Dear Mother:

Aldershott, Dec 5, 1916

Just a line in a hurry to let you know I was taken off the draft to France last night and sent here, where I will be until Dec. 22nd. I did my best to get away with Carman but failed and it will be some time before I'll forgive our Colonel for sending him away without me. They said they couldn't hold him back on my account and likewise found out that is was impossible to take me off the course, for which I was detailed over a week ago. The draft went away early this morning before I left Bramshott. They have a very disagreeable way of rushing us over there before we get time to breathe again. I will write soon again when I'm less tired and have more time.

With love, Cannon

Notes from Carman: John was much more disturbed about me going on draft than these letters show. He went to Major Popham, C.O. of "C" company to beg him to let him go on the draft. Popham agreed finally to let him get ready except that if it were found out before the draft left, John Cannon would have to go on the musketry course. It was much later than was indicated in the night when John woke me up to say he was going on the same draft. Again on the morning of Dec. 5th, he woke me to tell me that Lt. Col. LeGrand Reed, had found his name on the list and that he had been taken off. Then in the early morning and in the rain he walked half-way to Liphook with me and carried my full pack. There was never a man more miserable than John felt that morning. He had really tried to circumvent the situation and except for the last minute check by the Colonel would have been on his way to France. I am not sorry that this happened because of the number of pairs of brothers in the draft, it was a usual thing for one or both to be killed on the same day. (C.E.S.)