France
Aug 22nd 1918

Dear Evelyn:

Received your letter of Aug 2nd last night and also one from Isabel so will write a few lines now as it is a week since I last wrote. Your letter is stamped at Kearney Aug 6th so it was only about 15 days coming. I wonder if you have received letters I wrote dated June 9th and 16th also 28th. Do not think you have mentioned any of them. You might let me know.

I have been on duty as usual lately and little out of the ordinary to report. Yesterday and today have been very hot about the hottest so far this year. However the work I am doing lets me off easy in that respect. Last night was very clear and we could see the planes thousands of feet up at midnight by the light of the moon. My last day off duty I got a pass and walked back to a small place behind the line. Not much to see there except shops. However I was able to get a few things and it is also a treat to see what the country looks like. Bought a few fresh grapes and a pear. It was medium size and cost 7d or 14 cents. At the rate of 55 cents a lb. Some price but it was a taste anyway. It is too early for them yet. Ripe tomatoes are now to be bought for about 50 cts per lb. They are not afraid to ask enough as they know they can easily sell everything.

Most of the grain is cut and some is being threshed. One place they had a horse in a tread-power machine. The old men and the women do the work. Some have binders but most cut with cradle and the girls bind it up. In many places barbed wire runs in all directions through the fields and binders could not be used anyway. While the place is several miles back shells drop in the locality but the people have become used to them.

Have not heard from Elizabeth lately so probably I will get a letter one of these days telling me what she will be doing.

So the poor dog did not recover. Too bad. What reason could anyone have for shooting at him. The other camp had quite a time apparently with their visitor but I suppose that is one of the pleasures of camp life.

So you felt the frost in Ontario too. Some time of year to have it. They also had frost in the West but while the wheat was affected other grains were not. I suppose it would only be in spots anyway.

Many thanks for the last box sent. It has not arrived yet but it is the only one to come now as I think I have received all the others. Probably you did not get my letter acknowledging some of them.

In a letter from Isabel she mentions about Roy speaking about the application papers I have put in. Hope he doesn't tell everybody as so far I have made no progress and it is indefinite anyway and a long way off. You have my letter by this time explaining. Did not expect it would be travelling around so soon but it is about the way when you don't want it to.

In reference to my account in account in London P.O. Savings Bank I have withdrawn one pound and the interest has been added to the end of 1917 4s-4d so the balance is now £17-4-4. Also have a balance in my paybook of about $70.00 which I can draw when going on leave. We get paid 40 Francs a month now which is about $8.00 but that is about enough to get what we need. Let me know if you hear from Elizabeth although I expect she will let me know what she is doing. I may be able to get my leave about the time she gets to France if she comes right over. Do not expect my turn for leave will come for about three months yet although it may be sooner. I have not heard from anyone who was in the recent Canadian advance. Expect Smyth was there and I may hear from him one of these days. The bunch that Foote is with were also there but so far we have not heard any details of the fighting.

I think this is about all the news I have at the present time. Will be writing again soon.

Hope you are all well and with love.

Your brother
Rob