Dear Mother:

Dec. 3rd, 1916

I was rushed off to the dentist today, pronounced fit and placed on the draft. It was rather sudden but it looked all week as if Carman would have to go without me. So the die is cast and we get away together. There is a very great movement of troops to France and I think they are preparing to give the boys in the trenches some Xmas leave. When we think what they've been suffering for months and years we should be ready to go over to relieve them. I've been busy getting my new kit and equipment and it is now 9.30 and I'm rather worked up with the rush and excitement of the thing. It is not a pleasurable thing to look forward to but we enlisted to do our share and it is only possible to do it in the trenches.

I went back to the 203rd for divine service and the preacher is certainly the best in the army. He is a Mr. Caswell and I think you probably know his older brothers. He was at Parkdale Meth. Church, Toronto for some years and then went to Winnipeg where the 203rd comes from. Now Ma, I know you have feelings and hope you can look on the bright or brighter side of this, for there really is no bright side to it. In any case you know you wouldn't bring us back now that we have reached the verge of war's theatre. It is a serious business and I know you have more to suffer than we have, but we will write you as often as possible. When we left home six weeks ago we failed to realize just what we were doing, but we are here and ready and willing to do our share, if we can.

Bert Rivers went away in a draft last week and it seemed hard to see him go. He is the only boy left to his parents, but he was cheerful as we watched him march away with 200 of our best men. We did not know we would follow inside a week. The 161st are at Shorncliffe, I think. Harry Bellamy was at Bramshott on his six days' leave and Carman met him. The 160th are preparing a draft. Gordon Smeltzer is out of the hospital but is still weak. They gave him a month's light duty and recommended that he be given work at the base when sent to France as his lungs are not strong enough to stand the trenches. Charlie Twamley has been operated on the appendicitis and is doing well, at last reports. My address will be the same as before but drop the Sergt. as we revert to the ranks when we go to France, also instead of 170th battalion, make it 75th battn.