1915/12/19

In which Gordon Munro writes from the front to Jessie Munro with news of day to day events i.e. receipt of letters and parcels from home; attendance at a Christmas service by Dr. Pringle; sending out of Battalion Christmas cards and a gift of $25 for Ed. Mention is also made of G.B. Chisholm and the Chisholm family.

Belgium, Dec. 19/15

Dear Mother,-

It seems to me I owe every one in the family a letter this trip, but I guess I'll spare them. I got the shirt etc. that you sent & everything was fine. Say you might thank Jess for that scarf. it was just the ticket, in addition to wearing it on sentry etc. it is first class for a pillow & takes the hardness out of my pack (my pack is always what my noble brow rests on.) Also my thanks to Mrs. Cordingly for the socks, they are first class too.

Well were not back on that rest yet & things dont look very promising for a while yet anyway. Instead of being away back I expect to be quite handy to Fritz. I just got a letter & a nice little parcel from Grace Hewer to night. Grace hoped I'd have a warm & Happy Xmas, as far as I can see prospects are pretty good for a warm one anyway, but the warmer it gets now the sooner it will be over.

We had a fine bath the other day, a real hot shower and as a result of losing so much dirt all at once I caught cold & was sick yesterday but am O.K. again. I had to laugh on the way down to the Baths. I walked behind a fellow that walked like a Hackney & threw his feet out to the sides as if he had the spring halt or what ever you call it. He also kept saying corpler for corporal & other nutty things, there sure are some specimens in the army.

We had our Xmas Service this morning. Brock & I went at 9.30. Dr. Pringle preached. His text was "Behold I stand at the door and knock". He gave us a good little talk (pen run out) & then we had communion after. I spoke to him after the service. We got paid this afternoon, in two 20 Franc bills, I cant spend it as no one had change. silver is hard to get around here as the banks dont handle it.

These Battalion Xmas cards, one of which I have enclosed, are a little late, but they just got here yesterday, they're not half bad are they? I am sending one to Mrs. Ford sr.

Brock was showing me some pictures of Jim & his father, they sure are good. Jim looks something like that Charlie Chaplin with his moustache. Mrs. Chisholm was saying our letters were'nt very good for recruiting purposes so we'll have to talk less of mud & shells & more of something else. Brock saw Salty & Geo Busby the other day.

Say it will be a shame when Pork's job quits, although that seems about as far away as my pass to England, every letter Pork has written to Brock or me lately he always says "I'm going to quit at the end of the month & then along comes a letter saying he's still on the job.

Say you might break it to Ed that I'm sending him a small present of $25 or so I suppose it will be a little late for Xmas but no doubt he can use it. It may be a week or two before I can get the deal through. Did you get the other I sent yet, & the lace handkerchiefs?

We've had no rain for about a week now & I dont feel at all comfortable, to day was dandy. lots of sunshine & nice & cool.

Well, as Bill says, I have no more room so I guess I'll have to stop. she is some artist.

love to all
Gordon

P.S. I just thought that by the time you get this I'll have passed my 19th year of old age.

G.

2017.22.74