Letters From the Front

Dated:

Pte E. Betteridge who enlisted in the 70th Battalion and later went to France with a draft from England is now attached to the Princess Patricias. In a letter to his mother Mrs. William Newham, the soldier tell of conditions at the front. The letter follows:

Somewhere in France,
June 13, 1916

Dear mother:
I will now try and write a letter. I wrote one to-day but I was up in a billet which is a hay loft of a barn and the bunch was all around and talking and I couldn't write very well.

I was in the first draft that left the 70th to come here from England. We were in England just about a month, this is a nice place if it wasn't for the war, but it is awful strange to go down the street and not be able to talk to anyone.

I am now in No. 1 Company of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry. It is a good battalion. There was some mail to-day from Canada, it came from England there wasn't any for me, but maybe there will be tomorrow. When you write to me write to the above battalion.

Pat Flanigan was wounded and he is back again. Charlie Groombridge is here to. Give my best to Sam and Hannah and everybody that I know I can't write to everybody. It is too much bother, you know it isn't like a place where you can go and sit down at a table whenever you want to and write.

Don't worry about me mother as I am in the best of health and I am better satisfied to be doing my bit than to be a coward. As there is no more news I will have to close for this time.

From your ever loving son.

Ernie