December 8, 1918 – Letter to Robert’s father:

Dear Dad,

I am writing this in the Y.M.C.A. There is a stage in one end and an impromptu show is going on. In the new men that they issued us lately from the National Army there are a lot of men from the stage or Barnum + Bailey. They are pretty good too. It is real entertaining. “Harry Lauder” is singing now.

We have some foot balls now and are going to organize some teams. They are trying to do all they can to entertain us now, ‘cause if this bunch gets very much more restless they won’t have an army. Several have going A.W.O.L. already.

We do not have a long day of drill but get about eleven or twelve hours sleep. I wrote Mother yesterday so there is no more news. I am enclosing a letter I got from Aunt Aggie today.

Love to all, Rob

Well, now I understand how I came to possess that letter from Aunt Aggie! I had been wondering how a letter Robert received in France ended up among the letters he wrote.

Harry Lauder was a huge star for decades before and after World War One. Being from Scotland, I’m certain Robert’s father was a fan.

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.