follow what I am going to explain. This letter will not be censored so there is no harm in my putting anything in it. This is an idea of how we are placed out there This was an old position which we have been holding for the last few months which we lost on the 1st June. The 1st Regiment was in at the time and also the PPCLIs This is the place I got wounded. It is a very rough map and is just made out from my memory of the position reoccupied. The big battle was in Hooge and Sanctuary Woods and it was in the latter that the big bombardment was at. We went in on Friday evening and I was wounded on Saturday the 3rd June. Nearly the whole of the third division was wiped out. Our generals were wounded and taken prisoners with about 300 other men and 4 Colonels. There are about 200 men left in the 2nd CMR & much less in all the other regiments. There are about 16,000 men in a division & about 1000 or 2000 are left. When the 2nd CMRs were going to the front line on Friday we lost about 200 men in the communication trenches on our way in by big shells. We were in a place called Onderdon in Belgium at rest, when we got word to rush to the front line at Sanctuary Woods. We started at 2 pm and got to Zillibeke huts about dusk. I went to see my brother at Zillibeke YMCA when we got Zillibeke & said goodbye to him and then we all started up the communication trench for the front line & oh my didn't we have a hot time of it. But I will tell you about it better when I see you which I will do before long. When I am well, which will be about 3 weeks I think, they will send me to the convalescent home at Wolverham and after staying there a week or two, I will get 10 days leave. I might be able to see you while I am convalescent Now Joy mind you don't forget to tear this letter up when you have finished reading it, as if the Military Authorities saw it they would get me into trouble and have me up for Court Martial as a suspected spy. Well hows everything. I am sorry the weather is so bad in London. It is A1 here. My best Beloved is, as you say, very glad to hear that I am in England & is very excited about it & I am also tickled to death to go and see the sweet little girl and give her a hug. I'm sure you would like her if you saw her. Sure I will go to Canada after the war and will take the wife with me. I don't think the war will last for more than this summer, but I can't say for sure. It might last for another year, but I don't know. I hope not!! Well Joy I will have to close now, and I will let you know immediately I here from Chauncey. Hoping you are well, I am Your affectionate coy Rash