#17681

4th Platoon, 1st Company

48th Highlanders

15th Battalion, C.E.F.

France

25th May, 1915

My Darling Wife,

It is such a long time now since I got a letter that I don’t know what to think.

I do hope you are all well and that nothing has happened to you.

I am afraid that my letters are going astray.

A. Campbell has had three letters from home since I got one from you.

I hope you are getting mine all right.

Well, I have been into the trenches.

We were 6 days there altogether, under fire all the time.

It was an awful experience.

We are out now for a few days’ rest, then we will be going back again.

We had several musketeers wounded, two of them out of my section, both seriously.

I can tell you, dear, the war is Hell — hell let loose as a mild term for it.

The shrapnel and high-explosive shells that the Germans use are diabolical — that is the best I can say for them.

One never knows when they are going to get you.

I can tell you that a fellow is very lucky if he gets off wounded.

I am glad to say that none of the Lennox boys were killed, although some were wounded.

We are all in the best of spirits and are looking forward to the time when this thing will be over, and we will be able to go back to dear old Toronto again.

We are billeted in an old French town not very far from the trenches.

It is pretty comfortable for the time being, though French towns are not to be compared with British or Canadian.

They are filthy…

… dirty open sewers, filthy ditches running down the streets with all kinds of filth and floating in them.

It’s a wonder to me that there is not more disease than there is.

I am sure if you could see it, it would make you sick.

I have heard a lot of talk about sunny France — what a beautiful country it is — but from our side, Canada still is the best, and this country is not a patch on it.

Now dear, you know I cannot give you much news as to what we are doing here or where we are.

All letters are liable to be censored, but I know that you will be glad to hear that I am all right and feeling good.

The only thing is I am anxious to hear from you, to know how you are getting on and what you are doing.

George and Eileen are doing fine.

Dear Heart, I wish I could see you all again.

You don’t know how my heart is yearning for you.

Lots of times on the trains I have taken out your photo to look at the both of you.

Eileen has got the good looks — she looks so good when I look at the photo.

It cheers me up wonderfully.

I am afraid that there is nothing more that I can say now, dear, though if I were free, I could write you a book on my experiences.

But it will be all the more to say when I get home.

There is no danger of my getting shot as we could fight with what we have come through so far.

So, clear with fond love and kisses to you and George and Eileen, hoping that you are all well.

I remain your loving husband,

Jack

P.S. — Give George and Eileen a great big love from their daddy, dear.

Remember me to all our friends.