E. Company 11th Reserves.
St. Martins Plains
Shorncliffe Kent Eng

Nov 24 1916

Dear Mother & All.

Just a line or so to let you know I am still kicking & well. I recieved the papers you send, to-day & was sure pleased to get them. Am having a fair time over here although it rain so much & gets dark so early a fellow cant do much. Well Mother, you will be pleased to hear that I can't go to France until I am nineteen years old & as I am under eighteen they may send me back to Canada. You must not build up hopes on this although things are painting that way now as they have separated all those under eighteen from the others and put us in with wounded soldiers & kids under sixteen. It is quite evident we are to leave this camp but where to I cannot say. I received a note from Cliff yesterday & he seems to be doing fine. Have been out digging trenches lately & believe me this English mud sticks.

I suppose Wilf is still sporting the school teacher. Well he's lucky & is foolish if he does as I did. You may tell Frank McFarlane for me that it is no use of him enlisting until he is nineteen & he is foolish if he does then. They are sending a draft of 500 from this Battalion soon but there is no one from home in it. Well Mother this is not a very long letter but is the best of my ability to-night. Hoping alls well, I am

Your Loving Son

Roy.