The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1919-02-21
From France

Tincourt, France. January II, 1919.
My dear Mr.. Thompson:-Just now am
thoroughly enjoying real cigar from
package received from you last evening.
I wish to thank you many times for them
for good cigars over here are about as
scarce as the proverblal hens teeth and
are therefore much enjoyed.
Christmas has come and gone. The
first one that have ever spent away
from home, but must say that l have
enjoyed 1t all. There wasn't much in
the way of amusement, but perhaps we
have learned to be appreciative for a
little less than before.
Our hospital is situated about half a
mile from the utterly destroyed village
of Tlncourt which, even in time of peace
had only population of about fifty.
The nearest large town ls Peronne, also
practically entirely destroyed, SO much
so that no business whatsoever is carried
on there. Amiens is the nearest city
where anything at all may be obtained,
and 1t is about forty miles away.
We are in what is called the devasta.
ted area, and if ever a thing was we'll
named, this is it. II there ever was any
thing that the hun was especially ef-
ticient at 1t was destruction and he was
undoubtedly past master at that.
I was talking about Christmas while
ago but got away from it. On Xmas
eve we, the officers, had our Xmas din
ner and a real one 1t was too with tur-
key and all its accomplishments. Xmas
day was entirely turned over to the
men. We gave them big turkey din.
ner and waited on them entirely, and
say it would have done your heart good
to see those men eat turkey and drink
beer. After dinner they had football
game and IN the evening some indoor
sports including beer drinking contest.
The old story about the fellow drinking
two gallons of beer wasn't in it with
what some of them could do in that
line. They all voted that this had been
their best Xmas in France, and in CIV
ing them good time we too enjoyed it.
The night after Xmas, curiously
enough called boxing night over here,
the sisters gave q big dinner in their
mess, to which all the officers were in
'vited. again we had turkey and all. At
ter dinner we cleared the floor and start
ed in on dance. This was the first
time since the war started that British
sisters were allowed to dance. for what
reason they were not allowed no one
knows. I found it quite hard to dance
with the English girls as they dance
quite differently from US. but Fortunate
ly there was Canadian girl there SO I
came in for my share Of the fun. Since
then we have been going along very
quietly, not much work to do.
The weather is most remarkably mild.
It IS not at all uncommon to see mos
.quitoes about these days. So far we
haven't yet had fake Of snow and very
seldom have to wear GOAT except to
keep the rain of, we get plenty Of that.
Every day for over six weeks now we
have had more or less Of it.
It's getting along now to the time
when I'll be thinking about vending
my steps homeward. The 10th Of next
month my contract will be up. / am
naturally anxious to get home, but I
am also ANXIOUS to see more Of England.
Ireland and Scotland, and feel that it
would be I great pity to 90 home with
out: doing 60. as / may never again get
the opportunIty to 60 over there again.
as Our dinner bell has Just gone 80 must
stop. Sincerely yours,
n Charles Aylen.