France
Oct 10th 1918

My Dear Mother:

I am afraid I am again late in writing for several reasons, the principal of which being that we have been too unsettled and shifting about. It seems that we only spend a couple of days or so in a place the way things are going now. I last wrote you on the 3rd and received a little Canadian mail on the 5th but none from any of you. On the 6th I was pleased to receive a box of sweets sent by Evelyn and it was muchly appreciatted. It came in good order except for a touch of mold around the walnuts in the fudge, but that did not matter. Thanks very much. Received a letter from Smyth advising me of his departure for England and he will be there now. He will have missed considerable heavy fighting in which the Canadians have been engaged lately, and which resulted in their capture of a town of no small consequence. Have been in all of it and while there was still opposition, our pressure was too great. Saw fires burning for a day but they were put out. This morning early covered some ground newly taken and which has been under very heavy fire from our guns. Was in several villages and was surprised to see how well some of the houses looked. Some were fully furnished and I saw several pianos that did not have a scratch on them. Furniture of all kinds is plentiful although a considerable is destroyed by falling walls and shells. This country is all new and has not seen shellfire until the last week or so. Right now I am in a field which has marigolds and sugar-beets growing in it. Also saw squash in the gardens today.

I received a folder showing Camp Custer a few days ago. It was sent by Elizabeth. I am waiting for more word from her and it is quite possible her next letter may be from France. My turn for leave will soon be around now and I hope to hear from her in time so that I can take my leave and see her for a couple of days at the same time, as it is very hard to get special leave.

Yesterday while walking with Marshall, an officer spoke a few words to him and after leaving I learned it was Lee [?]. I did not know him at all. It is the same with many others it is hard to recognize a person in uniform that you have not seen for some time.

Set our watches back last Sunday 1 hour to winter time. We notice the short days already and there is now too much darkness for our pleasure, as there is no fun outside in this country after dark near the firing line. Shell holes etc. are too plentiful and not nice to fall into.

I suppose these days you will be busy preparing for winter. The news lately is very promising but I do not believe in having false hopes of an early cessation, and I think it will still occupy the most of next year, although a sudden stop would not altogether surprise me.

I am well supplied with everything I need to wear so you do not need to send me anything. The leather vest or waistcoat Eliz sent me comes in for good use these chilly days. I also have the great sweater coat to fall back on. It, along with some other things, has been in store all summer, but I will be sending for it soon. We have been able to get some fine canned fruit from the Y's lately and it has certainly been appreciatted. I think this all I have to write this time. Will try and write as regularly as I can. Will be looking for a bunch of letters in the next mail.

Love to you all
Rob