TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GRAND PRAIRIE BULLETIN JULY 4, 1918 P. 7
Somewhere in France,
May 27, 1918.
Mr. R. S. Ford:
Hello Dad.
Here’s a couple of lines to let you know that I am in France now and like everything O. K. I haven’t been here long yet, but will say that France sure is a pretty country and I would like to live here. I can’t talk with the French people yet, for I haven’t learned their “lingo,” but intend to learn it as soon as possible. Well, Dad, I was the first one of the bunch I came from Canada with, to hit France. Yes, I beat them all to it and it sure was some honor, wasn’t it to be the first one of the bunch I came with, to get over here? Now that I am here I am going to try and find Berchie and Homer some time this summer and I might be lucky enough to see some of the boys from old “Dixie,” too. I know there will be some boys from home that I know, around these parts this summer and I sure hope I will be lucky enough to see some of them.
I haven’t had but one letter from the States since I have been on this side, and that was from Maude. I have been writing to all of you often and can’t see why I don’t get some mail. I sent to Maude for twenty-five bucks before I left England, and I got it O. K. Maude said in her letter that she didn’t know what to make of the money she received from the Canadian Government, and I guess it was some puzzle at first, but I wrote to you and her, too, before I left Canada, explaining all about the assigned pay, but my letters must have got lost. I sent it to Maude, because she would have a better chance to keep it for me, and if I wanted any money, I could send to her and it would be less trouble for her to send it to me, for I know you were working at different places and was moving around, so I wouldn’t know where to send to if I wanted a couple of bucks sent to me, so that’s why I sent it to Maude, and you all should have figured that out easy enough. I don’t know your address now, and will send this to Maude and have it forwarded on to you, for she will know where you are. I guess I was the one that started you on your travels, Dad, and if I come back O. K. we will “go some more,” won’t we? Remember the Frisco fair, Dad? Them was the happy days. I would like to see old Bill Swanson again. When I come back, we will go to the old Northwest to live. We will go through the Peace River country, when I come back, for that’s a great country and we can’t miss it.
I was glad to hear that you are making “top” wages and I hope you will remember the “rainy day” ahead.
I see in the papers, where lots of people from the U. S. are moving into Western Canada, and the land there, has gone up fifty per cent in price.
Well, Dad, I guess this is about all I know to write now. My address is 4th C. D. A. C. France.
If anyone around your parts ask about the war, tell them that I’ll say it is still on. But will get Heinie before long. Tell everyone hello for me. Be sure to write soon.
From your affectionate son,
Fred
NOTES: This letter was written by Fred Ford to his father.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France,
May 27, 1918.
Mr. R. S. Ford:
Hello Dad.
Here’s a couple of lines to let you know that I am in France now and like everything O. K. I haven’t been here long yet, but will say that France sure is a pretty country and I would like to live here. I can’t talk with the French people yet, for I haven’t learned their “lingo,” but intend to learn it as soon as possible. Well, Dad, I was the first one of the bunch I came from Canada with, to hit France. Yes, I beat them all to it and it sure was some honor, wasn’t it to be the first one of the bunch I came with, to get over here? Now that I am here I am going to try and find Berchie and Homer some time this summer and I might be lucky enough to see some of the boys from old “Dixie,” too. I know there will be some boys from home that I know, around these parts this summer and I sure hope I will be lucky enough to see some of them.
I haven’t had but one letter from the States since I have been on this side, and that was from Maude. I have been writing to all of you often and can’t see why I don’t get some mail. I sent to Maude for twenty-five bucks before I left England, and I got it O. K. Maude said in her letter that she didn’t know what to make of the money she received from the Canadian Government, and I guess it was some puzzle at first, but I wrote to you and her, too, before I left Canada, explaining all about the assigned pay, but my letters must have got lost. I sent it to Maude, because she would have a better chance to keep it for me, and if I wanted any money, I could send to her and it would be less trouble for her to send it to me, for I know you were working at different places and was moving around, so I wouldn’t know where to send to if I wanted a couple of bucks sent to me, so that’s why I sent it to Maude, and you all should have figured that out easy enough. I don’t know your address now, and will send this to Maude and have it forwarded on to you, for she will know where you are. I guess I was the one that started you on your travels, Dad, and if I come back O. K. we will “go some more,” won’t we? Remember the Frisco fair, Dad? Them was the happy days. I would like to see old Bill Swanson again. When I come back, we will go to the old Northwest to live. We will go through the Peace River country, when I come back, for that’s a great country and we can’t miss it.
I was glad to hear that you are making “top” wages and I hope you will remember the “rainy day” ahead.
I see in the papers, where lots of people from the U. S. are moving into Western Canada, and the land there, has gone up fifty per cent in price.
Well, Dad, I guess this is about all I know to write now. My address is 4th C. D. A. C. France.
If anyone around your parts ask about the war, tell them that I’ll say it is still on. But will get Heinie before long. Tell everyone hello for me. Be sure to write soon.
From your affectionate son,
Fred
NOTES: This letter was written by Fred Ford to his father.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS