Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-05-16
lsttse From oa1oG
BrantfOrd, Ont, Feb. D,4olo

ot0AAIAOkUs OAlt.s G9Us - NVAO
Ny Dear Cousins:
1t is q long time since I h4vo
written last June it was, I think,
but you do not seem to haye ghed
my letter.. Well | am glad to say,
that we and all connections Of
the family are quite we'll. Ny bro-
ther returned from France last
March and is now in California,
spending the winter with his FAM
lily. The two boys, Ethel's husband
Major Armstrong, returned fro4n
France the same time. They both
saw active service but as there
was no appointment for them
their battalion, with many others,
having been broken up to fill In
losses in those already fighting,
they we're able to return. The OF
her boy, Captain Roy Knowles, thu
paymaster also returned but the
youngest Regir nd, was appointed
Lieutenant in the t23 Bait. Cana
dians, and has been at the front:
since the beginning of March,
1917. He has had good success,
and his Colonel has given him the
pet name OF. "Bob, the Battler,'' on
account of his mighty deeds. He
: says he could accomplish many
mighty deeds If he had more like
him. am SO glad that he is a
fayorite with his Colonel. Poor
lads, they must he heartily tired
of their long fight, hut thank
Providence they are winning. We
are all Sc glad that the Ameri-
cans are coming to help. If our
mon We're not able to count
on the help they will give, I fear
there would be black despair in
their hearts with all the trouble
in Italy and the Russian embroy-
lilo. If the Russians do not make
more trouble than they already
have done, l for one, will be very
thankful but | think they are not
yet at their worst. l I'm glad you
are doing SO we'll on your land for
more reasons than one. I am so
glad that you yourselves are pros
porous but l am glad that you are
able to give such aid and comfort
to our allies and men at the front.
Those that plant and reap, are do
ing as much as those who fight.
OF course, they are not giving ub
their lives, but, in your case, you
would never be asked or expected
to do that. l love to hear all about
your corn and hope to visit you
sometime, but now, the war is still
on, we do not travel ar anything
like that, unless obliged to. Moth
ing of that sort for our own plea
sure. OF. course, we have been III
it for nearly four years and there
are many experiences that have
come to us in that time that your
country has been spared and |
hope you may never feel. We are
almost as silent over these things
as u Motherland, England. Your
people will not bear your woes
silently like we have, but you will
grit your teeth and bear it some
way for it seems not far off. The
sinking of the Lusitania is your
first bitter blow. wish it would
be your last but it won't be for
your men will be fighting brutes,
that r far wor than Indian
savages. God help those who are
left in their clutches. l would
choose to be taken by a mad dog.
But, why rave, il does no good. We
have a few hundred of draftees in
Brantford, stationed for training.
They came early in January and
are now ordered to leave for over
seas in this fortnight, when more
will take their places. l think that
most of the reserves in England
are going over to France now and
these men will take their places
in England for further training,
before being sent to France. Well,
l have written many letters today,
SO will close with love to all. L
am glad you are all we'll. Lovingly
Elizabeth
Write again soon.