PS.

Will send this to Palmerton & they can send it on.

9/3/16

Dear Mother and All other dear ones.

I have had no Canadian mail in a week or two to speak of but may get something from you at any minute. I am living - (Bang!! - a big gun shakes the house & rattles the windows) in daily expectation of a mail. No letters from Mabel for two or three days either because the post office through which I get my mail moved away yesterday & I expect her letters are still going to them. The last letter I had they all seemed well. Our p.o. service is often slow & it takes sometimes a week for their letters to reach me while other times I get them in three days.

Well I have the reputation of having the best organized division in the Corps and I am quite sure it is the best in the Army.

I had a fine visiting of my Chaplains today. Such a fine spirit manifests & such harmony. I discussed a big program [?]. Am getting them to take advantage of the lenten season to do special work. Am getting out division cards and getting them right after the boys. I am sure they will be able to reap where we have sown.

The Bosches have never shelled (from guns) this place but yesterday they came near it. They dropped two in the middle of the road not far away. Killed one civilian one soldier & another who may die and eight wounded. They were big high explosive ones. I was on another road about 1/4 mile away & the noise they made was terrible. One man was on his horse. The shell cut away the back [?] of his saddle, tore a big hole in his coat and severly scratched him. He is suffering from shock. It is marvellous the escapes men have.

The weather is wintry the most so we have had all winter. Ground white and air frosty. The poor boys in the trenches. How I pity them! What a terrible battle this is at Verdun. The dead lie in great piles. Rows of them so high that the living use them as a parapet I hear. I called tonight at a former billet of mine in B-. The people have a son in the French army. He used to write almost daily. There was a sudden cessation of letters at Feb. 16th & no word has come since. They are in great distress about it poor things. They are living in the hope that he is a prisoner & not dead.

One has various duties to perform in my job. I had a visit from a Jew advising me about a service for them during penance week. I promised to have it fixed up & get them a Rabbi.

I am thoroughly enjoying the usefulness of this life out here apart from the anxiety, suffering of others and separation.

I got today from a Guard of a Division of Imperial Artillery that has been with us and is now leaving us the [?] kind of a letter in appreciation of our units.

It reads:

Dear Major Beattie

Before we part company with the....Division of... I want to try to express on behalf of all the officers, N.C.Os and men of the...Division of Artillery as well as for my self, our sincerest thanks to you and to the Chaplains for the kindness and care you have all given us.

We all know that a Chaplains work is not light, and we are all the more grateful that you have made time and opportunity to help us.

We have had a [?] of kindness from all ranks, of all units in the Division Clear among the pleasant recollections we shall carry away with us will be the work you Chaplains have done for us. With all our thanks, believe me -

__________ signed

That is a letter to Keep us at it,

Love to all: Will