Somewhere in France
Nov. 2nd 1917

Dear Mother:

Have had no chance to write you since last Sunday or Monday. Got your letter of Sept 5th Monday and on Tuesday letter of Sept 24th and Eliz.letter of 18th and seven other letters besides so I had a busy time reading the whole bunch. They were very welcome and even though shells were dropping around I crawled into a dugout and read them. We remained in the same gun position until Wednesday noon when the battery we relieved on Sat. came up and took over the guns again and we walked out a piece to where the lorries they came up in stopped and we climbed in and went back about 2 miles into billets in a ruined town with reach of the guns and also a lively place for air raids. We are now in our permanent battery and from now on my address will be "2nd Canadian Siege Battery B.E.F. France." We are in some huts at present but the rest of the battery or the old men are mostly underground in something like an old fort. By what we learn we will be on the guns for 24 hrs. then have 24 hrs off and then 24 hrs on fatigue work around the billets. Leave the billets about 9 A.M and walk about [censored] to the guns. It will mean about 1 day in three on duty. Yesterday I was sent out to the battery with another man who was to take out a message. He had been there about 5 or 6 times before. Left about 3 and went across country. He apparently took a different road than usual and got lost. Walked all over the country and as it got dark at 4.30 we were soon hopelessly lost and the only thing we could do was to come back to where we started as nobody could direct us as to where we wanted to go. As we did not arrive at the batter in a reasonable time we were reported missing and a search party was sent out but called in when we turned up.

The mud is awful all around here and it is hard getting around except on the roads which are none too safe. Have not been to our battery position yet but understand it is similar to the one we have been in with plenty of mud and water. Got a pair of home knit socks from the stores yesterday and put them on in place of the pair I had been wearing for the past 2½ weeks. Our kit bags have not turned up yet so we have no change of clothes. No doubt they will be here soon now.

I will be very pleased to receive Evelyn's sweater as I am sure it will be much appreciated during the coming months. Send it to the same address as above. Do not mention Army P.O. or London now, just the 2nd Can Siege Battery B.E.F. (British Exped. Force) France. Will also be pleased to receive the trench cap as it will be good to wear under my steel helmet.

The verandah will no doubt be a big improvement to the house and give it a finished appearance. My sickness has not affected my work. Was layer on the gun while in the last position and it is interesting work and not so heavy as carrying the shells. The last couple of days we have been carrying shells and today carried about a dozen of them about 200 yds through muddy ground and as they weigh 100 lbs ea. it was pretty heavy work and hard on the shoulders. Eliz. mentioned in her letter of Sept 18th that the last letter was written me Sept 10th and that father wrote about the fish catch. That letter has not been received yet. It may come in the next mail. Marshall who used to be in Stewarts Drug Store and is now in our battery also was in 64th was visiting some other batteries near here today and came back a few minutes ago. He told me Capt Bond was killed two days ago and that he saw his grave today. Did not know he was promoted. You will no doubt have heard it even before now. Also heard that Eidt, who was a Sergt. with me and was up for dinner the day before we left, had been killed but am not sure of it as it is only a report, but is supposed to have come from someone in his battery. You will have heard of it by this time if true.

Now about my room-mate Smyth, as he gets a box of eats from home every week or so do not think he requires them but I am sure he would appreciate those 2 prs of socks if you care to send them. His address is Pte. C.J. Smyth 19th Machine Gun Company Witley Camp, Surrey County, England.

This is about all the news at present. Will write again in a few days.

Love to all,
Rob.