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our last camp at Ypres. The 28th is now in the front line where the fighting is fiercest so should soon have some vacancies for us to fill. At our last camp the shelling was intermittent. Often at night hours would go by without a gun being fired but here the roar is never ceasing day or night and is evidently caused by hundreds of guns firing at once.

Now I must go to the village to get water and then light a little fire and make tea and a welsh rarebit for supper. If only we were going to stay here we could make ourselves quite comfortable here in our dugout but I am afraid to add to my possessions for we may be moved any moment. It makes one very careful when everything one has is so much dead weight on the march. They feed us much better now and I have not had stew since I left Ypres. There is one thing I don't miss - "bully beef" as so many do.

I am very fit and have forgotten what it feels like to have a cold but I shall feel a lot better when I have more news from home a little more up todate.

My fondest love to all of you. You cannot think how I miss you all. With renewed good wishes for your birthday

I remain, my dear Hilda, Your loving brother, Cecil.

P.S. Glad to learn there is a chance of Blakemore taking that matter up.

BC Archives, MS-1901 Box 1 File 19 / RUSSELL, Alma M., 1873 - 1964. Victoria; librarian. / Letters from Cecil Harrow Unwin, 1916 - 1917.