Lydd, England
January 2, 1917
Dear Marjorie,
I received your letter today along with a bunch from about every relative I have. Owing to our moving our mail was held back. We had some time preparing for arrival of the battery as provisions and blankets had to be drawn and huts scrubbed out. There were 10 of us and believe we never worked so hard since we joined the army. To top things off we had to go down to the station and load all the stores, kitbags and packs from two cans into a couple of motor lorries unloading them when we reached camp. Before arriving here we heard all sorts of rumours concerning the camp which were anything but encouraging. We were led to believe it was the last place on earth. I guess it is not so bad and I'm beginning to rather like it. Lydd is on the south about 3 miles from the sea, in fact we are in contact with it so much we are plastered all the time! We are getting a lot of rain, our rubber boots and raincoats certainly come in handy. We manage to keep fairly dry, comfortably dry at least. You can picture me at present sitting on the ground in my temporary dugout, by back up against sand bags, a tin biscuit box for a desk writing with the aid of a candle. The ground is continually trembling from the discharge of guns a few yards away and the sky is brilliantly illuminated every second or so from flashes. One gets used to it though. I have no trouble sleeping - our sleeping hours are very irregular. Fritz sends a few of his own this way occasionally but we are bothered personally very little. We have been fully initiated into the ghastliness of war though, an incident happened near us yesterday which I cannot speak about even if I was at liberty to do so. We are looking forward to some nice weather but even if not we are lucky to have things as good as they are, things are never so bad that they could be worse, It's all in the game. All the boys are well, we are not starving by any means but I enjoy every bite that I get. It is exactly eleven months today since I enlisted but it doesn't seem possible but when I look back I feel as if I have been in the army all my life. I heard today the U.S. has entered the war. Let's hope it will help to terminate it. Its conclusion means so much to so many. Am sincerely sorry to hear your father is not well, I know how you feel about him. It seems funny to read about you going snowshoeing and to carnivals, our climate is so different. Well I must turn in now as I am on duty for 24 hours commencing tomorrow morning so I must sleep. I just got about 3 hours of it last night as I went on guard duty so must make up for it. I hope this letter is not penned too pessimestically for it is not intended to be so. I will write soon, if you do not hear from me soon I will not be to blame. I will close with love to all.

Yours sincerely
Gordon

1261650
Gr G. Morrisette
No. 7 Can. Siege Battery
C E F
France