Letter Date: October 18, 1943
October 18th, 6:25 p.m.
R.H. Francis
“A” Battery R.C.H.A.
1st Field Regt / Can. G.R.O E.M.F
Dear Georgia –
Just snatching a half hour to write and alto’ can’t say much I’ll let you know I’m fairly well again. I’m now with my unit again after my hospital siege in Sicily. We are “somewhere in Italy” and doing okay. As you know Muriel didn’t know I was out of England until the last of September making three months of no word from me and it seems on receiving my letter from her the mail was terribly shaken at her end. I hadn’t had any news of her in seven weeks either but now everything is fixed up we should obtain better results. She was a bit shaken on receiving a field card and two letters from Sicily. The rainy season is on here now and conditions more bitter. Theres plenty of mud to squelch about in and the heat of a month ago is replaced by heavy morning mists. I can or could stand one of your Sunday dinners any time. Right now, I’d like a drink of water mostly as we’re short on account of all local water being poisoned which sums a general outline lately. I know one thing that the seemingly small luxuries of home will be doubly appreciated by any Canuck in these present campaigns. I hope your well and give my love to the neighborhood and do write.
Heaps of love,
Ray Francis.