Series 3 Dave Radcliffe

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dry. I had a letter from Sam the other week. He took. his holidays in Vancouver this year.

You didn't say whether you got my card from Camp Borden. I sent some from points on my way to Halifax to Rachel and uncle, and I don't think they got them, for they didn't mention them.

The reason I put that heading -- Sam's Canadian Army on the first page, was, about the first time we noticed S.C.A., on the building, some of us weren't sure what it stood for, and a Scotchman who stands beside me gave us that interpretation of it. So there must be humour in more than the Irish after all. We have a few genuine Irishmen in our company and the Irish wit and humour is croping out of them all the time.

Well it will soon be supper time and I wouldn't like to miss that, so will leave off for this time. Is your father well again. Olivia told me he had been sick. I just got your letter this forenoon so am answering promptly, but we are going to be pretty busy, so if I can't always write directly I get a reply, you will understand. But it is a pleasure to answer your letters. Write soon. If the people left at home knew how the boys appreciate Canadian letters they wouldn't want for replies. Dave.

[top left corner] YMCA logo [centre postmark] Toronto, Ont Jan 16 5 am 1917 On Active Service Miss Nettie McNaughton Granton, Ontario, Canada {Sideways signature] WH Gregory

[Letterhead] YMCA logos [left and right, centre says] On Active SErvice with the British Expeditionary Force

Somewhere in France, Dec., 27/16.

Dear friend, -

Was pleased to get a good long letter from you, for I like to hear all the news from Granton.

We had a very good time on Xmas, and had a good dinner, and supper too as I got a Xmas cake from my sister Minnie that day. I got a box of cigars from Oliver yesterday. I don't know whether he is in France yet or not. He may be since he sent the box, as it takes mail from a week to ten days to reach me from Eng., now at the Xmas season.

Cecil Evans and Jack Baynes are over hear some place but not in our battalion. We have to give an address in the body of the letter, with our name.

D.H. Radcliffe, No. 802864, C. Co'y., 9th platoon, 4th Can. Batt., B.E.F., France.

Well I'm sure you would have a good time at the supper at Woodham, they always do. I didn't know the J.B. Armitage was a singer, but a prophet is never honored in his

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own country, so I suppose that's the reason he never sings in Lucan.

We have to be so careful what we write out here that one hardly know what to tell, and what not to, but I guess if I say something about the country in general and the climate it won't be out of place. There isn't as much woods here as in Canada, and the land is more rolling. More valleys and hills than in western Ontario, although it is much more like Ontario than is Eng. One feature of the landscape is the numerous wheat and hay stacks, many of them standing out so conspicuous on the skyline. They are just doing their threshing now. Some of them use gasoline engines while others use a treadmill, run by a horse. It looks very slow and and behind the times, but they have up to date binders here.

The French are rather a fine looking race, being different to the French Canadians in their complexion. The Fr. Canadians are much darker skinned.

I suppose you see a good deal in the papers about these "peace notes." Well, I may be mistaken but I don't think they will amount

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to much. I'm afraid the time for peace is some distance in the future yet. I can't see it any other way.

I wish the winter was over as it is so damp and muddy. We get a little snow and frost, but it doesn't last long. It has been quite cold at times, but to-day was beautiful, and so was Xmas day.

I didn't tell you what we had for dinner on Xmas. Well, we had duck and chicken and nuts of all kinds, oranges, raisins and other good [underlined] things. Then we had songs after dinner and readings etc.

I suppose there is good sleighing in Canada now, and skating. Do they skate much in Granton this winter. The last time I was on a rink was in Parkhill. I had a big time on the rink one night in Lucan, shortly before I enlisted.

I got a letter the other day from L. Ridley, and one from W. M. Shoebottom and a Xmas card from Mrs. Shoebottom. I ordered a dozen nice Xmas cards before I left Eng., with a verse and my name printed on, but they didn't come before I left, and