Box 225 Prince George B.C.
May 12, 1918

My dearest Mother.

When I received my discharge I was very anxious for some time about my immediate future. The Army grows on one like a habit and it takes a few weeks to restore the civilian aspect of life. I found Vancouver already rather crowded but I remained until the snow in the interior had disappeared, living on my accumulated money.

I have not heard anything as yet of either pension or gratuity tho I understand I am entitled to the latter. Perhaps $100 00 However, I have discovered that the preference given to returned soldiers by the government of the Dominion and municipal bodies far outweighs the small amount that one might obtain from the army pension. I have already made application for a position under the provincial government which I may be lucky enough to obtain.

I decided to come up into Fort George, again. I arrived off the train and there was still the "snows of yesteryear" on the ground. The following day I went to work in the City hall. The City Assessor needed a temporary assistant, and I was right there to fill the bill. It was a job to last ten days but dragged on its weary way for six weeks at $4 00 per day. In the mean time I was advised by local army doctor to take outside work, and when I was finished in City Hall I made two trips on local river steamboat as night watchman. During this time my application to the Chief Forester for position was considered and I have just been notified that I will be appointed Assistant Forest Ranger, for Peace River District with Findlay Forks for Hdgrs. It is a six months appointment and the salary is about $100 00 per month The work includes fire patrolling timber cruising and reports on minerals of district. I will go on this about fifteenth of month. This should enable me to save quite a little sum for this fall. The only disadvantage about the work is that there is no regular mail service but I hope to be able to get mail out and in regularly.

I received handkerchiefs, for which many thanks. They were highly appreciated here. Linen is rare in Canada There was no tax, tho' they had been examined by our mutual friend, the Censor.

Mr. Siller's personality is certainly amazing. His characteristics stand out in bold relief from both yours and Dorothy's letter. Assuredly he left a strong impression. Now you must not exaggerate the lad's importance too much unless he is a brigadier-general.
Speaking of this gentleman reminds me of cases among the boys who crossed over whose conversation was very impressive. Their talk of property, mines, ranches, was overwhelming, with this result: It secured for them wives. These girls came out here from England as their husbands returned, were led to believe much more than was actually the case and are not having the life which they expected to lead. Of course the people in the Old Country "fall" for that big talk very easily. On the other hand there are many fine fellows in the Canadian Army - 18 carrat gold they are.

How is the gallant sergeant the horse-soldier. I'll bet that he will be mixed up in the present racket on the Somme. The battles at present are of a peculiar interest to me, because I am familiar with the ground both on the Somme and at Kemmel. I had some weary marches over the ground now occupied by the enemy.

Before I was discharged I made application to join flying Corps as a Cadet. Had all my papers O.K. ed and appeared in front of the R.F.C. Med. Board. Of course they turned me down when they discovered that I had already returned form the war.

I enclose a letter from B.N.A. to me explaining in itself my delay in not sending Dorothy's bond.

Talking about bonds leads me to remark that at the end of the war every country may repudiate every cent they have borrowed. Personally I believe it just to the next generation that they do so. However the next generation will repudiate anyway. Of course indigent investors would not suffer under any scheme of repudiation.

But do not talk of repudiation in public. I have not had my photograph taken yet. I had intended to use a typewriter but this may do for this letter.

Your loving
Willie
W. Lowry

I write this on top of a chest of drawers in room very cramped position.