Headquarters of
OVERSEAS MILITARY FORCES OF CANADA,
Argyll House, 246 Regent Street,
London. W.1.

15/6/18

My dearest Family:

Sunday morning & I am presumed to be doing duty but for once I am going to [?] off an hour & write to you during office hours. I am in Civvy clothes - last Sunday was the first time that I had worn them since October 1914 & it did feel strange but awfully pleased with myself.

You have no idea how funny it is to take off your hat instead of saluting & to look down & see grey trousers instead of [?]. I had a couple of suits made as the prices are going up so abnormally & there will be such difficulty after the war to get anything done.

I received yesterday your letter advising me of the new developments in our case against the City.

I can't conceive how they can have overlooked it - of course the old adage that an onlooker sees most of the game applies very forcibly to this but when they were drawing up the decree & signing it, it seems incredible that they would not have once again checked their figures if they had definitely decided to pay in debentures. Won't they be howling mad - I am so pleased - it is an infinite satisfaction apart entirely from the monetary consideration. They will be pretty sick by the time they get through with this case & how they can explain to the Rate payors that they accepted an alternative of $59000 in debentures rather than $49000 in case beats me though I suppose that they would find great difficulty in paying the cash at the present time.

I am intensely interested to hear what attitude the City takes when this bombshell is sprung - it looks like such gross [?] that it seems almost impossible for them to confess it to the Public generally & I should think there would be a secret session of the Mayor, Solicitor [?] and having found that they are powerless they will pretend they knew all along. Do keep me fully posted.

I haven't got very much to tell you of particular interest. Did I mention in my last that I won 5 pounds on the Derby, a lucky draw in a sweep at Seaford. This last week & I have done a certain amount of galivanting. On Tuesday I went to the opera to see La Boheme on Wednesday free tickets to the National Sporting Club on Friday Lady Wernher gave her box at the Opera to a chap here & he took six of us to see the Flight of the Valkyr.

The first time it has been done in England but a little too heavy for me, it started at 6.30 & ended at 10.15. I can imagine that old father would have been pretty fed up at the end of that time - I candidly confess I was.

Last night I took [?] to "Going Up" which is the latest sort of musical comedy & much more in my line.

I suppose you followed the Billiny case & were deeply shocked at the general [?]. Darling who started off quite well became most lamentably week & purist. I think he should be canned, the whole business was most deplorable.

This afternoon I am going out to Richmond to play gold with Buster - he is already there loosening up & practicing against my arrival.

It's a long time since I heard of or from young Ted or Arthur, please bring this to their notice.

Have I yet acknowledged your letter enclosing the clipping from the Star - I don't believe so - it is awful [?] and make me writhe with shame. However I suppose a little advertisement never does any harm. Goodbye my dears my fondest love.

Frank