OFFICERS MESS 62nd OVERSEAS BATTALION,C.E.F.

now in France, with reinforcements, let alone forming a fourth division, & keeping that supplied. The replacements [?] are estimated at from 10 to 15% per week, you can quite realize the number of men required to keep pace with this awful wastage for weeks & months perhaps years.

However, much against the opinions of officials here, [?] [?] fourth division is being formed at [Ravansholt?], & it is possible to supply reinforcements to the 3 divisions during the next few months without touching those Battalions, it will go [over?] probably abt October -

We did our damnedest to get [?] it, but the "fourth" we heard was not strong enough, unfortunately -

The authorities don't know what the devil to do with the thousands of Colonels & Majors ^ & Captains at [Thorncliffe?], their practically out of work ^& all being paid by the Canadian Govt. Subalterns are sometimes sent [?].

The officers who were [keen?] to go to the front are absolutely brokenhearted -- they have [?] [?] [?], where they have been training for perhaps 12 months, suddenly taken [?] [?], they are left to [?] [?] [?] without any hope of anything more -- they become absolutely despondent, then more or less resigned to their fate, & without ambition set themselves to enjoy loafing, that of course results in rather disgraceful behavior, & giving then the Canadians as a whole a bad name.

I have a scheme [?], [?], with a bit of luck, I shall [?] -- I'm not allowed to [reveal?] to a Subaltern or to the ranks

BC Archives, MS-0089, Box 1, File 4 / GLASSFORD, Deborah (Leighton). Vancouver, Correspondence inward, 1916.