Belgium,
January 29, 1919.

My dear Win,

I received your nice letter a couple of days ago and I was awfully glad to hear from you, and get all your news.

We crossed the German frontier on December 4th, 1918 and were in Germany until January 13th, 1919. We reached Cologne on December 13th, and then marched to Wahn Artillery Barracks where we stayed until we came here in January 13th. Altogether we had rather a nice time in Germany, and in a way I was sorry to leave. While we were at Wahn, I went into Cologne quite a lot and saw all the sights worth seeing. The Cathedral is really a wonderful place, and I went there several times. Another officer and I stayed all night at the best hotel there, and it didn't cost us a cent as the Huns had to pay all the expense.

The Fritzies on the whole were not as hostile as I expected to find them.

We have been living here about two weeks, and the whole Battery is living in a huge Chateau. It sounds far more comfortable than it really is, as the place is very cold and draughty. We have been having some good old winter weather lately, and this morning there is about four inches of snow on the ground.

We are very short of officers at the moment as most of them are on leave, so I am very busy just now. On top of that they made me Brigade sports officer, and it certainly is a rotten job. You have to attend every meeting and try and organize games without the proper supplies. One of our officers just got his leave warrant today to go back to Canada. I wish that I was in his place.

I put in for ten days Paris leave two days ago, and I heard yesterday that it would come through almost anytime, so I am looking forward to seeing all the sights very much. I will write and tell you all about it as soon as I get back. Also, I expect to go to Liege in a day or two, and we are going to be inspected by the King of the Belgians. We ought to have a pretty good time there, as the people of Liege are very nice, and it was they who invited us to come.

Yes, I was slightly wounded in the face during the Amiens show last August, but I was o.k. again in a few days, and it didn't amount to anything.

I am so glad that you had a good Football Supper last year. I would have liked very much to have been there. Perhaps I will be able to come to the one this year. Would I get an invitation, do you think?

Well I must stop now, as I have a lot of things to do and there isn't any more news.

Give my regards to your father and mother.

Yours sincerely,

Hugh L. McCulloch.