Gunner Hale
1st Battery R.F.A.
Canadian Reserve Brigade
Ross Barracks
Shorncliffe
England

12/5/15

My Dearest Alice,

I received your letter today. I guess it must have got lost somewhere. There was another draft left today for the front from our brigade. Well dear, what do you think of Runaway June now is it good. I had a letter from Lily Finlay yesterday and she was telling me all the new of St. Edwards. She says that Mr. Saunders has been ill in bed. I guess by this time he is better. So Pat says that I am getting fat. Well, I don't know but I don't think so. I would like to have a picture of you very much but not in Jock's kilts, in your new suit. I would like to be with you to go for a walk in Cote St. Paul Park. I don't think you will see any pictures of the 6th Brigade going to the front because we are made a reserve brigade. That means we will go in drafts of about 50 or so at a time. You ask if being transferred to the battery is a promotion. Well, as I say this is a reserve brigade now and the H.Q.S. only consists of officers' servants grooms, and the doctors orderly, who in this case is Pat. Now those people will never go to the front because our officers are not going. I am glad we were transferred and in my opinion, it is better. I came over to fight not for a holiday in England. The H.Q.S. that is now, never does any drill. Of course they have an easier time than we do, but we will have the laugh on them when we go away. So Jock is going to Valcartier. I guess the 24th will go there too. I am glad we are here and not there. I bet the 24th will be mad. The medical corps of Montreal is here in Shorncliffe in the 23rd's old barracks. The reason we changed barracks is because they are going to turn our old home into a large hospital. There are thousands of men under canvas round here now. I don't think we will go because we won't be here long enough now. I don't know if I will be able to send any more of these big pictures just yet because I only had half dozen and I had to give each of my sisters one and Mother one and my little girl in Canada one so that finished the pictures. I sent Mrs. Bird one of the postcards but if I get any more taken I will send them one. Can you make out my moustache on the photo? It is very fair so you cannot see it much. It is not bad at all now. I am quite proud of it now but believe me it won't stay on long when the war is over. I wonder if I will be able to eat my Xmas dinner with you this year? I don't think so but it may happen. We are taking a course of rifle shooting. We all have to do that before going to the front. That is another sign of things to happen in the near future so we should worry. Well darling I guess this is all for now. I will write again soon. Remember me kindly to all and my best love to you dear.

I remain
Your loving boy
Bob
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