P.S.
I expect to, it may
next week
I hope so anyway.
Be sure and take my advice

Some Where In Fr.
June 17/16

My Dear Little Girl

I received you welcome letter and was so pleased to hear from you and to know that you and little Tommy were both well, but I am afraid that you are working yourself too hard, now see here take my advice and don't do it, go out more and have a good time, and hire some one else to do the work and although I am very proud of working the way you have been doing, I want you to take things easier understand. I am sorry that it has been so dry there. We could certainly share you some of the rain we have had here lately. As it has been beastly weather but I think it is on account of the heavy bombardment that has been going on in the Ypres salient for the last two weeks. The fighting is still going on and the two other Canadian divisions and one brigade of our division which was not in the first few days fighting are still in the line, and have retaken all the trenches lost in the first Hun attack, but also some of the Hun trenches as well. Also some prisoners although I think they could have dispensed with them. The Canadian troops have done splendid fighting none better and although our losses have been heavy the Huns has been as great if not greater, and they have acquired a wonderful respect for us too lately and never stop to fight it out with the bayonet. I suppose that is where most of the respect comes from, but it is extremely noticeable and if it was not for their cussed artillery (which we have a wonderful respect for) we put old Fritzie on the bum here, but as is it is likely to take some time. We are still in billets busy reorganizing again and have got heavy drafts of reinforcements over from England this last few days, and I have a stronger company now than I ever had before, they are mostly from Eastern Canada, but are a pretty husky lot on the whole they are well up in their drill with the exception of two things the most important one out here too. That is bayonet work and bomb throwing, but they are getting lots of good hard work at it now you bet and in the course of a couple weeks they'll be fairly proficient in both. Well dearie I am very proud of the men of my company and indeed have every reason to be and although many of the old ones have answered their last Roll Call, the ones who still remain are of the greatest value to me in steading the new ones who recently came in to fill the ranks. and although I am very strict as regards discipline, which of course has to be over here the boys think a whole lot of their Petit Captain, as the call me amongst them selves and some times when censoring their letters I find some highly flattering remarks which although not always in the choicest language one would wish to here is decidedly complimentary on the whole since our last affair in the trenches. I noticed one remark which read the Captain mightent be very big but he has a hell of a lot of guts in him. some compliment that isn't it. another after we had come out this time brought me a huge piece of fruit cake, which had been sent to some of them, with the compliments of the boys. the one who did that was before I took command of the company one of the greatest Booze artists you ever saw in fact there were two of them both old soldiers and reprobates as well regular hard nuts and continually doing punishment of some sort. Major Allen fairly hated them, well on taking over, I had a little talk with them one day and told them that if they behaved them selves and not get drunk I would give them a promotion well strange to say they reformed at once and got their corporals stripes and in the battle they did splendid work in steading the new draft one of them was badly wounded and I got a letter from him the other day telling me at least dictated by him telling me he was doing fine and hoped soon to be back again. the other I have since promoted to a sergeant, and he would do any thing for me. you see dearie I never pedal them any hot air as they say here, and never ask one of them to go where I would not go myself. and I would far sooner have the trust and confidence of the men who serve under me than any other honor that could be bestowed on me, and I am proud to say I have it. I also got great praise for my work in the trenches last time by the senior offices. but I did nothing except my duty so do not deserve any. Well dearie I have told you more about my self than I intended to do, but little girl so far I have made good as an officer. I will close now hoping to hear from you soon again with heaps of love and kisses to both yourself and our little Tommy

Your loving hubby
Tom