11/1/18

My dear Sir

Received your kind & welcome letter last night written on Nov 26th/17 & was sure pleased to hear from & also glad to know that you are all in good health. I am very sorry that I not see Karl before he to France. I would have liked to have had a chat with him. I tell you my dear Sir its no joke over there & instead of getting better it’s getting worse & worse & I pity the boys when Old Fritz makes his great drive on the western front which he is sure to do pretty soon as a last resource to try to break through on the Western front like he did with the Russians & Italians but I can assure you he’s got something different to fire[?] then these men & he’ll find that out to his cost[?] Well Sir I am getting along pretty fair but only slowly my knee is giving me quite a few turnings[?] these days. Well as for the weather, it is pretty good for the time of the year. I had Xmas & New Year in bed, but I got up, again, two days ago, but am still weak, but then I must not grumble things might be worse. I can see by the papers that you have been having some stirring times with the election & other things but I think myself that the tribunals are too lenient towards some people. We have got to hear several things, since the voting about how things , are going over there. We have heard of several instances where farmers runs[?] even when they 5 & 6 boys at home & not one volunteer exemfiled[?] & how another person who as two out here with the colour & they have amfelled[?]  the only one at home to report for duty, if that’s fair it’s about time the Government got 2 or 3 bombs on the house when it is siting. Now I am pleased to hear that you had a good time hunting, but not much success, but then, you had a holiday & a change & I hope that you are all the stronger for it. Now I am also glad that you have had missionaries there & I hope & trust that there as been a shaking among the dry bones & that you have had a revival of great intensity & power. Now please give my kindest regards to Mrs Irwin & the boys & I thank you very very much for you kindness to my wife & family when she[?] was sick & now I will have to close with kindest & best wishes for a bright prosperous & happy New Year & May God Bless your work for him.

From yours

Sincerely

Sapper[?] Iden Bonds

(195:560) (Can Engineers)

Bed 131 Ward N

Manor War hospital

Epsom[?]. Surrey.

England.