Series 2 Jack McNaughton part 1

3. warm weather. I had a short epistle from Oliver the other day and he went a couple of packages of old Cheese. He was well when the epistle was written.

Jack Swan is in the same platoon as I am but in a different section. I acknowledged receipt with thanks of the parcel in a previous letter.

Well Sis this is all for now. I don't know when the mail will be collected, as we are not in an ideal position by any means.

I am well and having as much fun and a good a time as possible, and once in a while think it is not such a bad old war after all, but as facts have to be faced, it is a hell of a war. With love to all

Your loving cousin Jack xxxxxxx

[postmark] Toronto Ont Mar 8 5 am 1917

Miss N. McNaughton, Granton, Ontario, Canada R.R.#1

Passed by Censor 2483 [signature] Jan Henderson

Somewhere, Feb'y 16/ 1917

Dear Sis:- Your welcome epistle of the 20th was recived Feb'y 13th while I was in the time, therefore it was doubly welcome.

Might say I had an epistle from Oliver tonight and at time of writing he was fine. Am going to try real hard to get an answer away to him tonight.

You spoke about ^^{not admitting} I was tired after being in your field. Well Sis I was tired, damn tired the other night whilecoming to my present destination ^{we rested a couple of times on the way down} and woke up at the bottom of a large crucifix with my clothes and equipment frozen to the cement steps.

I'll bet you I could have slept on Fritz barbed wire entanglements and never felt the pricks. What cards did you take to the party Calling cards, or an

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identification disc?

Have been missing Maxworthy ought to take a star shell course, or else take a correspondence course in how to be a linesman for a wireless telegraph Coy.

Throw a hard tack biscuit at him and if it doesn't wake him up try - - oh well it would be a shame to invest in a sledge hammer and then break it over IT.

Would Aunt Mary want a couple of our famous # 9's for her trouble? They cure anything from a bleeding nose to a broken back. She has been attending too many pink teas so when you give her medicine, make her sick report M & D (Medicine and duty)

Poor Jessie. She will have to bayonet a man soon. Where the - deuce is Tom Hill. Just to think how much her education is costing, and then to waste her time on a mere man.

Wish I could talk to her for 10 minutes, but suppose she would

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tell me what a bold creature I am, or declare war and war they say is hell. If she want to fight obtain some attestation papers for her.

I sure do remember Jansons but it is a long time ago.

Well Sis have been in the front line for a certain period again since I wrote you last. Was relieved "a few days ago" at 11.30pm and told to head it for a certain point about 7 kilometres away to get in shape to take a 10 day course in Lewis Gun. This was the night I was so tired.

Well there were four of us and we left the line about 11.30pm and reached our first destination about 4.30am and found a place to sleep. We slept until 9 and then had a breakfast worthy of Uncle Scott, paraded for pay, got our packs, had a wash and last but not least was shaved by a real barber. I think he was a barber but if I judged by the razor and the way he used it, would say he had