France
June 15 / 17

My Dear Betty & Kiddies:

Well here I am with the 1st C.M.R.'s at last. I joined them yesterday morning & have met a lot of the old boys most of the Emerson boys, at least those who are still left & they have been very fortunate so far in regard to casualties. You will remember Patterson there were two brothers? Well the big one - he has been killed & the other brother wounded, also young Walton has been rather seriously wounded half of one of his feet off & a wound in the arm - Pryor & Spick are here & all the boys are looking fine & fit, its like old times to see the familiar faces once again. I have been posted to [?], & am in the same platoon as Pryor, our company had quite a number of casualties a few days ago, while out on working party.

The battalion is down, out of the front line for a few day's rest, but are going back into the front line trenches any-time now probably to-morrow. We had Divine service this morning, followed by a voluntary Holy Communion Service in one the Y.M.C.A. huts, during the service a large piece of shrapnel from an anti-air craft gun came crashing through the roof - it was a miracle that no one was hit - I was sitting just a couple of yards to the right & just before it came the men sitting directly under where it fell had gone up to the front to take communion - you never know when & where you are safe here, & every one is thoroughly used to the element of danger & so don't take but little notice of it, expecting almost anything.

I am writing this sitting in the shade of a hedge, it is 6 P.M. & has been a fearfully hot day far hotter than you get it in Canada. I don't know what it will be like later - its getting a little cooler now, we are living in huts about 40 men to a hut pretty crowded - I have no blanket just my ground sheet & great coat, & I guess when I go up the line I won't even have my great-coat - a fellow doesn't carry any more than is absolutely necessary here the huts we are living in are about 40 ft by 10 ft and are divided thus [diagram]& we are just on the outskirts of a village, which has been pretty well devastated by the Huns even to the old church & the grave-yard.

My; it's a shame to see the wanton & ruthless havoc wrought by the [?] Huns & its touching to see the Women & old men (you never see a young man) & children living in the ruins of their homes - the faces of the older people especially the women wear a look, that is undesirable & which the passing years will never efface a look which is eloquent of the unutterable experience they have & are still passing through - The people in Canada certainly have cause for devout & sincere thanksgiving for they are spared the close contact with the horrors of war - This is a beautiful country & as I write it is hard to imagine that a mile or two away tens of thousands of men are facing each other in battle for a wonder, just now not even a gun can be hard - nothing but the singing of the birds & the distant hum of the aeroplane - the wild roses are in bloom & everything is delightful = here & there the shattered walls & tops of churches - cottages - Château remind me of what is taking place.

My little home in the West looks so good to me & if I am spared to return, it will be heaven indeed.

We have just been filling in cards, re settlement after the war. I have signified my desire to take advantage of the governments offer of land etc - this will not be binding in any way, but it is being done so that the government I suppose can arrive as some kind of an estimate of what will be needed.

I have also expressed my desire or willingness to serve in the capacity of my profession on any settlement of returned soldiers which the government may establish after the war - I think I have mentioned this in my last letter but you will likely get the two together - you must let me know what you think of the idea - I don't feel myself that I can go back to the old conditions etc, so narrow & little & hypocritical, however I want you to express your opinion freely dear, There are the kiddies to think about too, & personally I think that there is no place like the country (providing there is a good school) for bringing up the children its generally the county children who make good anyway = The government of course would see to it, that all things essential to such a settlement would be provided - Schools - Railway etc etc.

There would be the government loan of $2,000, & what little we have ourselves - & if we take advantage of this scheme I would homestead 160 acres if possible that would be ½ section & if may be that I could induce Father to come out & homestead also, but we can't count on that (I just thought of it) Then if the Union church scheme were to materialize, I think we could settle down to a life of useful service, with no worry of being left to shift & scrape for a living on our old age, & then too we'd have a little to leave our children.

All this of course is kind of "Castles in Spain" just now - but its worth thinking over & you must let me know if you think its worth planning for. I might mention that any gratuity of money, which may be made to the soldiers after the war - could be used in paying off either the mortgage or insurance loan - I don't think we would have much difficulty in disposing of the cottage if we thought it advisable though it would be nice to keep it is possible as one of out assets, & as a place to which we could always go especially seeing that you are putting so much work on it, in making it cosy.

Well dear ones I must close again - don't tell anyone of our plans etc for the future, just sit tight. I wish you would enclose in a letter a piece of medal ribbon a few inches, you can get the Kings & Queens in one piece, Good night & God bless you all my fondest love & all kinds of kisses & hugs to my dear wife & darling kiddies.

Daddy
Will

Betty xxxxxxxxxxx
Shirley xxxxxxxxxx
Billy xxxxxxxxxx

P.S. the guns are just commencing to boom again & I suppose will keep it up now the rest of the night.