No 51
France 15/1/18.

My Dear Mother,

I am enclosing my diary, since arriving in France but as you can understand, some of the names of places, will have to remain blank, till after the war, or till I return.

Owing to a misunderstanding, we came over here with Canadian boots, and altho I had the soles of mine, heavily studded, they went up very quickly, and rather than get continually wet feet & go ito hospital, as I had to, a year ago, I bought a pair, as it was impossible to get anything issued here. The cheapest boot (ankle high) that I could get, which would last any time, was seventy five franks (about $15.00). At fifty franks the soles were not sewn, and looked like paper to me. This will give you an idea of prices. They are such a shoe as Dacks sell at 8.00 or 9.00, a very heavy & good shoe. This morning, I had my “Imperials” issued, and it was a good thing too, as I had to go a few miles up, with a working party, and tho we had a ride up, had to walk back. You never saw such mud & rain in my life &, it was in our faces all the way. I was soaked & covered with mud, of course the wet did not get thro at all & when I took off my puttess & changed my boots, I was jake. The imperial boots are fine, altho my feet are pretty sore as the boots are pretty hard.

We have no patients in yet, and there is little or nothing for me to do around the office, so I fill my time in, as best I can, mostly studying & writing letters. We used to think it could rain in Eng. but it isn’t a patch to what it can do here. We saw a motor truck this morning with the two right wheels buried so far in the mud that the machine was nearly going over. The road is a beauty, but they had turned too far off it & gone down.

We are all enjoying ourselves thoroughly, in a different way of course from Eastbourne & believe me there is a good deal of satisfaction in knowing you are in France.

I recieved your cable on the 13^th & was sure glad to get it. Owing to the unit not being on it, it was a little time finding me. You see we came as the original unit, a fact which I was not just sure of at first & possibly neglected to mention later. It said “Father Fairly Well, All business etc,” but after some puzzling, I supposed the “all” should be “at,” I had some days ago, a letter from Mrs. Chas T. from Buffalo, dated Dec 24, & as she said nothing to the contrary, took it for granted that Dad was no worse anyway. I do hope he continues to improve.

Before I left home, I bought for the store a few pocket knives - “Boker” steel. If any of these are left, I would very much like one or even two, white handles preferred & you had better register them. I would also like an occasional Hardmuth indlible pencil in my boxes, if you still have some. It is impossible to get a decent indelible here.

I had a lovely little white handled Rogers knife that I got in Folkestone, but the day before leaving Eastbourne, someone appropriated it & now I have only my large issue knife. Here, there are practically no decent knives to be had. The handles are of pressed paper & the steel of very doubtful quality.

I have had a card from Mae Richardson posted on the 21^st, so should soon have a letter from you. I think the last one was Nov. 22., have it here unanswered anyway.

I have some indigestion now. When we were out this morning we struck a bunch of little old houses, & tried to get something to eat. We got a cup of coffee each at one, another turned out to be a bake shop & we were able to get a loaf & some butter another place a can of salmon, some sauce & tea. So had quite a meal. I forgot to tell you, that I am drinking tea now. I don’t like it, but have to drink something. The French bread is very funny, about twenty inches long eight wide & four thick, rather torpedo shaped & the same kind of crust all round. People carry it home under their arm like a stick of wood when they can get it. It is very hard for a soldier to get & I imagine we would be arrested if found with a loaf.

I have just returned from tea, and you never saw such a place as the yard is, about four inches of water all over, of course we have duck walks everywhere but will need paddles for them to-morrow, if it keeps on raining to-night. I would give a great deal to have a movie camera over here. It would certainly be great in after years to have the films.

This letter of yours has no news for me, as I have already had one written in Dec.

I am getting fat, weigh over 150, of course I am hardly up after nine & quite often in bed by eight.

There are a couple of passes & tickets enclosed, which please put with my other junk.

Your loving son,
Worth.

Hello Miriam Dear,

I am sending this to Nerta in an addressed envelope Hope you are O.K. Dad better. Worth is having some time. Awful the American Transport was torpedoed. Brutes [?] is all on. Hope Grey who taught at Molton is to be buried to-day. [?] Greys sister. She & her Father were on their way west to take up ranching & she was taken ill on the train & he took her off into a hosp at St Louis Mo. & she passed [?].

Lovingly Mother.