Sittard, Holland
July 3rd 1918

Dear Miss Irving

I promised you a letter at the first opportunity, so here goes.

I must say I hardly thought that I should have the good fortune to be able to write from Holland, though I hoped so, as a matter of fact. I anticipated returning to Giessen camp, & there I have several friends who would have been able to slip an extra letter through for me, but that is a secret which must be kept.

To explain more clearly, I was at a village, working, which was rather a long distance (200 kilometres) for the Holland frontier, and tried to get back to camp, but could not manage it, so decided to take a chance, with a friend, and after 17 days on the road we were lucky enough to get into Holland.

I had made several attempts before, & once had been caught on the frontier in December, 1916, so previous experience helped us considerably.

In March 1917 one of our bunch Kenyon of New Westminster got over, in December 1917 Schreiber of Vancouver got over in April 1918 Sheirs & Royston of Vancouver got over & in June 1918, Cameron of Sault St. Marie & myself succeeded, & there are many other Canadians who have escaped. The ones I named were all special friends of mine. I think the Canadians must have the best average of any, French, Russian, Italian or Belgian.

I expect to be detained in Holland about 2 weeks on account of certain formalities which have to be gone through, & then Blighty for a month or two & then Good old Canada. I feel a large lump come in my throat whenever I think of it.

Monday was Dominion day & was celebrated by the British & Canadian Prisoners of War interned in Holland. My chum & I spent the day quietly, talking over old times & home feeding. I suppose cherries will be over by the time you get this. I tasted a few in Germany before I left.

I could ramble on about Prisoner of War life but I want to forget it for a few weeks.

Kindest regards to your folks.

Yours Sincerely
Arthur Corker

Private 16874 7th Canadians
1st Canadian Contingent