This is the kind of stuff that makes history so fascinating to me. I have always been much more interested in social history than political history – although these letters are a bit of both, it’s the humanness of the time, the emotions and personal stories that go with the incredible hard times of war that interest me. The human sprit is amazing.

4th August, 1940

Dear Percy and Edna

Thanks for the small box of candy, it sure hit the spot alright. I must say I was too surprised for words when my name was called at mail parade, as I had not been expecting anything and I can barely explain just how pleased I was to hear from you both and I must admit that I never tasted or made better candy. A fact which everybody who tasted it admits. Boy of boy, how some of my pals liked it, and they told me to tell you it sure was good.

Well the old army life is still going strong, although there has been quite a change at the camp. Most of the tents are gone now. Almost a thousand workmen have been busy since we came here erecting new huts and most of the men are sleeping inside now, at least there is a roof over our heads, but windows and doors are lacking just yet, but I suppose by the time this reaches you these will all be fitted in.

It sometimes is hard to write a letter and give all the news that you would like, but we have to be extremely careful what we write, as letters might possibly get into other hands, before reaching their destination, so I’ll try and give you an idea just of what we do, without mentioning any dates, or rumours or what we hear. I have been taking rifle and machine gun practice lately, and I must confess that with a rifle I am not just what I’d like to be, although I suppose with more practice I might possibly become a fair shot. With the machine gun I tested good so far, and do I love to run one of those babies. Hitler better not let me get a lock on him, unless he want so to die sudden like. Drilling hasn’t been very much stressed so far, but more emphasis on rifle and machine gun practice. I suppose the idea is that to be expert in shooting and knowing your machine is much better than to be able to do a left or right turn correctly, and anyway these things are more important.

Troops in the more advanced stages enact field maneuvers, in fact do everything here that would be essential in a hostile country. In every kind of weather that happens to come, they stay out for two or three weeks at a time and act out just as if they were in the front line, all kinds of maneuvers. And talking about the weather, this part of the country can be changed from the driest, dustiest hole to the wettest, coldest, most miserable spot anywhere or anyplace.

I’m afraid if you keep mentioning hot biscuits again you’ll have a deserter on your hands. When I read your letter, I just imagined I was back there again, wolfing hot biscuits by the dozen into me again, and it was only by experiencing every ounce of self control that I didn’t go out and jump the first train west, for that is one thing the army doesn’t positively make hot biscuits. I get hungry just thinking about them.

I haven’t heard of either Bill Harris or Charlie Robinson in camp so far, but I’ll try and find out at Headquarters just where they are, and give you news. As this camp is so large, it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack for any one person unless you know on good authority just where he is.

So you have a little red-head Scotch lassie helping you now. Well I always had a crush on little red-heads especially if they are Scottish so you might give a guy her name, you might possibly coax her to write, letters are always welcome, providing of course if the boyfriend doesn’t object too much.

I went up to see Mel Jones just before I left Calgary and he told me all about Kay getting married to the Watkins salesman. He didn’t seem to think much of it. Kay wrote me a long time ago when I was down at Picture Butte, and told me she would probably be getting married. I hope she gets along ok. How is my old, or should I say young friend Claudia, the school marm? I suppose she will be married by now and living in the house on the hill. Tell her I was inquiring about her if you happen to see her.

Often I stop and think about the times I had out there on the ranch. Is old Dolly or whatever her name is still alive? I remember now it’s ______? And she is a he. It was the only horse that I could stick on and not be scared to death that I would get bucked off from. I laugh to myself now, how I used to think what a cowpoke I was. These days seem so far away now, tho in reality it was not so long ago, but things have changed so fast in the last year that when you start reviewing everything it seems almost impossible that they would happen in such a short space of time.

Well this letter seems to be taking on the proportions of a book, so I had better wait a few days and write you another letter, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to send any snaps of myself this time, as I haven’t had them returned yet from the studio, but I’ll see about them if they come before I mail this letter.

Give my regards to everybody especially Sheila and Marshall. Oh, don’t forget the redhead either. Thanks again for the wonderful candy and to Hell with Hitler.

Sincerely Jack