To Mrs. J. Slack, R.R #3, Hillcrest, Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
Air Mail Date: October 20, 1943
Sender’s Address: C23 Gar R.M Francis ‘A’ Battery 1st Field Regt. R.C.M.A C.M.F
Dear Georgia, my writing is out of hand as I don’t do much of it here. I’ve not been writing first on account of the campaign in Sicily and secondly I went down with malaria just after the drive had finished. I actually had two relapses the second time was worse with a temperature of 102 and linked with dysentery. I am now in a rest camp under treatment and the pills I’ve had would start a miniature drug store. I don’t think this is much longer but it’ll leave a mask I understand of coming back annually or something of that sort. I’ve lost 15 pounds in the last little struggle although ‘its’ just about normal I was a little too fat anyway. During Sicily’s fight I was into Yates who is a captain in an infantry unit and Garfield Hodge who is in the same unit. I suppose you know Muriel is in the Wrens and at the moment is finishing her academy course which warrants a Petty Officer’s rank at completion. Her brother who has been in The Medical Corps (a Sgt.) in the Middle East for five years is attached now to a tank Regt. A request was due on the Island but I couldn’t locate him. If things keep on as the present, I’ll soon be home and speaking of that I had four years service on the 6th of Sept. Which is a large slice of my life although I am happily married, mail service is as usual poor but as long as those (?) bring enough to eat I’ll be happy. Bye for now and write to Murial as well I please Sept. 12 (ship)
Heaps of Love;
Raymond.