Dearest Mother and folks,

Well, here I am only I don’t know where I am anyway. In the same battalion as Cliff is but have missed him again as he is up the line but he’ll be back here before long. It can’t be any too soon. I’m sure looking forward to meeting him.

I came as near as possible to being sick crossing the Channel but managed to keep on my feet all the time. It was pretty rough and I think more sick considering the bunch than there was when crossing the big drink. When we got off the boat we had a hike that lasted until 2 o’clock when we turned in but were up again at half past four and drew a bunch of equipment and hung around until the next night when we marched back with full kit. [After] seven miles we got on the train which was just cattle cars, eight by 18 in size and 50 men to a car. We roared for two days and two nights when we arrived here. We can hear the cannons all the time so, you see, we are getting fairly close.

Yesterday was New Year’s Day and it was just a year to the day that I enlisted and I sure have travelled some distance and seen some country in that time, haven’t I?

I haven’t received the parcel as yet and it’s doubtful if I ever will now and it will be kicked around from place to place until it gets lost although I am still hoping that I will get it.

Well Mother, I think I will quit. I can’t tell you much but I hope it gets through all right. I’m keeping a diary and so you will get all the news each time I write.

Your loving son,

Fred