Witley July 19 1918 Dear Sis:- Received your letter of July 1, today and it was the first letter I've had for a long time owing to my address having changed. Did I give you it. Well I will will affix it to this letter in case. Well I was all ready to go to France last week but was taken off draft a few hours before I left here I am until September & probably longer. I only hope I don't go as a wireless operator but as a battery signaller. Your adv. of some "up-to-date" mess tin was in the letter and I want to thank you ever so much for thinking of sending it but please don't. There are two reasons. The first thing is that we don't need them, and the second is that when a fellow carries all his belongings on his back, the less he owns, the better he likes it. I don't think any of those fellows who wrote all the recommendations for that mess tin were ever in the army. Also please don't send me much of anything that cannot be eaten, drunk or smoked for reason no.2, above. Do you know I would rather go to France in the Infantry than in the Artillery, especially as a signaller. Especially if I could get in the same Battalion at Ralph. Don't you find this writing hard to read. Well the reason is I've lost my fountain pen. So if you really find it hard to read it is easily [?]. Did I ever tell you I met Ges Piens here. He has been here for five or six months but I never ran across him until a few days ago. Will close now. Lovingly Ludlow Reserve Battery C.G.A Witley Camp [?]