France
No. 8367, 4 Company
2nd Battn. 1st Inf. Bde
1st Canadian Contingent
British Expeditionary Force

Dear Mr Irwin,

Have just received your very welcome letter today & hasten to reply. I wrote you a week or so back telling you of our arrival at the trenches, but maybe you did not receive it. I also sent you a p.c on the journey.

Well we have had several turns in the trenches & had a little “fun” with the germans we have been out for a few days rest & our battalion goes in again tonight.

The germans are good shots & are well up in the art of killing people soldiers & civilians & women.

They shelled us yesterday & succeeded in dropping a few shells on the church (a lovely building) & killed one of our boys & some women that makes another blot to wipe out by us.

Our losses have been small so far & we cannot expect to come through this unscathed & the man that dies on the battlefield in a righteous cause has a glorious death & will reap a rich reward.

We have a good position here & I think we can hold it against all comers.

The captain has picked me out as a bomb-thrower this week it is a dangerous job. but if I have luck I expect to send a few germans skyward, when they won’t play the game straight nothing remains but to wipe them out entirely.

Our Chaplain is Major Beatty from Cobourg & our commanding officer is Major Boletel from the same town.

You must have had a good time with the concert wish I could have been with you never mind I shall have to make up for it when I come back.

We are all well & have lots of fun.

Trust you are all the same well must close

from

Yours sincerely

Walter.

P.S. A letter is always welcome & it cheers it up, kind Regards from A. Peters

W