France 24/1/18

Dear Mother

I am still going strong and enjoying life as far as the various daily annoyances will let me. I have just completed a turn of 14 days duration in and out of the line and actually spent 11 days in the front line and 11 in support the remainder being in reserve. We had a fairly quiet time of it though although there were numerous exciting little times when we had narrow squeaks but the shelling was not heavy and we had few casualties.

I am now attending a Corps Gas School and find it very interesting as that you know I always had a hankering for chemistry and stinks and smells etc. Here we have opportunities of smelling and observing the cold specific gravity and boiling points and general characteristics of the known German poison gases. We also learn how to take the necessary preventive measures and means of throwing them over us etc. So that I have really enjoyed the six days here. I got 98% marks in the SB Respiration test. I am now only beginning my studies as an officer and I think it much the better way of becoming efficient to attend the different specialist schools such as gas schools bombing Lewis guns grenades and sanitation schools.

I will most likely have my second start in about a month as I believe I am in for it now. Then I will be a full-blown Lt in the AIF. Of course you know I am getting �7.07 per week for this job. I allot 3/- a day and 3/- is deferred out of the 21/- per day. That leaves 15 /- day. Now living is exorbitant over here and officers have to play about double for everything. For instance I paid Fr.20 equals 14/4 for a pair of under cotton grapes 4/6 lb butter 4/6 lb meat abt 2/6 lb a bed in a room for one night is anything from 4/6 to 8/- a meal costs 7/- ie dinner breakfast Fr 4etc. So you see that what with mess fees at 3/- day travelling expenses clothing and other things I am living in at the rate of about �4 per week. However I am making myself save that is least another three shillings per day so that in about a month after getting this letter you will probably get notice that I have allotted another 3/- a day to you from a certain date. That means that you will draw 6/- a day at home and I will draw 12/- a day here 3/- being deferred

While I will close this by wishing you the usual best of everything

From your loving son

Walter 24/1/18