Sept. 24th 17
France

Dear Mother

Just a line hoping this finds you all well at home, as it leaves me. I'm doing fine these days and we are getting some lovely weather. Also, I hope you are getting the same at home for the grain. I'm looking for some letters from you soon, as I didn't get any mail at all for the last two weeks. But I'll be getting it all together, I suppose.

How does Marjie like the broach I sent last mail? I think it's a nice one, don't you? You'll be glad to know that we are still out on rest, and it looks pretty peaceful just now. We are staying in a little village, and it's like old school days again,.. pinching pears out of the orchard. They grow lots of fruit round here, but they don't forget to soak you for it too. They generally want about twopence for an apple or pear. There's all kinds of walnuts and plums. I guess it used to be a regular Garden of Eden before La Guerre. I was out for a walk on Sunday, and hunted some of the boys up. I saw G. Wright, and there was about sixteen of us from Swan, and it was sure nice to see some of the old chums again. We all started out in a bunch to get our picture taken, but it was rather late and it wasn't light enough for our rural photographer. So we had to postpone it for another time. There was the seven of us from the picture we had taken in Bramshott, and I'd like to have had it taken here. We are in three different Batts now, so we were doing pretty good to get together again, if only for a short while. I guess you will know that Dick Clark got shell shock the last time we were in. Lieut Gillespie was killed and another C26 officer that was with this Batt. I saw Lieut Gordon a week or two back, and I hear he's pretty sick now with trench fever. He was in the 23rd. I had a letter from Aunt Jessie last week, and Gramma is in Sheffield, and I think they are all well but auntie, and she has been poorly for some time. Well Mother dear, I think this is all, so with best love to all, I remain your loving Son,

Frank