Same address
Sunday April 22/17

My Dear Betty:-

Your letter No. 13 received yesterday noon that brings all your letters up to No. 14 received O.K. Reading over your letter you speak of feeling blue etc. at the thought of my going to France etc, so again I say dear Betty don't worry - I shall be alright, & God is just as near in France in the front line as here in England = of course I know dear that you cannot help but feel anxious but hope for & believe in the best, apart from my anxiety for you & my dear little kiddies - I have no fear whatsoever of the future, & all I ask just now is to take my place by the side of my comrades yonder. There are very - very few of the 222nd left here now while every week we are receiving word of some wounded or killed - just the other day we got word of the death of two of our lieutenants - Mr. Malloy & Mr. Farr both killed at Vimy Ridge. Mr. Malloy was lieut- of my platoon at Camp Hughes. Most of our 222nd boys took part in the fighting at Vimy Ridge, it was certainly a great day for the Canadians. Every day now brings its news of success & progress & it does begin to look as though the end is not so very distant. The states have certainly been accorded a great welcome on their entry into the world war -& I am inclined to think that often all President Wilson has been wise in his policy, it is wonderful how united & unanimous the people have become. You will have read of the great service held in St. Paul's Cathedral, London - a clipping of which I am enclosing = just to think of the Stars & Stripes floating side by side with the Union Jack & the vast congregation among which were Britain's King & Queen & the flower of her aristocracy, rising & singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner" & "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" & then listening to a sermon by an American Bishop on the "Power if Democracy". It was nothing less than wonderful,& in itself much an event is prophetic of the future. But we are living in wonderful times & it is indeed a grand privilege to have a part & place in the sublime program of the present - its worth while - well worth while. I am still in Quarantine but expect to be coming out on Saturday the 28th. Yesterday however I had a pleasant break in the monotony of things = a small party of our Sergt's were invited to spend Saturday afternoon & evening with Lady Tollemacke = she has a beautiful home about 3 miles from here - an old castle on the East Coast = Suffolk & a residence in London = The Tollemacke's are one of the oldest English families & have frequent mention in history - also the present Lady Tolemacke's sister is the wife of the late Prof Tyndall, the famous scientist = (she spends a few months here every year just to be near her sister). Well, I was among the invited & got special permission (being in Quarantine) to go, & I spent one of the pleasantest times sence I left Wp'g. There were just eight of us & we arrived about 4 PM., the house stands in the back in the most beautiful grounds - We were shown to our rooms by neat, smart looking maids, superintended by a staid & very dignified middleaged housekeeper - just like those you read about after a wash etc we went down & were shown into the drawing room, here we were received by Lady Tollemacke, she gave us a very kindly welcome & made us each feel at our ease. There were several other ladies also, who had come to help to entertain us I suppose, Lady T is a sweet-dainty-little lady about 70 years of age I should judge & is every inch a lady. After the introduction were over, afternoon tea was served & after tea, we had games - singing - chatted, as well as having a snapshot of the group taken on the front door steps. At 7-30 the gong sounded to dress for dinner - so we went up to our room to wash etc, at 8 o'clock the gong went for dinner so we descended to the drawing room where the ladies were - I had the pleasure & honour of Lady T____ into dinner - she is a dear old lady & highly cultured & interlectual, gifted conversationalist having the knack of making one feel perfectly a their ease & drawing the best from them. It was a simple meal - yet very, very nice etc, etc. We spent about 1 ½ at dinner which consisted of 1st & cold potted meat & boiled peas (no potatoes) blanche-mange? - biscuits & cheese & several kinds of cakes - coffee & fruit. After dinner we went into the sitting room & library & the ladies passes round smokes & after half an hour there we went back to the library & chatted & sang etc till about 11-15 P.M. when we took our leave of our very kind old hostess, she invited us all back again & probably I shall go next Saturday all being well, it was a very pleasant experience as well as instructive to get into one of our "Stately Homes of England"

Well I must draw to a close for this time. You should be receiving a Post-Office Transfer, through Lloyd's Bank for $ 125.ºº about the same time that you receive this letter, this will make it easier for you to finnance things. Am glad things are going a little better with you & that the dear children are better. God bless, & keep you all with dearest love & lots of kisses

Yours lovingly

Will

Betty xxxxxxxxxx
Shirley xxxxxxxxx
Arthur xxxxxxxxx

Tell Shirley when I get out of quarrantine I will try & send some little things for her Birth-day - also I shall not forgot our Wedding Day.