November 1st 1918

Dear Mother:-

Here it is Friday night and almost a week since I wrote you. The reason for writing a little early this week is because I have had so many letters I thought I had better write and give you a list of them. They all arrived this last three days. From you – Dec 23 and 30/17 Jan 17^th - Feb 22 March 2 - 9 - 14 Apr 7-14 June 2 - 9^th and Oct 3^rd/18. From Mary Dec 23/17 Jan 1st Apr 7 and June 8 One from Dad Apr 7 and one from Osborn Dec 29th That was 18 letters from home. One also from Reita Feb 20^th One from Clara Apr 9^th and one from Roy from France dated April 7^th. I also had five old and one recent letters from Ruth, two local letters from England, one parcel with a jar of honey etc and a chorus book from Clara but I could not make out when it was mailed. That is the total of the mail I received during Wed, Thurs and Friday this week. Not bad when you come to figure it all up 29 letters, one book and one parcel.

Well Mother some of the letters were a little out of date but they contained news as far as I was concerned. There was a lot in those old letters that altho things had happened from five to ten months ago I had never heard about them. It seemed funny to read those written wishing me many happy returns of the day and hoping I would have the letter by Apr 7^th but as it happened the letters were nearer Nov 7^th nearly seven months behind time. The birthday parcels you speak of in your letters I think some of my friends I left in G.E.A. must have seen them and thought it was their birthday. It always was a great habit of ours to help ourselves to the parcels of the boys who had gone to Eng. So I suppose the old game still goes on. The parcel I rec’d Wed was in fine condition so good that there was nothing left but a portion of the honey by Wed night. The cake, candy, chocolate and chewing gum was all good and the other boys and myself soon made short work of it. There was no letter in the parcel and no stamps or date on the cloth so I don’t know exactly when it was or who, mailed it or perhaps it was which, ain’t it or don’t it.

I can’t begin to think of all you asked about and I suppose you know the answer to most of the questions long before this. I remember quite well in one of the recent ones you wanted to know what “A.A.” meant. Well it means “Anti-Aircraft” which is a species of gun used for picking out Huns when they visit us by air route. I was driving a large truck which had one of these mounted on its body so it can follow the course of a machine to a certain extent. I am connected only with a training centre so we do not have to stand by at night. Speaking of air raids we have not had one since May 19^th and I was in Edinburgh at that time. I guess Jerry is about finished on that score.

Well Mother dear the war still goes on although things look fine With Bulgaria and Turkey finished and Austria on the brink I believe we will win yet. If I don’t get a leave home soon I am afraid I will miss it altogether and get sent home for good. That would be a catastrophe. I dont know what we will do when we get home again, Go crazy I guess if we have not already gone.

Now mother give every one my best regards and tell all that have remembered me “Many Thanks.” I intended to write a whole lot this week and clear things up. I thought of writing Dad, Mary, Grandma, Clara Reita and Aunt Jennie but when I think seriously about it I believe it will be a big waste of paper as it is scarce. I have written several local letters this week already so have used my share of paper.

Well Mother dear I will close for this time with loads of love to all

I am still Your loving
Harold.