Le Fermont

France

July 8, 1918

Budsie Darling:

I was ever so disappointed yesterday in not receiving a letter with the Canadian Mail. But here's hoping for the best, and that you are well and happy. Harry wants to know if you will send him one of Bob's pictures in his little sailor suit. And you might send him one or two snaps of yourself Girlie. I just know how pleased he would be, and he's such a dear old chum. You never send him a line do you?

Darling, now you certainly cannot say anything to me about not writing to others than yourself because everyone that writes me says they must have offended Pink because she never writes. Aunt Annie, Mother etc. What do you do with yourself Hon?

Crickie and I go up to the Regimentail Aid Post with the ambulance tonight for 24 hours. It's the closest to the front line that our cars have ever run. Some of the stretcher bearers were telling me last night that you can see Fritz's ambulances leaving his aid posts in the daytime quite clearly, and he can undoubtedly see ours. But on this sector, as in Vimy, and for some time in the Somme, neither side molests the other. The only reason I can account for Fritz not firing on an ambulance is because we must have Saxons or Bavarians facing us because the Prussians are deadly enemies of the Canadians and they would not stop at anything, no matter how low, to take it out of us by unfair means. The country around here is wonderfully pretty and the land is in crop right up to the support trenches. The crops are looking splendid. What makes it so pretty is the abundance of red poppies and blue cornflowers mixed in with the ripening corn. I am enclosing a cornflower and fox glove. I am awfully fond of these wild flowers and almost every day I pick a bunch and decorate the car. Up where we are going tonight we shall be able to get all kinds of roses and cultivated flowers. The houses and gardens were only evacuated this spring and most of them are in good shape yet. We have already had several good feeds of red currants, raspberries and gooseberries.

You remember the driver I told you about that was wounded on his ambulance and died? (Private R.R. Edwards) He has since received a posthumous award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and also the Croix de Guerre from the French Government for carrying out French civilians. I am awfully glad because it will make it less hard for his people to bear when they know how nobly he gave his life. That makes the fifth medal awarded to our Mechanical Transport section, and we are rather proud of the fact because the other two ambulance sections of the 3rd Division can only boast three between them.

Say Girlie, it would break your heart to see how these poor French peasants go to work to gather in their crop. To me, they appear the most primitive race existing. Such things as a mower, binder etc. are a novelty here. They are cutting winter wheat now. We are parked alongside a field of about 10 to 15 acres. Two days ago they started to cut it. It is mowed down by an instrument similar to a syckle. It's very seldom you ever even see a scythe. About eight men and women do the cutting and then it has to be tied by hand and stoked. Hon yesterday there were 16 old men working on that 15 acres tying and stoking. Some of the party I'll bet were 70 to 80 years old and a few were crippled or hunchbacked.

Be sure you send a picture of Bubs to Mother and Harry, won't you Girlie. When do you figure on starting for the B.C.?
Well, I want to get this posted before we get called out, so will say au revoir.

If you are really able Darling, please write me every week. You don't know how hurt and disappointed I am when the Canadian mail comes in and your letter does not arrive. I do so love your letters. Kiss my big boy for me Dear.

All my love, and all my thoughts, are for you my baby girl,

Ever your own

Cis.