1915/09/19

In which Gordon Munro writes from Belgium to Jessie Munro. Included is a description of the day to day activities his battalion is engaged in while on break from the firing line i.e. baseball games, football games, rugby, rifle inspection, resting. Mention is also made of letters and a parcel received from family members and friends.

Belgium Sep. 19/15
Sunday 7 P.M.

Dear Mother, -

I have been "going to" write for about 4 or 5 days, but I have been too lazy & had so little news that I can write about. I got 3 letters to-night one from you & Ed & Father & a big cake from the McMillans at Winnipeg. some cake too, it is a great big rich fruit cake with about half an inch of white icing on it. It is sure some cake & has gladdened the heart of more than one ignoble warrior. The only thing I dont like about it is the cost for the postage. I think its up to some body to make a kick to the Gov't about it. I guess the McMillans could afford to pay more than $1.50 to send it, but its not every one can do that. I dare say that lots of guys never get parcels on that account & believe me when you get a parcel you are unusually popular while it lasts, I can get nearly anything done for a piece of cake, gee its swell. Lottie baked it & I dont know who made the icing but they are both in for "Iron Crosses." Brock had a letter from Marg. Lind & she said she was sending me a parcel too, so with yours coming - good-night!
I am very sore about the kids not getting those handkerchiefs & Skinny his letter. They & the P.Cs cost about 10 Francs but tell them first chance I get I'll send some more. I wrote a letter to Mary Marlatt the same day & I guess it went with the Arabic too, so you can tell her what a "rare treat" she didnt get. I'll make some German suffer for that, you can bet.

Well we are having a whale of a time just now but its too good to last. for some days we have been at a farm a couple of miles from the firing line, we have just been having rifle inspection, eating & sleeping, (heavy on the eating & sleeping) every afternoon there is a good baseball or football game to go to & last night we had a young Rugby game. My poor knees got it, but so long as I never get hurt any worse I wont holler. To-morrow there is a big final baseball game which promises to be exciting, & the next day -- ? goodness only knows where we will be or what we will be doing. we dont usually get such a good rest & time for nothing, perhaps they are working on the scheme of "shooting us while we're happy." I expect to see Big Archie & Mr. Scott & others next week sometime. I was talking to Mr. Campbell's nephew the other day about the big fruit farm etc. at Merton. He is not in our company. I daresay Ed & Pork have read about him in connection with Varsity Rugby, he was quarter back for years there.

I am writing this letter all cramped up, there was no room inside this time so I had to sleep out & made a shelter with my rubber sheet & some bags. Its dark now so I had to light a candle inside it & write this, there is no room to get all in so I left my 'nether limbs' outside at the mercy of the elements. My house is just big enough to shelter me & my rifle. The weather remains fine & cool & it gets dark quite early.

I dont know what you must think we are when you ask if we wear ordinary socks, "I should shay sho." I had a letter from Uncle Harry & Mrs. Brooke & Mrs. Fisher so you see I am well supplied. Mrs. Fisher says they get lots of air raids in London but they dont have much effect beyond stimulating recruiting & killing a few non-combatants. I get the papers every morning while we are out of the trenches so I get nearly all the latest.

I am glad to hear so many of the fellows are enlisting, Rabbit & Carson went in for a good thing in the Artillery. I think I would go in that if I had the chance. I suppose Ed & Pork will be busting their knecks trying to come. I know lots of fellows out here where there are 5 & 6 boys in the family & they are all here. But I dont think Ed could stand it for a year or so any way & by that time he'll be a little late. Tell Pork a Bugler puts in a fairly good time out here but he's not old enough, lots of Buglers never get any further than England.

Well as I am lying in a rather uncomfortable position & my candle is burning low I had better wring off. I saw Bud Lobb last night & he said, "Hello Duffer, havent they got you yet?"

love to all

Gordon.

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