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off than drivers, but out in France they say it is very risky owing to the target signallers obviously give snipers when having to repair wires and such like. It might be very exciting and interesting but I must avoid all great risks if possible for Mother's sake that is the reason of my letter to the chief. They won't let you transfer here unless you are inefficient or something wrong so I thought the A. G. might use his influence with Sir Sam and get me some other joba as a clerk or something. Let me know what he says to Ottawa about my letter and what he says to you. They draft signallers to the front six weeks after coming in here so you see they don't give us much time. Of course I shall try for a transfer to a gunners job and then work hard to get efficient so as to get leave to get home -, leave is not granted until you become efficient and that is where they have you just where they want you. I had a letter from Mother and Will and they were surprised to hear that I was in England. Mother is worrying over me, and is anxious to see me, but Will tells her she must not worry as I shall be alright. Jack will be coming down for a weekend soon and I hope Win will be able to come down too. I shall write your Mother on hearing from you again. They are getting ready to send me all kinds of things from home now and I shall be glad to get them as I appreciate any thing good and homemade these days. We fellows are drafted to France in bunches not in a whole battery and I think three hundred are going over this week. Some wounded from the Front are keen to get back as they say they have a better time there than in Camp here. I have met a lot of Victoria boys I know and

BC Archives, MS-1901 Box 1 File 14 / RUSSELL, Alma M., 1873 - 1964. Victoria; librarian. / Selected items, Ethelbert and Herbert Scholefield, no date and 1916.