B E Force, Somewhere in France
18.01.16
My Dear Mother
I now take the pleasure of writing a few lines hoping they will find yourself and all at home in your usual good health as this leaves me in the same out here at the time of writing. I have got your parcel just now. Many thanks for same, and I had your letter the day before yesterday. Well dear Mother you need not trouble about sending me anything out here as it costs you to much and I may tell you straight we do not want for anything out here as we get an issue of cigarettes every week and the Mount Norris people has been good enough for to forward us another issue. And then we have an Army canteen in the Regt then we can get nearly anything we want. So you need not mind bothering you head about sending me anything out here.
Of course I do not want you to be angry or take anything to you of what I say. I thank you from my heart for what you have sent me out but you have little enough for yourselves without paying the heavy postage that is on at present. I am sure that you were glad to see Jimmy when he came up. Is he much changed or did his wounds affect him in any way. I am sure he did not say much about the times he had. That is not a soldiers way of doing anything.
I had a letter from Jennie telling me about Mr Chambers leaving but I think I named it in my last letter. I am glad you are getting my letters now. I was very sorry when I heard that you were not getting them for there is not a week that passes that I do not write home. But dear Mother so not take it so about the leave. We might land in some night before you know. They do not let everybody out here what they are doing. So do not get down hearted about it.
[has] Johny Elliott come back to live at the crossroads – he does not like to stay long in the one place. The weather has got better now and there is not many out here that will be sorry about that for the wet weather is not very pleasant out here. But no matter we are well hardened to it now. We will be like tarred roofs when we get home. But you need not be uneasy about us for I think the German bullet was is not made yet that is to kill me. So do not say anymore about it.
What is the matter with Davy Patton. I am very afraid there is some of the boys that talked so much would not stand roughing it very long out here. The wet cold weather would kill them if they never saw a German. yes Louie Morton has been good to me. And I would be most ungrateful to her if I would forget her for it, which I have no thought of doing. I think I have not much more to say tonight. Only to thank you again for your parcel. So goodnight and God take care of all at home until we meet again.
I remain
Your Loving Son
John Adams
Please do not take it ill anything I said in my last letter as I may have been angry at the time.
This is a small mirror for Annie. Tell her she must blow her breath out before she uses it and see the result. I am sorry I have not time to write to her but I shall do so as soon as I get time.
J. Adams
Tell Annie I will write as soon as I get time but I cannot get the time just now as I am writing to Jimmy.