Somewhere in France.

June 27th 1916.

Dear Ol:

Received yours of the 8th yesterday and was pleased to hear that you were all well.

Yes, I just heard yesterday that Dad had taken out a commission and I was very pleased to hear of it too. The trip will do him the world of good and a battalion such as he belongs to will never he anywhere near the firing line. He always wanted to take a trip to the Old Country. I hope he has a better trip across the pond than his young son had.

Yes the death of Lord Kitchener was quite a shock to the boys over here. But as you say we can be thankful that it was not a year ago that it happened.

I wish I would have been in Cobalt for that big feed. A feed of chicken would just be [?] now. The last fowl I tasted was at Xmas. There are two things we are pretty sure of getting every day and that is bully beef and marmalade.

We had a couple of lively little raids here a short time ago. The first night they came over I never got out of my bed but the second time I couldn’t get out of bed quick enough. I didn’t think of putting on my trousers and only got one boot on. I didn’t wait to put on the other but struck out through the fields. Believe me it is not very pleasant being wakened about three am. by those blooming bombs.

I am sure you must be some gardener alright. I will have to have a look over your farm when I go back.

I remember that fellow Molloy quite well, that you mentioned, and I certainly was surprised to hear that he was a colonel.

The weather has been very bad lately. Crops in this country are looking fine though. The farmers are almost through haying now.

Kindest regards best wishes and love to all of you.

Sincerely,

Percy.