Mons, Belgium

December 4th, 1918

Dear Mr. Law,

I wish to thank Mrs. Law and yourself most sincerely for the lovely parcel form 486 which was delivered to me last evening. Everything arrived in excellent condition but the pear it was hors do combat but fortunately it had not effected the rest of the contents at all. An old friend of mine from the old Buff battalion, now in the motor transport workshops, 4th Division dropped in to see me last night so I was able to receive him hospitably, the cookies taste suspiciously like Marion's handiwork and I must say she has lost none of her fine art in the cooking line, they are a most acceptable touch of the old home life and highly appreciated by us.

I have received no letters from Toronto since the armistice was signed but have no doubt the news was received joyfully, it is a great relief to the whole world to know the bloodshed is a thing of the past, it seems difficult to realize that the finish is actually here and I do not think it will come hoe to us over here fully until we are back in our homes again. The soldiers received the good news very quietly, we all realize that it will be some time before we are making tracks for Canada. It seems awfully hard lines on the boys who were killed on the last morning, we had four in our company who had seen 36 months service in France and come through everything without a scratch until the final scrap. My old battalion has suffered quite severely in killed and seriously wounded, I am very lucky and thankful to have come safely through what I did without injury.

They are starting educational classes tomorrow, about 10 subjects are under way now and no doubt the range will expand as time goes on. I have put my name in for arithmetic, book-keeping, motor mechanics and engines, but as the working hours are only from 10 to 12 I may not be able to take in all that I have booked for.

We have been in Mons now over three weeks, they still maintain that the whole Canadian Corps is going to the Rhine with the army of occupation, if so we are a long time getting started. It seems rather a coincidence that this is the place where British troops first came into contact with the enemy in 1914 and here it ended four years later, the last fighting in this sector was just on the outskirts. The city has not been damaged at all but any amount of mines have been removed timed for December and January, it is to be hoped none have been over looked. Gas and electric lights have been turned on all over the place and the shops, all of which seem to be well stocked, have assumed a normal appearance. Three of us have been sleeping at a private house and the French family have told us many interesting things about the German occupation, they had innumerable rules and regulations to live up to and the slightest infraction of any resulted in heavy fines, imprisonment or forced labor in the mines of Belgium or Germany. However this part of Belgium at least, does not know war as the French towns and population have realized it, I think at first a good many here favoured the Germans but 51 months under their rule has taught them a lesson they will not soon forget.

The boys who are sharing in the box join with me in wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Sincerely yours

Percy C. Blackmore