Letters From the Front

Dated: November 19, 1918

Belgium, November 19, 1918

Dear Aggie,

I was on the verge of fainting this weekday, when the orderly Corporal handed me a letter from you, the first I have received from you since last July. I also received your maple sugar, and it was royal treat I can tell you. I gave some of it to the old man and woman, we are billeted with, it was the first they had ever had. They've been just like father and mother to us, and we are having the time of our lives, and it is going to be the trip of our lives, as we will be in Mons tomorrow, and from there we will pass through Namur and Leige, also Aix la Chapelle on our way to Coblenz, Germany, on the banks of the historic Rhine, where we will wind up the watch. We are having everything a soldier wants in a way of foodstuff and other things, good clothes, and in fact everything we want. I put one over on you all right, about the time I came to France. I knew you would worry, so I covered up my tracks. I was in the front line a long time before you got September 20 letter. I was with the 28th in the Arras drive, and in the glorious but awful Cambrai push. I was with the good old 38th also in this very last push at Valciennes, and the Belgian border. I've had some wonderful escapes, and was covered twice with earth from some of old Heinie's coal boxes, as we call his big black shells, and never got a scratch. I got a little gas a few times, and my eyes are a trifle weak, but they will be good as ever in a few days. I will send you a 28th badge as soon as I can get one. I hope to get to Paris before we go home, and perhaps I can get back to Scotland for a day or so. Well dear sister, I have a lot of writing to do tonight, so I will have to say goodbye for now, with love to you and all at home.

From your loving brother,

J. A. Fee