France, Aug. 2/18

Dearest Emma; -

Two whole days have passed by, two mails have been delivered, and still there is no mail for me, not even a card to say that you have become tired of being a war widow and have cast me off. I am indeed feeling desolate. It may be though that you are merely having your revenge upon me for not writing more frequently. If so, dear lady, please do not indulge your cruel desire too far.

The rain that I predicted yesterday has been pouring down nearly all day. It will lay the dust on the roads, but I hope that it clears away before to-morrow. I did not go for a swim to day on account of the rain, but I shall go to-morrow if the day is fine.

I have been wondering if you are still at Roehampton or what has become of you. In the letter that I still dare to hope for to-morrow I expect to learn something of your plans for the immediate future. You asked me in one of your letters for my opinion as to the nature of war service you had better undertake. My dear girl, I am not in a position to offer any advice in the matter. I think though that you should see Lady Drummond and explain your exact position to her. She would probably be able to give you sound counsel. In any case get into something where the food is at least fit to eat and in sufficient quantity to sustain health and strength.

Please excuse this very short letter. I am not too busy to write just now but am not in the proper humour. I shall try to do better to-morrow. The flies are a perfect plague here and one has to keep fighting them off. Au revoir with fondest love.

Your husband

Harold W. McGill

France, Aug. l, 1918

Dear Emma;-

You will think I am an abandoned brute, not to have written to you for 3 days. I shall explain the reason to you when I go on leave. I have your two letters of July 24 & 26 respectively . The latter and one from Margaret came to hand yesterday. There was no mail of any kind for me to day. Please excuse this official stationary. It is all I have with me.

The weather has been quite hot and dry lately i.e. for the past 3 days. The sky looks somewhat as though it might rain to night. House flys are becoming very troublesome around billets.

You may have gone from Roehampton House by now. I think you said you would leave to day. Not knowing what your new address is to be I shall mail this to Roehampton. I see by the paper to hand this afternoon that the King & Queen were down to visit your institution.

I have just returned from having a swim in the river. It is the first real swim I have had for over a year. It did not take much of it to tire me for my wind is poor and the current in the river is fairly stiff.

The old lady at the house where I am billeted called my attention this morning to the fact that the war had been going on quatre annees. It is hard to realize that the thing has been in progress that length of time. I am very glad that you consented to marry me before the conclusion of hostilities. Otherwise we might have waited “A long, long time”

Must close now. I shall try to write you again to morrow.

With all my love,

Your husband,

Harold W. McGill