France, April 17, 1918

Dear Emma; –

Your letter of April 11 came this afternoon. I have been wondering ever since if you made your proposed trip to London on the tenth. You didn’t even refer to the matter in your letter.

Had a letter from Margaret to-day. It was dated April 14. It said that they were all very busy at the C.C.S. as I can well believe. Margaret had had a letter from you but it was quite old as you had evidently forgotten to put “Canadian” in the address and the letter had gone to No. 4 British. Margaret’s letter was quite cheerful and expressed her pleasure at being able to get to real work again.

The war news is indeed very dark but there is nothing to do but stick it out. I am very well acquainted with the country through which the heavy fighting is now progressing and it certainly hurts to hear of the enemy being in possession of towns where we used to go to do our shopping and once in a long time catch the leave train. By the time this letter reaches you affairs will either have taken a turn somewhat in our favor or else we are indeed in a bad way.

We are kept busy in the mornings here but have little to do in the afternoons. We had raisin pie again for dinner last night. The weather has turned somewhat warmer but it was raining again this afternoon. The artillery is much quieter to night than for some days past.

No, please do not send me any clothes. I have an excess of kit now, and if we have to make a sudden move may have to discard part of it. For instance I have two knitted scarfs or mufflers which are very fine in Winter but which are superfluous at this season. My shirts I admit are somewhat the worse for wear but if we get into maneuver fighting which we are likely to do I can throw them away as they get dirty.

With greatest love
Your husband
Harold W. McGill