Shornecliffe Camp,
Sept. 3^rd, 8. P.M.,1916.

Mother and All,

You will no doubt be anxious to hear just how things are going with us. I will tell you, all I can think of, but I forget about half I want to say, till I have posted my letters.

I wrote on board ship, cabled, and sent several post-cards, since arriving in camp, but as we do not know just what we can, and cannot say, some of these may have been stopped. I hope not tho. We arrived in England, Wednesday morning, very early, in fact we were anchored in the river during the night of Tuesday. Early in the morning, we weighed anchor, and started up the river. It was a fine clear morning, and the scenery beautiful. I will never forget, the appearance of New Brighton, as we steamed slowly past in the early dawn. We could look up the streets, and they are of houses built in rows, like terraces, practically all alike on a street, the narrow streets, tiled (red) roofs and the cleanliness, made it look like a model town finished in every detail, but never occupied. The beach too is grand.

We docked around nine or ten o’clock, but were some little time in getting off the boat, altho we were the first to come off. It was about twelve thirty when we entrained. Here I received my first surprise. I have I find, since childhood been forming opinions of things in England, from pictures and reading. I always thought the trains here composed of large heavy engines and coaches. They are just the opposite. The locomotives are very small, and the coaches smaller in proportion. You enter from the side of the car, in compartments holding about eight each. There are, I think three compartments to a coach. Altho they are introducing now coaches of our type, but smaller. The box cars are a joke, less than half the size of ours, while the cars they use for gravel etc, look like the two-wheeled dump carts the contractors use in Canada.

We started on our trip across England, and my second surprise was our speed. I had heard of it, but thought it impossible with these diminutive trains. We averaged I believe 30 miles an hour all the way, allowing for some long stops. Part of the time we must have been making seventy miles. I was afraid the cars would leave the track.

It was between nine and ten o’clock when we arrived at Shornecliffe Camp or rather station, from the station it is a walk of possibly two miles and it was very muddy. I was fortunate tho in being one of a fatigue party picked out to unload the baggage, and as the last motor transport was not full, we rode up to camp. It was a very dark night, and of course, there are very few if any lights, on account of the Zepps. We saw the search lights playing around the skye, hunting for them.

Little preparation had been made for our arrival and I with about thirty others, slept in a marquis tent, used as a garage. I removed only shoes and puttees, but slept well.

Thursday, I helped set up tents and all kind of duties around the camp. At night, with another of the boys, I went up to Folkestone, a summer resort on the English Channel, and a very pretty place. Here we can get a good meal, but at a cost of 2/- or 3/-. Things are very high here. Leather goods, which we would expect to be cheap are very high. English jewelry (9kt), is apparently, but bracelet watches are I think higher than in Canada £3, to £4, being the price for ordinary luminous Swiss and American military styles. They tell us tho, that away from here, things are cheaper.

Friday I was “mess orderly” which means that I get the things from the cook house at meal time and help (there are four each day) dish out the meals each meal. After the meal, wash down the tables and benches. Each man washes his own tin, knife, fork and spoon. At night I come over to the “Y.” shack to the entertainment. They have a dandy large shack, half a kind of theatre, the other half a reading and writing room and canteen. I am writing in it now. They sure are a God send to the boys. Provide an entertainment every night.

I don’t know whether it was the meals (which I don’t relish much as yet) or serving them out Friday, but Saturday, I was sick at the stomach all day, but could not vomit, I took the regular drills, but felt faint and miserable all day. I was not in the mess tent at all. Just ate oranges in the morning. Then went down town at noon (half holiday Saturday) had a light lunch, then did some shopping and sat around the Leas, enjoying the ocean air. At night I had a good duck dinner and then came back to camp.

This morning I had breakfast, attended Church parade, then a bunch of us started down town and had lunch at the ‘Y.’ on our way down. We walked around the Leas, took in a movie, had dinner and then I came back to camp to write this, while the rest went to Church.

It is a peculiar thing here that the movies are open on Sunday, and the hotels, during certain hours.

This is not a camp like London, but a very large affair, as large as a large city, but not as densly populated. The camps are scattered, and I do not know who may be here that I know. I believe tho that Bob Inch is near here, and will try to see him.

Last night, I believe the Germans made their largest Zep. raid, raiding London, (seventy miles from here) doing I do not know what damage, and having one Zep. destroyed. There have been raids closer than that I believe tho.

We have had no mail yet, and may not for another week, but believe me I will welcome it when it comes.

Altho stationed here just now, I may leave anytime. It seems these units are split up, being sent to various English hospitals for our training. Among those we will likely visit, will be the one at Orpington, and I surely hope I am drafted to that one. I would see someone I know occasionally at least, and it is quite near London.

Must close as lights are being put out.

Lovingly,
Worth.

[added to back of last page, author and date unknown:]
Answered