France, July 3rd.

My Dear Mother:-

I've been rather out of health & spirits for the last week with a sort of summer sickness. I was in bed for a couple of days but got up on Sunday and since then have had no appetite and practically no energy. The weather has been very hot and sultry altho' it is cooler today. Most of the battery went for a bath today but I had a job at the cook-house which made it impossible for me to get away. I suppose we will go tomorrow.

On Monday we went to the Can. Sports and had a very nice time. I didn't move around very much - Fred C. was to be there but I didn't see him. It was practically [impossible] to find anyone for whom you were looking. We went up in motor lorries. The day was fine and the events were well managed.

There must have been about forty thousand soldiers around and the line of trucks and cars extended for several miles. We arrived about eleven o'clock, had dinner of a can of pears and a package of cakes and then in the afternoon viewed the events. Quite a few distinguished guests including Sir R.L. Borden, Gen. Currie, Gen Haig and Gen. Pétain graced the occasion. The premier looked in good spirits and was given quite a reception. One of the other Cabinet ministers whom they said was Newton Wisley(?) - I wasn't close to see - was along with him. Anyway, some of the fellows wanted to know about prohibition and what they were drinking back in Canada now. Barton, our runner, got second place in the three mile run and Smith, a 158 lb. boxer trimmed them all in his class. The baseball championship game was a dandy, the 123rd Batt. team trimming the 1st Div. Ammn. Column in the 13th inning. The winners go to Paris to play the Americans today or tomorrow, the 4th.

Coming home MacCormac was put out of the game. He was riding on the tail-board of the lorry and in some way two of the lorries backed into each other and poor Mac had his foot and instep very badly smashed. He will very likely go back to England and may, in all probability, be out of [the] war. He is the first Regina lad to go back. I'll miss Mac very much for since Reid and I were parted Mac and I have slept and lived together. Well, Mother, I'll not write any more tonight for my head isn't very clear. I think I'll go to bed rather early tonight. With best love from

Yours

Frank.