for our company. I certainly had a wonderful experience, the population wouldn't do enough for us, they were so pleased that we had arrived to relieve them of their miserable existence. Every house I went to to see what billeting accommodation they had it was a case of "Cafe Monsieur" and if one didn't accept it they were insulted, some of the "better offs" even produced liquers. I must have had about twenty coffees by the time I had made my rounds and I was just about waterlogged. Some of the old dames even kissed my interpreter that I had with me. I had a few narrow escapes myself! If I had seen a nice Mademoiselle of course I might not have minded! When our C.O. rode into the town he was presented with bouquets of flowers, this gives

BC Archives, MS-2685 Box 17 File 3

OLIVER, William Edgar, 1867 - 1920. Victoria, lawyer. Erroll P. Gillespie, correspondence outward