Montreal 17/11/17

Dear Nellie:-

A person always feels good after satisfying a good appetite with a sumptuous repast so while in that humor I'll write you a line or so. I received your box of candy a few days before leaving Regina and am very grateful. We are now on the banks of the Ottawa and about six hours from Montreal. I have enjoyed the trip for as we are all by ourselves- thirty of us in a good-sized coach - we can do much as we please. The meals are good and as for making noise we are top-notchers. The weather has been fine ever since leaving and Ontario scenery has been quite a treat after five years [of] prairie. It makes me a little homesick though. We get to Montreal at eleven o'clock tonight and from there travel by the I.C.R. to Halifax. I believe we are to wait there two days for a Forestry Draft which left Regina today. When we get to England I expect we will be transferred to an Infantry Battalion as there is a surplus Cyclist establishment.

The time on the train goes fast, the main game is 'poker' and 'shooting crap'. I lost all my money first day out, then by borrowing two dollars from Reid managed to win back ten of it last night. Today I have been reading and playing '500' which is cheaper. In one game today they had the Conductor, Brakeman and two Waiters in full blast.

I got four parcels before leaving - two in Regina and two at Brandon and then some cigarettes & chocolates at Portage - so with Reid's share we are doing fine in the line of 'eats'. We have yelled so much that I've been hoarse for the last two days. This morning one of our fellows was informed by wire of his father's death.

Well, I'll close.

Address me -

#2233344 F.C. Cousins

3rd Div. Cycle Platoon C.E.F.

c/o Army P.O.

London, Eng.