20.4.18
Tuesday

Dearest Mother.

Yours letter of March 27th only arrived on Saturday Night. On Sunday I wrote Dad & Ethel and gave all the news up till then. So since then as the communiqués generally say - all has been quiet on the Western Front. There has been no change or there has been no infantry action - I mean that there is no indications of my leaving here.

For the last month or more I have had a sore throat feeling like swollen tonsils. Today being weary of the sensation I went to the Doctor who sprayed me with iodine. My goodness - I nearly choked to death and after it was over my throat felt like a rough plank or a rasp. It's somewhat better tonight and I will try the same dose tomorrow if it is still sore.

It's a bit temptation around here to get into a game of poker or bridge but I need the money too badly to indulge in it.

So far Ethel has not said anything about any money being at the Union Bank. I shall write them tonight asking them to notify her of its arrival.

I have had two very lovely letter from Mrs Matchett. She writes me occasionally telling me how Steve is, which helps a whole lot. Wont you when you are writing please tell me of yourself. Mrs Mitchell (Allie) said she had been at the same meeting or something of the sort and that you were looking very well but working hard at all sorts of war work. You want to look out or they will be after conscripting you for some M.P. in England has brot in a bill to the House of Commons providing for the conscription of women.

Last week I was busy taking a Lewis Gun Course. This week I am back at the old business of Bombing classes. Do you remember those I had charge of in Winnipeg? You all thought it was so dangerous. I wonder what you think of that as a pastime now. Rather tame! eh?

All the people in Canada are now or have been taking this Hun Offensive very much more seriously and worrying much more than we in France. It's really not half as bad as you imagine it to be and yet you cannot begin to imaging what it is like. For instance some of our heavy shells weigh 1500-2000 pounds and when they go off shake the earth and buildings for miles about & yet there may be none within a hundred yards of it who will not only be uninjured but laugh at it as though it were only a big fire cracker. So don't worry Mother Dear. It makes a big sound - much bigger when you are away off from it as you are. I think your feelings are the same as my own. When there is a straff going on I would much prefer being up in the front lines where I could see what was doing than back behind the guns where the biggest row is going on.

This is a France note - worth about 17 cents in our money. Each of the Cities here seem to have power to issue paper money and this one comes from Marseilles.

Last night I wrote to London telling Miss Reid to cable you my address. If you ask Gordon he can tell you just where we are and you will be able to see how safe I am here.

Just about the time you were writing your letter - at least as closely as I could make it we were being straffed by Fritz but I was well protected in a concrete dugout so you must not let yourself fancy that I am in any danger. You know that there is every reason in the world now for me to come back safe and sound so I am taking no unnecessary chances.

Cheerio Dearest Mother

Affectionately Your Son
G