France
Oct. 9/17

Dear Mother,–

A letter from you came this A.M. the first for at least ten days. It is dated Sept. 10, so took a month. Papers came (2 bundles), and I read about the Tennis and Golf tournaments. Reg. did well and something brilliant is expected of him next year – not exactly a “has been” yet what! Pa was playing golf but didn’t seem to have the old form.

The weather lately has been somewhat dud and cold. The winter season with rains and clouds has commenced, also days are much shorter. It is dark at 5.30. The winter for flyers, in one way is good, but very cold and not at all pleasant while up which won’t be nearly so often as in the past months.

I should be getting home to fly shortly but nothing said about it yet. Leave will come around again in six weeks at any rate. If I don’t get back to fly before my turn for leave would like to have it come at Xmas time.

Yesterday was perhaps the most depressed day for me. This morning we buried Warrie Laird. You’ll have heard about it before this reaches you. I am going to write Mr. Laird to-day. About 8 A.M. yesterday Warrie was taking off to go up and do a shoot. He got off the ground all right but it was a very windy bumpy day and turning close to the ground to miss going over the town the strong wind caused the machine to stall and nose-dive to the earth. He was instantly killed and the observer is still living with a chance that he may pull through. The Padre this A.M. said he had written Mr. Laird, and was writing to Warrie’s wife also.

Warrie was quite a good Pilot. He had been up several times and had landed (which is the hardest part of flying) without breaking anything. But yesterday was one of the windiest days. It has been very cold and then turned warm and the air was extremely bumpy, which makes it very very difficult for the Pilot to get the machine up into the air. Once the machine is up 1000ʹ or 2000ʹ you’re away from the bumps and it is smooth flying – machine is not nearly so difficult to handle.

I destroyed Warrie’s letters and his kit will be sent home. There is a branch of the service which looks after those things.

It will be a sad blow to his Wife and folks at home. Warrie thought he might have been able to get back to Canada after being out here for a while.

It is difficult or rather impossible to understand such things. Warrie never talked as if he expected anything like that – rather the other way – what to do after the war etc. They just seem to happen.

We have had many casualties the past five months but it was so pleasant to have him here to go and talk to, go out together etc, that it makes one feel down in the dumps. It is the folks at home who have to bear a great deal and those that return will miss their friends far more then than they do now. Warrie is buried in the same cemetry as Arthur Parlett, Dracup and Binkley (Canadians) (two observers who came out when I did).

You worry about us two so much and this will likely make you worry more but don’t let it as these things have happened all along. At one time we lost a great many and lately only a few. Winter coming on will make our chances (Willie’s as well) greater. If anyone’s turn comes, it comes.

We are both doing very useful work in a righteous war and you have let us come to it. Martin Straith was lucky to get back to Canada. Remember me to K. Stevenson. Cold weather at home now – who is putting on storm sashes? Can Reg. manage those large ones upstairs alone? Mr. Fenwick my best.

Capt. Barclay was in Regina. Good of him to remember his old Company. I voted for Turner and Bagshaw – my first Vote.

Must close now – up early. Much love to each one

Cheerio!
Your Son
Jim.

[Collection update: Added April 8, 2025]