In a hut
Fri. Oct 27th 1916

My dearest Mother

Pouring with rain it is now and will be for months I suppose so I'm making the most of an enforced staying in by writing to you. I have just received a letter from Pa relating your doings of the weekend, when the majority of you were in bed and from it I conclude that poor Pa, wasn't in his best humour, or best writing mood. Still I was pleased to have it as it has bucked me up to further writing effort for I guess that a good bit of your sickness was not physical but due to my inability to correspond, but that I have explained previously. Please when is my writing pad coming?

I am going in the Line soon and shall want to write but will be absolutely unable if it doesn't come. This piece of paper I have "borrowed" for I've been out of stock for days now and consequently can't answer letters I should answer so please buck up with that and some cigs and sweets and anything whatever you like as I shant be moving around now for months and can enjoy anything

I received the magazine all right and thanks muchly for them. Our quarters are pretty quiet ones I understand and am thankful for that after the stormy times we have had and we are settling down to root here, like we did for so many months up north. I am at----- my word! I get so used to talking these names that I nearly let that one out in this letter. I heard from Ray this morning. He was O.K. up to the 15th the day he wrote and I hope he still is O.K. but I do feel for him poor chap as he goes through it. We just missed each other. Our respective organizations evidently just touched each other and then separated speedily.

I had a letter from Mr. Abbot, or the War Committee and it was a thing. If he cant give us a better thing that such a laughing stock as it was, why don't he quit. I'm keeping it as a souvenir.

I received Min's letter just as I posted mine to her and you so this one must go unanswered (I mean personally). It's a delightful letter as always but doesn't require an answer except a few crosses and these I send with great pleasure. As it has stopped raining now I'll stop too not that I intend going out into the mud and darkness but just because the thought of that one fact made me think of the other so bye-bye.

Ever your loving boy
Jack xxxxxx

(I try to think of some other ending to my letters but cant manage ought else but that one, for that conveys everything I think)