Pte C D Richardson
#475465 P.P.CLI
B.E.F. France,
Dec 21, 1916.

Dear Mother: -

The mail has started coming my way again now although it is rather old, having been chasing around after me for some time. While in the front line a few days ago, however I received 8 letters one day, 3 another day and one or two stragglers. Among them was yours of Nov 5th which also included a short note from Cora and one from George dated Oct 22nd so you see they are rather late. I am looking forward to some of those parcels for it is only four days from Christmas, but I am afraid they will come rather late. However they will be very welcome when they do come. Parcels are arriving by every mail but of course they have come fairly direct. Mine will have a round about way to travel.

You asked me about the socks you sent at the same time that Belle's wedding cake came. Yes, I received them safely and they are fine. I thought I had mentioned them before.

I had thought that those photos would have reached you by this time but I just heard yesterday that the photographer had lost the address he was to send them to and I have had to send it again.

Last night after coming in from a working party, or rather early this morning I found a letter from Albert and Belle also, besides two others waiting for me. The date of Albert & Belle's letter was Nov 19th.

I don't know if I told you before, but it is not necessary to put "4th University Company" on my letters any more as that is extinct as a distinct unit.

Being back in support now I am able to have a wash and cleanup occasionally now. Yesterday I had my first wash for a week. The trenches at present are not the most comfortable places on earth as mud and cold weather are very evident, but we hope this will be the last winter in such places. I think the Kaiser's peace terms will be very different before this time next year.

How is Cliff getting along? I suppose his term will be over at Xmas though won't it? Is he going to teach? He should go ahead and get his matriculation for if he does not do it now he is not likely to settle down to it afterwards. Having his matriculation he then has a standard from which he can go at anything in the way of college courses.

You ask me if there is anything you can send me that I would like particularly. Well you have always managed to send me just what I like best so there has been no need of me mentioning anything in particular. There is just one thing I don't care about and that is gum. I never chew it or very seldom. I am particularly fond of shortcake, and those fruit cakes you make and leave in the boxes in which they are made are always the best.

The greatest inconvenience we have to contend with is wet feet and I don't know how to remedy that. I change my socks about every other day but my boots are always soaked through. Of course we have rubber boots but they are always so cold and hard to walk in that they are not used very much.

I had to laugh when I heard that Miss Chapman had written you to find out what had happened to me. I have written to her pretty regularly for about two years and she is a very nice little girl, but I haven't the least intention of falling in love with her so don't make any mistake about me neglecting Canadian girls for English ones.

I have become quite hungry for some of those cakes that are on the way. I think the cold weather has quickened my appetite. I think I mentioned that it would be much more convenient for me if you sent any socks you make either to Mrs Hart[?] Cousin Sallie so that I [?] just get a pair when I need them for we have an awful load to carry with us now that all the extra winter stuff is piled on our packs.

I think I must close now or the censor will be hunting me up. But as it is Christmas time perhaps it is allowable to write a little extra.

With love to all
Douglas.

[on back]

Dec. 21/16

This is a letter of Douglas' that I must have neglected to return after reading it. I just came across it today.

C.R.