Letters From the Front

Dated: July 12, 1915

5th Co. 11th Reserve Battalion,
St. Martin's Camp,
Shorncliffe, Kent, Eng.
Monday, July 12th. [1915]

Dear Father,

It will be some time before you get our letters now, I suppose, but the mail goes every week, and we will write steadily, especially Art. We have been very busy getting trips arranged, new camps formed, etc. We left Montreal on June 28th on the S. S. Northland, the former German liner Zeeland. She was fearfully slow and crowded, over 1,700 troops aboard, mostly reinforcements for various companies and battalions.

The first three days we went through dense fog and I got a bad sore throat and cold, but didn't get sea sick. The sea was very calm except for the usual swell. We travelled for two days south-east, then went up north, and finally zigzagged down to France and up to Plymouth, the second last day out being met by two destroyers. We could have put them both on our deck, but their speed was marvellous, the bows going almost under in calm weather. I was on guard with binoculars looking for periscopes when the destroyers arrived, and they were sure welcome.

We were inoculated again and vaccinated on board ship and had physical drill every day and boat drill. The rest of the time we mostly bummed. It took us twelve days to cross, and when we reached Plymouth we were rushed aboard troop trains and had a seven hours' run here. We got here at 12 p.m. and had to march with 65 lbs. on our back out to camp and then sleep without blankets or anything. I had been on guard on board ship for 24 hours, so you can imagine my feelings here. Art, being a Corporal, has no guard or fatigue to do.

Our grub on board ship was far from good, everything tasting of chlorine, but out here we get very good meals, especially at noon.

The scenery on the way from Plymouth Down was magnificent, every 2 x 4 plot hedged in and green. The trees are large and dark foliaged and all the grass seems to like like lawn.

There are about 70,000 troops here, mostly under canvas, but we are in corrugated iron bunk houses for 25 men and an N.C.O. originally, but holding 40 of us.

I was chosen today for a scout, and have to drill at queer hours of the night and day, but have many privileges, and am excused all fatigue, so I feel pretty lucky. This is evening and in a few minutes I have to go and wander around the bush for the night with a phosphorescent prismatic compass. I should worry.

There is one good thing about this -- they force the men to be very sanitary around camp, and the floors, etc., are scrubbed twice a week. Our programme for this week is: Reveille 5:30, breakfast 6:30, wash-up, drill with bayonets and physical exercise until 10:30, marching until 12:30. Dinner. Marching until five, and twice a week from 9 to 12.

I am getting to be quite a shark at pounds, shillings and pence.

Cousin Jim Carswell, of the 50th Batt., Calgary, just dropped in. He is as jolly as ever, and looks well.

I must go scouting, so good-bye, and best love from Art and myself.

CHARLIE.