France

17.9.16

My dear brother

I have numerous letters to thank you for all equally welcome.

My Canadian mail has been coming in splendidly & now I feel in touch with home affairs once more. The death of old Mrs. [Penn?] & W.T. Roper will leave a great blank but will add to your labours.

[?] these labours you really must try to economize your personal exertions - to [waste?] oneself is poor economy - It pays better to pay someone else to do what any person can do & to reserve yourself for what your special training & experience has enabled you alone to do. Well, we have got through our second great experience since I joined the 29th & while we have lost some officers & men our casualties are really light & we have emerged from the storm less injured than almost any other battalion.

We received a royal welcome from those we had left behind in reserve for it is the rule now for some of the best officers, NCOs & men not to be allowed in the front line.