23.7.17

My dear brother

I am a front line soldier again for this tour at all events but after a rather luxurious fashion.

Our H.Q. is in an absolutely safe place and of a very commodious German pattern.

Outside is another matter + on arriving my companion + I almost got the [illegible] for leave to England through the agency of a particularly vicious shell splinter. This a very interesting front of a type rather new to me.

Our Colonel has just been given a brigade over the heads of many senior

The enclosed maple leaf comes from an avenue of little trees planted on one of the great battle fields of the 1st year (Lorette Spur) to commemorate the first exploits of the force.