France
June 9/17

My Dear Mother,

The past few days have been very interesting as well as more dangerous very us. You will be reading of this push and the further successes we have gained in this part. All those old trenches where we spent the dirty wet winter and those months in the worst trenches we were ever in (where we were severely strafed a year ago & many of us wounded), are now in some cases far behind our line and in the north not so far.

You can't imagine what an advance like this one can look like from 1500' above and there is very little use of me trying to explain. I was glad that I had the chance to go over twice at such a low height and report by means of map to the Corps H.Q. the position of our infantry during the attack.

It is very important work and the squadrons (R.F.C.) who took part have been greatly complimented and many chits[?] of that nature have come around to our squadron. Our flight does contact Patrol (close co-operation with infantry). It has been a great experience but I hope that it isn't repeated very often. There has been several unpleasant casualties and several are away from our mess. As usual some of the best of fellows have gone under. But you can't take part in this thing (war) without a certain amount of risk. The Huns got back some of the shelling & more that they gave us a year ago. You can tell that by the slight loss on our side & many prisoners taken. This show had been a great success and it is a novel experience to witness it from the air and to take part in it in this branch of the service.

Willie wrote me a letter lately. He is having his experience now and hope he will be as fortunate as I have been-Commission England etc. It is a pleasant feeling to be out off infantry. It was the real roughing it and looking back I don't see how we managed to stick it so well. No one who hasn't been in this ranks in infantry can possible understand what the fellows go through. I don't see how I could stand it again and many memories are very unpleasant & will never forget.

Did I tell you about seeing Madana Hughges. She was very good to us and I have promised to get her a P.P. Cap badge.

Had a letter from Beattie Ramsay yesterday. Aunt Margaret is not recovering very well. You seem to have a number of sad things happening at home. It all must be a strain on you, and then you have two of us over here. I sincerely hope you can find some comfort, free from anxiety and can to some extent enjoy this summer at the lake. Here's hoping the war will be over before next fall. I seem to have been away from home a very long time.

Your last two letters are dated Apr.30 & May 14th. I am looking for parcel by 19th and papers. No papers for a long time.