Dear Mum, Dad and Jack:
…That was the toughest five days I ever put in believe me and I don’t want any more unless I get some Jerries to make up for it. We marched about one hundred miles on that scheme and I have seven blisters on my feet. It is the first time my feet ever blistered so it was tougher than the rest. We went from Tuesday morning until Thursday morning without eating or sleeping, it was a nightmare and no fooling. We were about the tiredest boys I ever saw when we got back here. We fought our way all over south England I think. You see sometimes we have an imaginary enemy and sometimes we have the Limeys to fight against. We take a hill and then they say we lose it so we go back a mile and take it again. We do that from the time we leave camp until we get back so you see it isn’t any fun. We slept on the hills when we slept and it was cold and raining the only night we slept and we never had a blanket or anything. I thought for sure I would get a cold but no sir I didn’t.
The nights over here are just like fall back home and I never shivered so much in my life. One morning at three we waded across a river right to our middle and boy we sure suffered. No change of clothes or a thing, they just dry on you. It was sure tough and I don’t mind saying we were about as tired as I ever want to be. This may not interest you in the least but I just want you to know I didn’t have a chance to write.
They say we are moving but we don’t know where but you won’t have to change your address at all. Just send them to the same address. There are rumors of a twenty-one day scheme but we are not sure. If it is right it will be a son-of-a-gun and I don’t mean maybe. We all think ourselves it will be the real thing before long and I am inclined to think we are right. However, don’t jump at conclusions too soon. I will write whenever possible so don’t get jumpy if a letter doesn’t come regularly. We are pretty sure we are moving so probably we will be busy again real soon, but you know I write when I can.
Now for some tough news. There are no more of these forms and they say they can’t get any so it looks like I will be writing ordinary mail after this….
I was glad to hear there were so many parcels on the way and Dad scored all that at the store. I can sure eat a good feed of something. I ate so much hardtack the last week that I am beginning to bark like a dog.
I hear around camp today that the Canadians are being taken out of Sicily and I don’t blame them if the reasons we hear are right. They sure did a good job when they were at it and they still can. I don’t know if it is right or not but we will see. We seem to be doing real well right now and I sure hope it keeps up. Maybe we will be home before long and you said it, we will certainly have a celebration. I don’t intend doing anything for a month.
I should not say this Mum but we had an air raid about seven this morning just as the bugle went. It was about half a mile from here and was real exciting. We did get one of them.
I haven’t any particular chum now, just kick around with the boys from the tent I sleep in. Most of our officers are from Ont., but we have one from Springhill. I don’t think you would know them but the majority are human….
It will soon be seven months since I got in this man’s Army, time sure flies. Well give my best to the grandparents and I hope Grandpa is better soon. Say hello to all the rest of the people for me.…
The best of everything in the world to all of you and tell A.J. I will outshoot him now, I am 1st class shot. 50 out of 50.
Lots of Love to all,
Advertisement
