Dear Steve:

June 19, 1917

I received a long and interesting letter from you giving some idea of conditions economic, political, and otherwise. One thing you didn’t say much about the social side, barring of course the fact that you had made a trip to Guelph recently.

No doubt you will know long before this that Carman is in hospital in Herefordshire. Address his mail via Ayr, or to me, until you find out definitely where he will be found permanently. A wounded soldier flits from hospital to hospital from convalescent home to convalescent home, after which he gets 10 days sick leave and is sent to his reserve unit. The reserve unit of the 75th is over in East Sandling so I will see Carman when he gets there if I am not fortunate enough to get leave to go and see him specially or to go when he gets sick leave. That is what I try to intend to try for at any rate, - to get away when he has his ten days sick leave – that means a trip to Ayr perhaps.

By the way in a previous letter you mentioned that Vincent Kirk was then an Instructor, a Sergeant. I doubt it very much, he may be a lance corporal, a doubtful contingency too. But the reason I think that he mentioned being an instructor is because there is – in fact has been for a long time – a definite movement on foot to get all "A" category instructors to France and substitute B & C category men in their places. The idea has been intact for months and they have tried to send casualties, i.e. returned men on course of instruction with indifferent success. The majority of casualties don’t like taking courses. They won’t try and many of them won’t go at all. They would sooner do lots of other things and so that scheme failed of complete success.

We have quite a few casualties as instructors, but not nearly enough to carry on the work for a battalion. Then they tried out a new scheme, had a muster parade of men of "B & C" categories and asked for volunteers to take instructional courses. Many of them are taking those courses now, - many started, but quite a number found the pace too strenuous and returned without completing their courses. How successful they are going to prove remains to be seen. That they will prove ideal I feel far from certain. I have no doubt that Vincent Kirk is taking some course under this scheme and that is what his engendered such a bold flight of imagination on his part – to picture himself as a sergeant. He may be. Stranger things have happened "in the army". But when he couldn’t hold the job of batman I haven’t much confidence in him living up to the dignity of three stripes. He isn’t fitted to be a N.C.O. in any way, and I’m not trying to belittle him at that. Nuff said on this subject.

There isn’t much for me to write about without bravely essaying to describe some definite thing but I haven’t the mood for any such dissertation. We are having very warm and dry weather. It’s too dry and all showers of late have been local and seem to have missed us. I hope that June is a really good month over there. It will do the farmers hearts good if their crops come along in good shape. June usually is the deciding month with regard to length of straw & hay, which usually means good crops.

There is a rumour that conscription has passed and that the Bourassa & Lavergne faction, seconded by Sir Wilfred himself are showing serious opposition to it. They may do much harm in Quebec and what has Quebec done for the war? The battalion’s are reinforced by Ont. and other men. I note too that there is a new long list of decorations, D.S.O.’s, M.C.’s, M.M.’s, D.C.M’s, etc. out today and it strikes me that the Canadians of late have been getting a slim share of the honours. It is true that the Australians have been doing quite a bit at Bullecourt and Messines, but that doesn’t alter the fact the Canadians get almost the sole credit for Vimy Ridge and they have done all they’ve been asked since. There is no doubt that these honours are more often than not handed out to men who have done much whereas the really great heroes are often than not overlooked. But why the Canadians should not get as many or more honours than the Australians I fail to see, the Canadian troops in France have a far more superior record to that of the Australians as far as I can find out.

Well, say there’s one thing we do miss here and that is the ice cream parlours & soda fountains. This country doesn’t know how to luxuriate in such things. It spoils a hot day out, not to be able to get such thirst quenchers, as in good old times, of other summers. I guess I better get back to work, and not rob my employers.

With best regards, Cannon