Somewhere in France
Thursday, July 15, 1915

Dear Mother,

Things are quiet just now so I will take this opportunity to write a few lines to you. We came into the trenches again last night and we sure had a wet time of it. It started to rain yesterday just as we were leaving our billets and it kept raining all night. We got soaked through and through. To-day is warm and sunny - a good chance for us to dry out.

The trenches here are well built and so far things have been quiet. One never knows when things will break loose. The trenches are two hundred yards apart at this point. We keep a keen lookout for Fritz, but it does not pay to go sticking one's head too far out. These trenches will be something for tourists to see after the war is over. There are so many underground streets that you have to know your way around or else you would soon get lost. The different communication trenches etc. are all named, just like the streets of a city. It's an underground town.

I received the parcel all right with last night's mail. Believe me the contents were good - especially the strawberries and the Diamond Wedding cake. My chum and I had a celebration in the dugout this morning. The wedding cake was the special touch.

Our battalion put on a grand Orange Parade on the 12th. Mr. James Beatty of Cobourg led the parade, mounted on his fine charger. There were two bands. One was the Royal Scots Pipers and the other was the 2nd Battalion Transport Musicians. They had everything from a horseshoe to a biscuit tin for instruments. Just the same it made a bit of fun for us and for the civilians.

I can't think of much more to write this time.

With love to all
I remain as ever
Howard

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