WWI May 1918 Letter from Major of 14th ENGINEER Regt. in France GREAT CONTENT

Description

World War I soldier's letter, 3 pgs., approx. 5-3/4" x 7-1/2", dated
"France, April 19th, '18"
, from Major Robert G. Henderson, 14th Engineer Regimen (Ry), to his sister-in-law, "Mabel" (married to his brother, Harry P. Henderson).
Includes the original envelope, addressed to Mrs. H.P. Henderson, at New York City, and forwarded to Burlington, Mass. with Apr. 22, 1918 dated ARMY POST OFFICE postmark, purple British "Passed by  Censor" handstamp, New York FORWARDED postmark and with Major Henderson's self-censor signature at bottom left, and with "O.A.S." (On Active Service) written at top right.
The 14th Engineer Regiment was recruited in New England, mostly from railroad men, and arrived in France in the fall of 1917. They did important work repairing railroads, building railroads and bridges, often under gun and artillery fire.
Great content
, writing at night while "the guns are flashing and it is rather noisy". He writes of how after being in France for 8 months, he knows less French than when he got there, and how so much British slang has creeped into his and even the French people's vocabulary. He relates in detail the story of the famous 1914 Christmas truce between the British & German front line soldiers, as told to him by a British infantry Major with whom he recently dined, during which time soldier's from both sides met in the no man's land, buried the dead, and played football, and even exchanged presents!
Includes:
"Dear Mabel,
Today it has snowed off and on & the north wind has been piercing; tonight it is cold & clear and there is an ominous moon. The guns are flashing and it's rather noisy, but we're all right and everything is lovely, except that I'm due for another leave and the chances for getting it look damned poor.
Eight months in France and I know less French than when I came, but a lot of British slang has come into my vocabulary. Which reminds me: in the nearby village some Canadian officers are billeted. I was over to tea, and a six inch battery which had just moved in about a hundred yards away began to pop off. Madame's glass windows began to shatter, but the only remark she made was: 'No bloody bon', which is pure British French.
Another one: A British infantry major whom I dined with recently, told me about the famous Christmas truce in 1914. At that time, he was in the ranks and in the trenches near Wipers
[the British name for Ypres]
. The trenches were about 20 years apart and the armistice was arranged for 6 pm Christmas eve, & immediately it was on, the British set their braziers on the parapet and the Boches did the same with the addition of a Xmas tree. Then the British took advantage of the truce to put up barbed wire in front of their trenches (their defenses were very meagre) and the Boches replied in kind. Christmas day they all came out into No-man's land and buried the dead and they played football! Sometime late in the day, the Boches called over and said they had a Christmas present. The British scratched their heads to think up a present for the Boches, and the only thing they could find was the remains of their precious rum ration, about half a jug. Presents were duly exchanged. The Boche present was a large bundle carefully wrapped up in paper and string. On being opened, it was found to contain one large and handsome - coil of barbed wire!..."
The letter is in Very Fine condition. The envelope has some edge wear and edge tears.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[V]