France
17/10/17

My Dearest

Thank you so much for your two dear letters & splendid parcel, I did not get them until Mon. night. I am so sorry Dearest that you had not received any of my letters when you wrote, I don't know what is wrong with the mails these days, your letters are always seven or eight days on the way. Dearest I intended to write before this, but on Mon. night I was on picket & did not have chance to write, and last night I had neuralgia (is that spelt correctly?). I felt so rotten that I went to bed right after supper. It is much better to-day & I guess I will be quite alright again to-morrow. I'll really have to get my teeth fixed soon but I just hate to go to an army dentist.

Dearest I would like you to send me some kind of "dope" that is good for neuralgia, I don't know what is best, but you will know of something that is a good thing. Also, would you please send me some of that gutta-percha tooth stopping! I think it lasts as long as the filling these dentists use.

Dearest, the contents of the parcel were lovely & everything was quite alright, but ordinary cocoa would be better than the tin you sent & it would go much further. You know we can always get sugar & milk.

I did not take that job as a groom after all, I don't think I would care to be anyone's servant in that way. If I can get a team of horses to drive, it will suit me as well as anything.

We are still in the same place & having a pretty easy time. All the ammunition goes up to the guns on the light railway, so we have not much to do at the waggon line. We just have to send the ration waggon & water cart every night. I have not been up at all yet. The weather has been disagreeable lately, wet & cold. I suppose you have had the same.

What does "John Bull" say about the speedy termination of the war? He usually has things figured out pretty good. Don't you think so? Perhaps you should send me a copy occasionally.

Dearest I seem to be asking for a lot of things to-night, I hope you will forgive me. But Dearest, what I long for more than anything is to be back with you to stay for good. If I had not that to look forward to, I don't think I would care what became of me.

Well if the war is going to be over this year, we won't have much longer to wait. I could be quite happy if only we knew that for a certainty.

Dearest I must close for the present hoping you are quite well & that you have received at least one of my letters by this time.

Good-night my Darling
Lots & lots & lots of love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
from Yours only & forever
Fred