Series 1 Oliver McNaughton

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going to take [Inelligible] again. We took it about a thousand times.

I have heard no word of Cousin Jack for some time. I must write Mrs Baker this evening. I must close this letter Netta as supper is about ready, or rather we will have to fall in for it soon. I must write Allan next & Jessie after that. Haven't seen Percy for somedays, but expect to soon. Saw Dave Gowan a few evenings ago. We are all feeling Jake although I have had my first experience with those little beasties. Dave Radcliffe cliams there is more energy wasted fighting lice than in fighting Germans. With heaps of love & every good wish, Oliver

Somewhere in France

Aug 14, 1917

Dear Sister

Yours and Jessies' of the 23rd of July came to hand this evening. I sure was sorry to hear of the damage done at home by hail and wind. It is not often that hail does much damage in that neighbourhood. Hogan will have some tall talk about those trees. Allan had just mentioned how good their root crop was in his last letter. Surely they have got started; rather, well on their way, with the hay & harvest by this time.

Jessie was speaking about the potato bug; I used to hate them and think they were one of the most infernal nuisances. I know of a bug that has the potato welts beaten forty ways!

How did Norman come out in his business project after he had

(OVER)

[Writing up top left side] PS. These envelopes are issued about once a month.

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settled up with Dad for the feed his pig had eaten. Did Dad keep a record too? He should have.

It certainly will be good to have Union Services again in Granton. Mr Robinson must be a man with some sanity. The mention of Union Chair sure awakened in my memory some little scenes; chief among them being the little wrangle with my good friend Anne. The time we broke the organ. Mr. Alp will be back by this time.

My pipe is filled with Old Chum that mother sent about the middle of July: the tobacco, sox ice wafers, chocolate, oxo and chewing gum were all O.K. Thanks very much. You will know by this time that I received the parcels sent by you people to the Glendale Red Cross. Dave was just wondering to-day if you had received word about this parcel arriving alright.

So Mrs. Baynes thinks I would let them know if Johnny got hurt

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Well, I would certainly do so if I knew of it, but I have not heard of nor seen Jack Baynes for over a month. I have not seen Percy nor Dave nor Cecil Evans for a month. I have not seen Bert Herman for about two months. By the way cousin Jack is out of the hospital and not very far from me although I don't know when we'll see each other. I was talking to a sergeant who knew him & had just come from where he is. I immediately wrote him a letter. Merrill Molland was sent to a hospital in France, sick. He is getting along alright; Everett got a letter from him today. I wrote Frank Wilson a letter the other day.

So Tweedy was asking for our address. A few days ago I heard that poor Tweedy was killed. He was in the 18th. Further than that I know nothing about it. We (OVER)

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lose track of happenings where we are here. Otherwise, it is not so bad. We are quite safe, anyway, if that can be considered Jake.

I wrote Jessie a short time ago about Leury and the Mollards. I think she will be five and a half miles from Mollards. They go to Centenary Methodist Church, the church at Leury is a Presbyterian Church. If she is in the school section I think she's in, she is in an old, rich and prosperous section. Tell her for me, not to worry after she has prepared her work for the next day. As soon as she has finished that, to forget her troubles entirely. She is never to show favouritism, one of the hardest things to escape. There is always something very likeable about a boy or girl no matter how mean their dispostion. Disobedience must be punished immediately and properly, but she must be very careful what demands she makes.