“…good old band, good old band…” Somewhere in France, Sept. 14, 1917 Mr. W.E. Dobbs, 9 Horace Court, Norwood, Man., Canada   Dear Lottie and Walt, I’ve been trying for what seems like two months to write you but never see enough spare time to compile a letter—so here goes. I have to write in chapters. …the last time I wrote was just after we had been warned for France… We hung around camp for nearly a week after that, expecting to go at any hour, but were detained on account of a strong gale blowing and making the Channel too dangerous. We finally got our orders to leave and marched out of camp about 9:30 a.m. in the pouring rain. We had been out in it all day and were soaking wet anyway, so we did not mind it and everybody was in high spirits. We entrained in the...

“...expect to leave for France tomorrow night…”   Seaford, Sussex, August 19, 1917 Mr. W. E. Dobbs, 9 Horace Court, Norwood, Man., Canada   Dear Walt and Lottie, I received your most welcome letters this week but have been kept so very busy that I haven’t had an opportunity to reply and, in fact, only have about two minutes. We expect to leave for France tomorrow night unless there is a change in orders…and we have a kit inspection about every hour when we have to pull our kits apart and check things over and then repack. This nonsense would make you sick but it seems to be the rule here and of course we have to “fall in line.” Have had some trouble getting all my things in the overseas pack… …was very sorry indeed to learn of the death of Lottie’s brother. One hears so...