Letters From the Front

Dated: June 16, 1917

Mrs. James Leithead, Penhold; received the following letter recently from the front:

Corpl. H. F. Harcourt,
No. 466428
No. 1, B.A.V.C.
Vet. Hospital, B.E.F.

France, June 16, 1917

Dear Belle:

Quite delighted to hear from you this evening, and am living in hopes of hearing from you again ere long. Letters are, at all times, quite acceptable, I'll assure you. The reason I do not write more often is, with such a lot of correspondents, it is quite out of the question to answer their letters regularly under the circumstances of the present time; so I believe you will excuse me, will you not?

Yes, I got a list of the Vimy Ridge casualties, as you say, quite a few of our boys from around home will never return; such are the fortunes of war. We must strengthen our faith and confidence in the Almighty to bring this carnage to a speedy and victorious end; pray and trust is our only consolation.

Unfortunately I did not get a chance to see Tom, but had the pleasure of seeing Cecil, Hugh McKenzie, E. Hives, who all looked exceptionally well. Cecil was fairly tickled to see me, we spent a very good time together; when he left to go up the line, it nearly broke me up, just seemed like parting with a brother. May God guide and protect him and our other local boys from as much harm as possible. What the re-union will be after the war and our return, Heaven alone knowns.

Pleased to hear the youngster is well, trust his health will always remain so. Rather annoying to have to contend with such inclement weather as stated in your letter, and I hope by the time this letter reaches you, Jim will have met with better weather and success; also hope a bumper crop will be assured him. So Alf likes Scotland, eh! Some fine scenery, alright, but I only wish he would take a trip to "dear Ould Erin," the land of sunshine and sorrow; the scenery there is exquisite, even beyond comparison, by the by; the Colleens are divine also, especially in the south.

You ask me to write Ray, that will I gladly do, only too pleased to cheer any old friends, especially at a time like the present; honestly speaking, the boy must feel the loss very keenly, and I truly sympathize with him. Will take myself to taks to write next week to the boys, in the meantime, tell him not to hink anyone has forsaken him, as I, for one, have often thought of the happy bygone days spent together.

Well, Belle, how are the folks at home? I guess your mother must be quite upset with the boys going away, nearly every home in the Empire, one way or another, has been sorely tried by this war. The total casualties of all the warring nations must be appalling, to say the least.

The weather is very hot, quite appreciable from the winter. Last Tuesday I had a letter from Myrtle, also a parcel, she is really very thoughtful and kind, and I hardly know what I have done to deserve all the kindnesses that have been showere on me by the friends in and around Red Deer and Penhold districts. May the Lord grant me the days to show practical appreciation to all my friends. Now I must quit for this time, as "Lights out" has blown, so good-night, God bless you all at home; with deep respect to yourself, Jim, and youngster, and remembrances to those in the district, once again bye-bye, ever

Your constant friend,

HAROLD