M.B.C.H., Eng.,
26/11/16
My Dear Nerta,
Well I have had some time to-day. Begg and I went up to the 168th camp this afternoon. Just before I went up, in walked Alex Lovegood. He has been a patient at M.B. ever since they came over measles, not sick at all. While he was in the kitchen, someone came and said his sister was up at the ward. He had just been telling me that he expected her down from London, where she is a nursing sister. At the camp, I saw Hollier, Hewer, Bob Wilson most of the boys and Major Thomson. Spent about half an hour in his tent. The boys have all moved into huts, I think and the first of their bunch, the very old and very young leave the camp to-night, but do not know where for. A good many of the boys expect to leave for France inside of six weeks. A draft has been picked. They are all well and Unit [?] is immense. The major’s tent is in a regular sea of mud, in fact the whole camp is, but the officers will I think soon be in their quarters. Also saw Norris and Amos, who lived at the house I did in Pembroke, was in the major’s tent. We sure had a happy time for a few minutes, and forgot where we were. I hope to see Alex frequently, but will not likely see the rest of the bunch again. I think Lloyd Fick goes overseas to-night as a Sgt. Major. They asked about all the bunch he is with to resign their stripes about half did (Lloyd among them), and to these, the stripes were returned while the other half, who did not resign, had theirs taken away.
Well I moved out of my bathroom yesterday. We were paraded down to Sandgate, and they asked for 8 who wanted to be together, and I stepped out among the eight, and the put us in a little room, in the basement of the ruins of what was about 100 years ago, a beautiful home. It is part under and part above ground, and much like a dugout, even to the rats. It is so bad that to-day it was put “out of bounds” and we moved into a dandy room of a big place next door. It was once a palatial hotel and we are sure in right, if we can stay here. I have two little trestles with three boards on it and three “biscuits” on it and then my four blankets. It sure is fine. When I saw the major’s tent and then thought of our place, I was glad I joined the A.M.C.
I had a film pack developed and not a plegged thing showed up on any film. Something was wrong with the pack. They were pictures I will not be able to get again.
I forgot to mention that our new sleeping quarters are ideally located, facing the beach, and I could easily toss a stone into the Channel.
Are you sure it was an enlargement that Gert sent Hazel because I had a letter from Gert, saying she had sent the film, as I asked her to do. It was a most interesting letter too by the way. She said she was sending either the Sunday World or [?] each week from now on.
None of the later parcels have arrived yet, but will likely be along soon now.
I will not need that parchment as the one they sent me takes the place of it, thanks.
I am enclosing one of my photos and I think it is pretty good.
Well have to close now as I am in the Y, and they are locking up.
Lovingly,
Worth.