France Jan 18/17 Dear Mother:- As I have a little spare time I will try and answer your letters. I am well at present and hope you are well also and all the rest. We are in the trenches at present. They are very muddy some have long hip rubber boots but up to now I have not got any Things are quiet at present where we are. I have not seen Jackson for 2 weeks but he will be all right as he is not with us. Will Jeffery and I are to- geather so I have some-one that I know. The fellows that we are with are very nice so we don't have a bad time I seen some of the Exeter boys the other day. They are all well. Things are a bit difference in these trenches than the ones in Camp Borden. The mud and water for one thing and Fritz's shells. He has one shell we call rum-jars and they do jar us some. At times the sand bags go up for 50 ft and then look out for them coming down I have not been very close to them the nearest about 10 or 15 yds of course we are down out of sight behind the parapet. We are in a dugout about 8' by 10' and there are 8 of us. but as long as we are warm and dry why whats diff. We have a Y.M.C.A. and a canteen right up near the front line I got some biscuits and this paper. I have been very close to Fritz at night. Closer than I want to be in daylight. We could hear him talk and cough and could see them in the moonlight. Of course we are near their trenches out on bombing post we all take turns at it I was out 5 nights in succession for 6 hours. They have very pretty fire-works which they use quite freely to keep a watch on us. As long as you keep still you are all right as they don't seem to see you I got Aunt Kates box the other day but have not got any of yours but expect them soon I also heard from Ed again and also May Jones. I got Laura James long letter last of all it had broken open and was put in a fresh envelope . Well I must close now as I must get to bed. With love from Earl The same address.