Letters From the Front

Dated: November 22, 1914

Letter From First Contingent 

     Mr. A.I. Barton representative of the Massey-Harris Co., who has been in New Liskeard for some time, has received the following interesting letter from his son, Sergeant Fred T. Barton, who is with the First Contingent at Salisbury Plains.    

10th Battalion, 3 B’gde.                                            Bulford Camp,                                                        Salisbury Plains, England.                                            Nov. 22nd 1914.

Dear Mother and all:-- 

    Your good letter to hand.  I do not understand why you are not getting my letters.  I have written (??) frequently.  There must be something wrong.  We are in tin (??) at Bulford Camp, about 18 miles from Pond Farm Camp.  This is much better than the old camp.  We have a first class Sergeants Mess, a large dining room, bar and parlour and reading room with a piano, phonograph and lot of records; the best of food and lots of it too.    

    Well mother, dear I have been to London for seven days and I have had a wonderful time, the best time in my life.  I will try to tell you something about my visit.  I (??) a boy, one of my Calgary (??), with me.  We went in to London on Friday night, Nov. (??), stopped at Londouris Hotel.  I sent you a line from there.  On Saturday we went down to the Bank of England and Royal Exchange.  These are wonderful places to see.  Just around the corner we found St. Paul’s Cathedral.  I wish you could see (??): all the tombs of the great heroes, etc., Wellington, Nelson,    

    There is a hall called the Whispering Hall.  You whisper at one end, the sound passes along the wall all through the room.  Out in front on the steps you will see hundreds of tame pigeons.  If you hold out your hand they will fly up your arm and hand.  After this we went to Mme. Tussand’s great wax works.  This is wonderful.  They have figures of all the kings, queens and other notable people.  We were in the chamber of horrors too, some sight.  We left there for the Houses of Parliament on the Thames.  This is a great sight, too.  We could not get in as the House was sitting.  From here we went to the Tower of London.  This was the most interesting to me.  First we went into the armouries and saw all the old armour, old relics, etc.  We next saw all the crown jewels, crowns etc.  All the buildings are interesting on account of the history that is attached to them.  From here we went to the Tower bridge.  I am sending you a complete guide to the Tower, telling all the places we saw.  I am also sending a guide of London showing many of the places we saw.  Please keep these books so I can tell you all about it when I come back to Canada.    

    On our second day, Sunday, Nov.15, we went out for a walk up to Holborn St. fire hall.  Went all through this.  From here we went away down to Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace, Hyde Park, and Westminster Abbey.  This is just beside the Houses of Parliament.  We had a good supper up on Oxford Circus.  We saw a lot in that day.  You can travel on the busses for a penny (2 cents.)    

    On Monday we met one of my old Q.O.R. buglers so we all went together to Leicester Square.  From there we went to the British Museum.  That was a great sight.  I went in to see the Ford Motor Co.  I had a long talk with the head salesman.  I also went into the National Cash Register Co’s office.  At night we went to the Colleseum theatre and saw a good show.  One of my chums asked me to go to see his folks, so I went; they gave me a fine time; a good home, fine home cooking and a good soft bed.    

    We were lucky to be in London to see Lord Roberts’ funeral.  It was a great sight but very dull as all the soldiers were in Khaki, and it was a cold day.  We went to several shows, all good.  I will tell you all when I come back.  It looks to me now that we will never see the front.  I want to go; so do all the men.  I will be surprised if we do go.    

    Thank father for the papers he sent me, they are all so welcome.  I hope you get all my letters O.K.  I will write to you quite often and tell you all we do.  Will close for this time it is getting late.     Lots of love to all.                       

From Fred.