October 6th 1918

My Dear Mother:-

Well, I am in Scotland and am taking life easy. I have been inside nearly all day sitting in a nice comfortable leather chair - talking, smoking and reading. There are large crowds of Soldiers of all lands here on leave and it was difficult to find a place to stay. This is a very nice club and everything is of the best. I only got ten days leave since I wasn't wise enough to concoct the names of some relatives whom I was going to visit. To visit kin folk you are allowed twelve days - a general sight-seeing tour must be completed in ten. If this war lasts long enough I'll get on to the most of the dodges.

Left Bexhill at noon on Friday morning - stayed about eight hours in London, long enough to see how crowded and expensive it is - and then came on to Scotland. It is an ten hour ride from London and as we travelled at night I didn't have any chance of seeing very much of the country.

The city - what I have seen - seems very nice indeed. It is so clean and everything is nicely set out. However it still persists in raining - a characteristic - I guess - of this land no matter where you stop. Tomorrow - if I don't go to Glasgow I am going to see some of the sights. I want to see the University and the library - the Castle - a very historical and imposing structure which you see as soon as you leave the station - the Scott memorial monument - Holyrood palace and many others. I promised to meet MacCormac in Glasgow so I may go on to there.

Before I left Hospital I got your letter written on Sept 5th - in which was enclosed a $2 note. Glad you are getting along so well with the work. It is too bad that Charlie cannot get back to school but then if he does his best at home his work there will contribute very much to the success of the whole cause in the larger sense. Soon it will be over and then we will all be able to re-enter our normal phase of existence. I also had a letter from Nellie and am glad she likes her new school. Another letter from Norm Storrey gave me a few details of Brigade life since I left. Little Norm had a narrow escape. He and ten other boys were in a short trench when a sixty-pounder fell in the same trench about six feet to their right. He and another fellow were the only two untouched. Three were killed - one fellow lost both legs - another boy from Vancouver lost his right leg and the others were good for England. Haven't heard from Reid yet and do not know what the extent of his injuries are.

On the completion of my leave I return to the Machine Gun Depot at Seaford. I hardly know what will happen then. As I am now an A1 soldier again I may return directly to France or I may strike a job of some sort that will keep me there for a few months.

Haven't heard from Andy Mac lately altho' I should have had a letter. I am beginning to think that Fred C. has been wounded also as I have had no word from him altho' I wrote as soon as I reached England.

I will close now - with love

Yours

F.