Letter to friend Wilbur Wilson
Dear Bill,
This will floor you I know. That is providing it even gets to you at all. For the past three months I have been attached to a British first Army unit at the above address in order to obtain first hand battle experience. Experience has proven to be a good but rather expensive teacher, six of our party have been killed already. Owa!
It’s not as bad as it sounds though we do have our dull moments. At present our unit is in Divisional reserve, about two miles behind the front and all we see is the occasional stuka raid and a bit of shelling. Believe me, it doesn’t take long to learn when to duck. Our big problem is living, we are outdoors most of the time and we have pup tents to keep out the rain. Rations are very good and we get occasional bottle of the demon Rum.
As for the old Arts 43 gang – I was with Doug Simpson in England a couple of days before he was killed – I met Hugh Harrison (Navy) in Glasgow and travelled with him to London where we met Ken Kidder (also Navy).
I shall be going back to London shortly and I shall be expecting to hear from you when you write, address is
Capt. Eddie Styffe
Lake Superior Regiment (motor)
3 Cdn Arm’d BOE
4 Cdn Arm’d Div.
Canadian Army, England
Please don’t forget – give me all the latest dope.
Sincerely
Eddie
North Africa March 7th 1943