Letters From the Front

Dated: January 4, 1918

January 4, 1918

Dear J: On coming out from the trenches-I found two letters from you awaiting me with 10 francs enveloped in each of them, I was very glad to get the news from home, and the funds are most welcome too. I never like to ask for money from home, and perhaps if we could draw more of our pay it would not be necessary, but at the price of living over here our pay doesn't go far. One might think that with having our clothing issued, and our food rations, we would have little call to spend money, yet I believe I spend over 90% of my money on food and clothes. We have such an existence, exposed to all kinds of weather, we can't be too well clothed, and as for food, although I live as well as I can, I have less surplus flesh now than I ever had before. A strange effect I noticed from living on rations is that one's stomach seems to shrink so that he is not capable of eating a big feed, for when I go on leave I promised myself a good feed for a change, yet I found it did not require so much to satisfy me as it did some of the English folk who considers themselves rather delicate eaters, and I have heard other boys remarking likewise.

Recently our bread rations have been considerably reduced, of course hardtack is substituted, but it is an experiment some official is trying. I consider it both a foolish and dangerous one. Ours is surely the wrong end to economize on, and nothing hits the boys like tampering with their rations. If they only realize the test the boys in the trenches are put to the best would be none too good for them. We are out for a short rest now, and then it is another long turn in the trenches. I can imagine how exhausted the boys will be when they get out again, particularly if we have unfavorable weather, for the line is never quiet were the Canadians are. We can take it over from other troops were all has been going quietly and without exception, inside a week or two, we have a little hell raging. It is only playing the game, but it is a little hard on the men.

We just celebrated our Xmas dinner yesterday. It was quite an affair and, I believe the best meal I have had in France. Rather a strange medley to be feasting while the band supplied good music, and at the same time the ground quaked with the noise of the guns. We spent both Xmas and New Year's Day in the trenches.

I received the parcel you send, and also that Ms. M. sent me. It was quite a pleasant surprise getting one from my old schoolmate, and I and my pals appreciated it very much, as it was one of the few parcels forwarded to us in the trenches. Also the roll of papers you sent arrived last night. I have been so busy I have not had time to read them yet.