Transcription
Somewhere
In France
Dec. 31st. 1916.
Dear Mother:
Just came out of the trenches after being in for six days, which included Christmas it was certainly a new Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] for us it continued on raining throughout the day, everything was quite quiet all day until coming on night when they open up their artillery quite freely, keeping this up longer than usually, they sure celebrated the day, on our side the bombardment didn't cause much harm, not knowing whether there was many casualties on Fritz or not,
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but their line was pretty well blown in. Have received quite a bit of mail lately, got two parcels from you sent some time ago, also got one today from Clystal + one from United Cross Rich. [abbreviated: Richmond] I guess it is, it was sent anyway by a few of the girls.
Had a letter from Earl the other day he was getting splendidly, he is a lucky lad alright he will miss all the bad weather, will hardly be back here again, while Sid + Ervie are both fine, haven't seen Arthur but
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have seen some of his Batt. [abbreviated: Battalion] who told he fine. Did you get any of those Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] cards I sent I guess they would be a little late for Xmas, [abbreviated: Christmas] they are always slow of leaving here, even if they are written, as transportation is very slow.
I'm in this line they have been sending some of the mail up to us on Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] I got a letter from you Jonathan Craig + a Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] card from Irene Neelin. We haven't yet seen the plumb [spelling error: plum] pudding they spoke of in the papers but may get some-thing extra tomorrow.
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I suppose you have now nice cold weather in Canada, how are they getting along with their wrink [spelling error: rink] which I heard was to be started some time ago. The weather is very miserable raining mostly every day + cold but not frosty, except when there will be a very nice day, then it will quite a frost than [spelling error: that] night. Those boots you sent have not arrived yet, but most surely be close if coming at all. It is very hard To get writing especially in cold weather, so don't be anxious if not getting any mail
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regularly. How are the 207th getting along have they any notions of sailing? is Willie Brown over his sickness yet, heard of his wedding not long ago, I haven't had any word from Channon or Eric lately never got writing them, get so many letters it is very hard them answered. The trenches are very muddy this time of the year, being half full of water in some places, have been using long hip rubber boots when in the worse parts of the line. On Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] day we nearly had a few Fritzies
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coming over. we were out in a sap, this is a trench running out in front of the main line, which is really a strong point, one of the lads signalled over + we would take them prisoners + would-ed open fire, they came over quite a ways, but our officer saw us up trying to get them over + called us down, they are pretty well fed up with as well as the rest of us. We didn't do any sniping Xmas [abbreviated: Christmas] day, but put on a hot celebration than [spelling error: that] night. You spoke of us getting furloughs, they are yet to come.
With Love To All
Sefton.Language
English
