6 July 1915

My Dear Mother

Your letter June 20 came today. I have written 2 letters, small ones to you and 2 long ones I hope you have them all in order. You know it takes sometimes a little over 2 weeks to get mail from Toronto so you will see how it is. Yes, I have been getting quite a few from Toronto, nine in one mail, six in another and only two and others besides to-day. I have also been getting letters from Scotland and it keeps me busy to answer them all.

What do you think of the photos. The ones of the twins in Hamilton turned out poorly as it was a dull day, and one I took of Logan, who is a 2nd Liutenant in Manchester. I am sorry they turned out so, for I took particular pains to get the best I could. I even went so far as to take two snaps of to everybody, just to make sure so you can imagine my dissapointment.

I have the films yet and if you are desirous of getting any more, just ask for them and I will send them to you.

So you are worrying about my washing. Young kids come around the camp to collect it and do it good and cheap. Sometimes I do my own and sometimes let them have it. We have hot and cold shower baths and sometimes go down to the sea to swim. On Sunday Allan Lynch and I rented a row boat at Folkestone, rowed out about ½ mile. It was smooth as glass, and jumped it, it was good sport. So you see Mother we are well of and there is no need to worry at all.

The English strawberries and cherries are great, the strawberries are the size of a medium sized tomato and are delicious. Orvil and I had some in London with thick Devonshire Cream.

My feet are all better now and the English boots, although heavy and clumsy, I must say are comfortable for me, although some of the fellows cannot wear them at all.

Tobacco and cigarettes I still have a lot of. It is very cheap over hear and you get twice the quantity you get for the same money at home. We were issued with housewives, good ones too, with needles, darning wool, pant buttons and batchelor buttons, safety pins and thread, and we have also been issued with extra pairs of good socks.

There are a lot of flying craft around here. English parsevals, (dirigibles) areoplans and monoplanes, both French and English.

London is all dark at night so is Manchester and all seaside towns and villages, but Glasgow is all lit up as usual.

Agnes writes quite a few letters as does Mary. I have also got one or two from Eudora two from Marion and three or four from William, and a little booklet from Father. I am sure I have received all the mail which has been sent me and I thought you took it for granted which was the reason I did not tell you so. Believe me if I don't hear from you when it is time I will cable. I have been going on the principle that you would like to hear of what is of interest over here instead of filling up a letter with questions etc and in turn you tell me the things of interest at home, which, you do.

The pictures I am sending are not all, as the ones of the twins and in Hamilton I sent back to London to be printed anyway. They did not print them the first time as they said it was not worth it. They evidently don't realize what they are worth to me, else they would have done it in the first place.

The weather here has been clear and bright ever since we came over about 2 days rain in that length of time. It is just like Toronto weather with the exception that the atmosphere is a wee bit heavier and more humid as Marion calls it.

Last night at 11:30 PM when in the trenches we had dug up on the hill about a mile from here, we heard the distant firing of the big guns in France. Yesterday was a long day as we were working from 6 in the morning until 12 at night.

Tell Eudora both Orvill and Mack would like to get a card or a letter from her.

Orvil's address is
Capt O A Elliott
5th Field Ambulance Corps
2nd C.E.F.
Army P.O.
London

Macks is the same as mine with the exception of his number which is 56132.

Will close now hoping you are all well and enjoying the best of health and happiness

Your affectionate son.

John.

My address

Pte John Law
Machine Gun Detatchment
19th Battalion, 4th Inf Brigade
Army Post Office
London Eng. 2nd D.E.F.
#55086

Pte John Law
M.G.D.
19th Batt, 4th Inf Brig.
Army P.O. 2nd C.E.F.
London Eng.
#55086

It is not so long when you abbreviate it.

P.S. There will be more pictures in a few days I hope.