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  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in oa_core_visibility_data() (line 607 of /app/profiles/viu/modules/contrib/oa_core/includes/oa_core.access.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in oa_core_visibility_data() (line 607 of /app/profiles/viu/modules/contrib/oa_core/includes/oa_core.access.inc).
Date: July 17th 1917
To
Mr. Irwin
From
Howard McMaster
Letter

Monday July 16th 1917

Somewhere in France

Dear Friend A Mansell

Just a few lines to let you Know I am well a present & hope this finds yourself & family the same & I recived your letter all OK & was sure glad to hear from you. Well the weather is very fine here now & we are Keeping the huns on the move & I think that peace will soon be in sight. But it will take some time I think before the troops are back. But never the less we will blow in some day trusting to the Lord for our safe return. Well I got my Brothers adress & is going to write to & see how he is getting along. I hear he is Drawing water. I have not seen any of the boys lately. I am in the Transport at present Driving the officers miss cart & I be on the road the most of my time & I see a lot of France. We the most of the original men have gone on leave & they will soon be starting on the Draft men & I think my turn will not be long. I well be a year in France on the 27th of October the time soon flies over here. I have not seen any American Troops as yet But I hear there are some in France I was very sorry to hear mr pearce was so low. There will be a big change there I suppose when the boys go Back. Well I had a Bath on Friday & is feeling fine after it. Some of the boys had a boil on there shirts & believe me they had a lot of Causualties ha ha. Well I suppose Karl will soon be in France I sure would like to see him. Well that was some case of charlies alright. I was to church parade yesterday & we had a good sermon. I was thinking yesterday where I was a year ago & we were on the boat coming a cross the ocean & I think we will be going back over it before the year is out yet. Well you said things is very high in price there now. Well I bought a dozen of eggs the other day & it cost 7 cents an egg soon that is a pretty fair price for them. As we can’t buy many of them on 15 franks a pay ha ha. Well as I have not much more to say this time I could say a lot more but we can’t say any thing much about war affairs as the letter may not reach you. I suppose the Crops are looking fine. Oh yes Remember me to Mr. William J. Buck of the Hasting road. Tell him I sure would like to be there to give him a hand with his crop. I have worked for him before & I sure should have Drop him a line before now & will do so the first chance I get. I am out watching me horse while he is out on grass & I brought my writting pad with me which I recived in a parcel from Miss McCleary of Norwood. Well I suppose every body around there are taking advantage of there summer holidays & that Trent-Bridge & Stoney-lake will be booming now how are the potatoes look over there this year. Well you said you were going out on the farm for a few days. Well be easy on the fork handles & leave a few for me when I go Back ha ha. Well I guess I will close for this time hopping to hear from you soon again I remain your ever Friend pte H.J. McMaster 52 Batt Reg. No. 195475. B.E.F. France. Transport. Remember me to the Daughters of the Empire which I recived a parcel from a few days ago. Well Good-bye & I pray for God to Be with us till we meet again. Take a call down on my Aunt & Uncle & tell them I am well & will write them soon.

Original Scans

Original Scans

Howard McMaster. July 16, 1917 Howard McMaster. July 16, 1917 Howard McMaster. July 16, 1917 Howard McMaster. July 16, 1917 Howard McMaster. July 16, 1917