255637 5 Platoon
1st C.M.R.s B.E.F.
France
Jan. 22nd 1918

Dear Curtie,
I now take the pleasure of writing to you to acknowledge and thank you and all concerned in the contributing of the parcel of good things which I received on Jan. 3rd. The box suffered somewhat in the transportation which made it necessary to have it repacked (a label being posted on it to that effect) but the cakes were unbroken and in good condition. Say "Curt" if that round cake was one of Marion's making, well she certainly is getting to be some cook for it was certainly delightful and the good date cakes, well I guess any comment on them is unnecessary as their toothsomeness endeared themselves into my favour years ago. If it causes you any regret that I did not receive that parcel for Xmas, I want you to dispel any such thoughts from your mind for I could not have received it at a more opportune time. I had been living for a week mostly on "hard tack" and "bully beef" that is, corned beef and hard biscuits and you may be sure that it was a welcome change when I got the parcel. I received it when I got back to the reserves, that is the place where the transport comes as near the line as possible with our rations, when we are in the line we only get the letters from the mail for everything has to be carried by working parties to the men in the trenches, and it is quite a "chore" in itself without loading the men down with parcels of which there was a very large number during Xmas. We got treated to a good dinner Xmas day then into the trenches the next. I have just come out from thirty days of it and have had all kinds of weather. It was good and frosty going in and now there is lots of rain and mud. Of course as usual we don't come out as strong as we went in, some are left behind and others get a "blighty" and are in England out of this business for a while.

I had a nice job on my birthday (you may be aware that it is the same day as Mildred's) so you can imagine the contrast between the day and the work. I was helping to put up barb wire entanglements on "No Man's Land", that is between our front line and "Fritzies". I was thinking at the time that I had spent more congenial nights on former birthdays. Ah well, it's all in the game these days, dates, or anniversaries count for nothing to the individual over here while engaged in "strafing the hun". I have something bright to look forward to in the near future. I expect to get a leave for England in a few weeks. I will probably be over there by the time you receive this letter, at least I hope so. I can assure you that I am anxiously looking forward to that time. I guess no more than the few relatives I have left in the old town are awaiting my arrival. I had only six days with them before I came to France and this time I will get fourteen clear days in England and $100 in my pockets, so you see that they send us away to make the best of a short visit. I only wish it was for fourteen weeks leave. I think I could manage to see my folks and you folks in that time.

We have heavy coats to wear during the winter. They have no sleeves to them, some are of leather and others are of skin. I have a wooly goat-skin which gives me the appearance of a sawed off polar bear. I'm thinking of having my picture taken in it. If so, I'll send one along to let you folks see how I look.

I got a box of apples from Jim Rider a couple of days after I got yours. I have wrote to him. I also got a box from Josh Crawforth so I have been very fortunate latterly. I am pretty well fixed for socks. I have got some from different patriotic societies in Canada, some from London, Ont., Barrie and Belleville. I have wrote to the donor at Belleville, he had a card with his name and address, so I wrote to few lines to thank him for his gift. I suppose you will think that I have made a mistake and should have wrote her instead of him. No I'm telling it right. The young khaki warriors confiscate the addresses of the misses so I don't get the chance of thanking some unknown fair Canadian maiden.

Well I guess I'll close now. I have had quite a time finishing this letter for some of the boys have come in feeling good with wine and are tearing up things. Hoping this finds you and all at home well.

Yours gratefully,
Joe