France Oct 3rd 1918.

My Dear Mother:

Wrote you last Sept 23rd and I also wrote Isabel on Sept 25th Green envelope so it is about time I was writing again. Ever since I have been busy and at the same time have not had much time to write, as we have been moving around considerably and have not been settled and also have not had many comforts. Will try and give you what little of interest I can for the last week or so. Before affairs started we packed and left our spare kit and all but one blanket although we have them again now. The 27th was the start and while I was not on duty, was up to see the show and it was quite a noise and sure to start things going. In a couple of hours the wounded and prisoners started coming along. The prisoners carrying and helping our wounded. They don't need a guard and once shown the direction willingly start off all alone. Of course they couldn't do much else. It had been raining in the early morning which wasn't a good thing but it did not affect the success at first there was quite a mess but it soon cleared. That night took-up a new location and still another since then. Have been making steady headway and everything looks promising. Met a chap a couple of days ago who was at Kingston with me and a 64th Sergt. He is now in the Field Artillery. Also went over to call on Smyth yesterday as his unit was near here but found he had left recently to take out a commission in England. Just had a letter from him about ten days ago. It is interesting to see the material we have captured. Was looking at a bunch of guns of different sizes yesterday. Machine guns are to be found everywhere. Also some large stores of ammunition of all kinds. Lately we have been fortunate in having a Y.M.C.A. a few minutes walk from us and have been able to buy Canadian Biscuits, canned strawberries, Pears & Peaches etc and you cannot realize how much they are appreciated. The line-up generally contains several hundred men but they will all wait two hours for a tin.

I have been getting some mail lately. Received about three letters from Eliz. One a snap of some of the nurses and another letter written on the train. Also received a bundle of papers from Evelyn with the story and have started to read it. I also received your letters of Aug 31st and Sept 8th and was pleased to get all the news. Of course I know news is limited at the camp and it is hard to write much of interest.

Expect the trip you planned to visit Elizabeth will be spoiled now, unless you go to New York to see her off if she is going right away. It would be nice to see her before she leaves anyway. I will be looking for further word from her soon and would not be surprised to get the next letter from her dated from France. Leave is still going good and with luck I expect to get away in about a month now and would arrange to see her wherever she may be. Do not expect she will have much time to spare but a few days would be alright.

Everything looks very promising lately and the fighting in the East is drawing to a close. We have been too much for them. Some prisoners questioned here lately had not heard of the state of affairs in Bulgaria and it will dishearten the enemy when they find it out. So Minnie has a position at Whitby. It will be a much better place for her and more agreeable. I wonder how Maude liked her time there. No doubt she had plenty of work anyway.

You will be able to make good use of the garden. I guess you would miss the blueberries. They were so plentiful the year I was there. Do not know what a square of pie would look like.
Note how you say Roy learned the secret, and I did not expect it would gain publicity in that way. However, hope to be able to state something more definite before the end of the year if all is well. Doubtless you will have a few questions to reply to concerning it.

So Uncle Johnny is out of the business now. Probably he will start one on his own account now since he has the experience. Your hens have been doing well since they started and I suppose they will come in handy for Christmas next, as I do not suppose Turkeys will be very plentiful. The other kind of meat would be enjoyed and by the time you get this expect father will be away again.

While you did not mention it, I expect you received the snaps of Elizabeth enclosed in my letter of Aug 15th. I guess you would have mentioned it if they had not come. I also wrote you on August 4th & 8th and I trust you received both letters O.K.

Weather is getting quite a bit cooler and a person feels it during the nights when on duty. I wear all the clothes I have these nights and have a fire going too when possible. Stoves are quite plentiful and they give a great heat if you keep piling in the wood. They are mostly German ones made of a tin can with a grate in the bottom. Saw a couple of enemy planes shot down in flames a couple of days ago. No escape for the men in such cases. There are all kinds of souvenirs around these days but we have no place to carry them.

I had a letter from Martin a few days ago. He may be calling with a picture I left at his place one time, as I asked him to return it some day he was passing. It is an Old Home Week Photo. He has been sick some of the summer but is better now. He has a Ford car now and makes good use of it.

I think this is about all I have to say this time. I trust you are all in the best of health, and with love to each and all.

Your son
Rob