Sept 7th 1918

Dear Mr. Irwin,

Your welcomed letter of Auf. 12th received a few days ago.

Glad to say that I am feeling my old self again, and back to work after being away for a few days on Sick furlough.

I was Home to Portsmouth and had a ripping time.- still there was one Vacant chair at the table, my Brother having gone to France again, and of course will be in the latest advance. The last I heard from him, he was near Albert. Since then, have received no news. Thanks for the information concerning the 3 Girls. I was just wondering which one of the 3. Miss M- would be called. Hope I fancy. Hope for a lot of things, but now the Rev. Mr. Currie is staying there one of the Hopes may materialize. Eh.

Then you made mention of Miss MacNaughton. What a tease you are, just as if I want to know how she was getting on, more than any other Young Lady.

You will insist in making my mouth water with your description of your outings, amongst the Lakes makes me feel Homesick. Still I like to hear of them, and looking forward to one of those trips myself. (After the War) Looking over the Roll of Honor, I think our Church may well be proud of the Boys. Well we have the Huns on the run and I guess will keep them. The Canadians have covered themselves with Glory in breaking through the Impregnable! Hindenburg line, though in looking over the Causilty List we lost many men. It makes me feel like being out here again, to be at the finish but I guess I would have some difficulties to overcome, one would be the M.O. and the other the Colonel, and Staff, and they are holding all Causilties until the Drafties have had a turn, and come to think of it, the latest achievements of the Canadians would be men of the first Drafties, certainly they have held up the tradition of the veterans of 1915 and 16.

Have had no news from Karl for sometime, hoping he is still in the Best of Health. That bunch of Boys can certainly eat. Ins[?] there any Food Coutrsrler[?] over there. Why they eat as much as would feed a Battalion on Army Rations. Our stable Lies now in Potatoes camouflaged to look like an Hamburger steak, Bacon & Eggs, ect. a prize is offered to the Boy who can give a suitable name to some of the dishes. I would give a few names now, only they would not look nice in print. Still pursueing my study at The College, but these hot nights one do not take the same interest in it.  Just received one of the longest letters I have ever got. I happened to mention that I was studying French & Shorthand and now I have a letter from a Young Lady, half in French and the remainder in Shorthand, and the time I am taking to translate it, I have so far been two days over it, a huge[?] piles of books is on the table, for reference, and I don’t want to give it up for a bad job, as there may be something important in it would not like to miss. (now smile) I could get one of my Squad to help me, but that would make it too pulic[?]. I am going to ask her if she thinks I am a Professor of Languages.

Welll it is nearly lights out and I have yet to make my feather bet, 3 Boards and a couple of blankets, nothing like solid comfort these days, so will conclude for this time Wishing to be remembered to All the Kind Friends of Norwood, and to Mrs Irwin and Family.

Sincerely Yours

W.J. Stares.