Aug 26, 1916
Dear Ada & Jim & little Ada,
Received your most welcome letter the other day. Glad to know that everybody in the big family is getting along alright. Yes Jim, I would have liked it to have been a boy myself. Then you could have called it Big Sid. But we will have to be satisfied with the girl. Well Jim, you certainly will need that suit of oil skins alright if you intend to take the nursemaid's job on as I know by experience what it is like. It means a new suit every two weeks if you don't.
Well Jim, there has been a great change out here since I wrote you last. We are out of the line at present for two weeks but we are drilling mighty hard so I guess we will get a surprise when we do move where the big stuff is being pulled off. I saw Rod McRae the other day, just came out with one of the drafts. Dave is going down to the base today for the duration of war. Quite a bunch of the boys are going on account of being unfit. I was talking to Jack Ingle the other day, also A. Cann. Smoky Thompson is down at the base for good, that is where Gerald is. So you see they are all getting good jobs. Ada, I met a fellow the other day that worked in Robinsons. He ask me how you were getting along. A fellow the same build as Jim with bald head.
What do you think of Joe getting married & joining. It was a surprise to everybody. I don't think he will get over here until after the new years so he is pretty safe for a while yet.
Sorry to tell you that I haven't had any leave yet. It has been stopped quite a while now. I got a letter from home the other day saying they have had quite a time at the Stampede this year. One day there was twelve thousand Orangemen there so I guess there was a bunch of money floating around.
Glad to say that everybody is fine at home. Expect we will see a bunch of your fellows soon so I will ask some of them to see if they know you.
Well I don't think there is any more this time. Hoping this letter finds you all in the best of health as it leaves me the same.
With best love from brother.
Sid
