France
7-7-18

Dear Friend Annie –

This being Sunday evening I am going to spend an hour or two at writing. I'm just huddled in a funk hole and writing this on my knee so you will have to excuse me if this letter is rather short on the other end.

I was highly pleased with the box of pork and biscuits which reached me OK last night. The pork came fine, and I assure you it was a treat and quite a contrast to the usual issue of bacon which always figures in our breakfast. We have good facilities for cooking just now so were able to heat it up so we certainly enjoyed it. Many Thanks for your kindness.

I have not had any letters from home for awhile so do not know yet whether Fred got his exemption or not but I sincerely hope he has, as it doesnt seem The square thing to send him and grant exemption to some of the young fellows around there who could have come in 1915 without imposing any hardship on anyone but themselves. At least it looks that way to me. I do not know how you see it? And what gets my wind up is that they are the very ones we will have to compete with in life when we return. However I feel certain his case will come out alright but am anxiously waiting news.

Well Annie, I suppose everything will be in its prime at home now. Everyone will be busy with haying, and Garden Parties and picnics will be in vogue  – not forgetting the Glorious Twelfth of course. We are having a very good time with fine weather and plenty to eat, – the only thing we long for is Canadian Mail and Peace and both always seem far away. There is nothing like plenty of home letters to make the boys happy I had a long and newsy letter from Elizabeth Reekie some time ago. She seems to be getting along fine and writes very newsy letters.

The days are long now it is light till ten oclock in this country which makes long sleeps and short working parties or patrols for the boys in the Company. This is the nicest season of the year for soldiering in this country, it is quite agreeable sleeping without blankets if one has a good funk hole and everyone seems in good humour with nothing to complain of except that everlasting grouch – “Roll on Duration” – I gave up a signalling course in Blighty in the winter of 1916 to get over here before the war was over but now I see that there was no occasion for a rush.

Ed Smith is holding it down well isnt he? But after all I would rather be out here for a while at least than be kept in Blighty all the time and never see the line at all altho I admit a little goes a long way after youve been out here once and Im quite willing to bid France adieu anytime now.

I suppose help is very scarce at home now and you will all be kept pretty busy and times will not be as pleasant as they used to be but Cheerio, the tide may soon turn and we will all get home again victorious, at least let us hope so anyway

A number of the Meaford boys I enlisted with have been wounded or gassed and returned home again – it is hard to believe that some of them are back as they didnt seem badly wounded, but some queer things happen

Well Annie I think I have given you all the news that I can think of this time, kindest regards to Uncle Jimmy and Mary. Again thanking you for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

I remain
David L Reekie