Written by William Lee SMITH b 5 September 1873, Woodside, West Rasen, Lincs son of Thomas SMITH and Hannah nee LEE. This letter is written by William to his sister Agnes SMITH in Toronto, Canada. Kirkby - Cum - Osgodby, December 17 1916 Dearest Sister,    Many thanks for your very kind letter of sympathy.  We was very pleased to hear from you.  The loss of our Dear Son, as been a terrible blow to us, he had got to be such a fine young fellow, and he was very good to us.    It seemed only a few days after he had been home full of good health and spirits.  Telling us how they had a few scraps with the enemy, and what they was going to do, as soon as they got ready and how well he was getting on, he had been promoted once.  Then to come the sad news, that he was missing, then we got a wire to say that is body had been recovered, it did seem to make it a bit better being able to get him home for Burial.    We do know where is poor body is, and we do hope and pray his Soul is where there is no war,    We sent you a card and paper, which you will have got before now.    So you will see that he had a Grand Funeral.    I think all the people from around about were there, every body was very good to us, he was such a favourit.  They was willing to do anything, you see there was not much time after we got to know they would send him home.  We had to bury him as soon as we could as he had been dead about a week and then shaking all the way from Dover by train.  We did not see him, I did say I would but the Coffin was labeled not to be opened.  He had no doubt been knocking about in the water two or three days so we thought we would not open it.  It was a very big one but he was a big lad.  It did seem hard not to see him but we all has as much as we could bear it was some consolation to get him home there is many a poor lad buried and there parents know not how nor where.  Wont it be a blessing when this terrible war is over.  I expect we shall all have to go before it is over.    We are going to have a meatless day a week now things will soon be serious over here.  I wish I had stopped in Canada and got them all over there.    How is poor Joe getting on we never hear any thing remember me to him.  I will write to as soon as I can, we have sent him a card.    You dont know how pleased I was to hear from you, this trouble as been the turning point in my life.  I have signed the Pledge and I am trying by Gods help to lead a new life as soon as we can get turned round a bit I will send you some money.    I am going to try and save all I can because if the Lord spares us all we shall come over to Canada again. I like it better than this Country, yet people in the towns are getting a lot of money now but everything is so dear.  I am afraid when the war is over there will be a slump.  I am working in a Saw Mill at Usselby now, we have cut nearly all the wood down on the Caistor Road.  My hand hurt me a good bit this cold weather.  I cant do anything, can Joe work now.    You must thank Mrs Whiteley for her kind sympathy, there is one consolation he died doing his Duty and he was not a conscript.  We have only one of his photo's in Sailors clothes but we are going to get some took  then.  I will send you one, we have not got anything belonging to him yet but we are expecting hearing from the Admiralty every day.    Well Dear Sister.  I must now close - hoping you are in good health as it leaves us as well as can be expected, hoping to hear from you again soon.    May the Lord Bless and keep you in good Health is the earnest prayer of your Loving Brother William Lee Smith Kirkby-cum-Osgodby, Lincoln, England PS  Poor Uncle Joe as had a stroke and as been in bed since August. My grandmother has written this across the top of the letter. 'My love to you dear Agnes, Thank you very much for your and Mrs Whiteley's kind sympathy.  I knew you would feel our loss very much as you were fond of Joe.' Mrs Whiteley was English, Agnes worked for her as a Domestic Servant, when Mrs Whiteley's husband died, with his money she took Agnes with her to Canada, as her Companion. A really sad letter, I was staggered to find the letter has been kept in Canada all these years, and I was able to have a first hand account of my Grandparents sadness By the way William did get called up, I have a Driving Licence Card for William dated 11 November 1918, at Spekeland, Liverpool, he is in a Motor Transport Division. The Joe that William mentions, is his brother, Bernard Joseph SMITH, the two men went over to Canada, encouraged by their sister Agnes. Bernard/Joe stayed in Canada, he sent for his wife and six children, they had a further six children in Canada. William only stayed a few months and then returned to his wife and family in England. William injured two fingers in a circular saw accident in the wood. I have the legal document, where he claimed, and was awarded a few pounds compensation. Pat