Written at: H. M. T. Empress of Britain, Halifax

Written by: Sergt W. T. May, D Co, 53rd G.B.C.E.F.

March 10, 1916

Dear Mother

I am sorry I have not written sooner but things were so uncertain that I could not tell you any definite news but I can now. I suppose you know by this time that we left Winnipeg on last Thursday night and we are now quartered on the Empress of Britain and believe me there is some crowd. It's a good job that Gordon did not come with us because it would have killed him the boys down below are packed like sardines in a box and it is awful down there. We are alright where we are (the Sergts I mean) we have the old 2nd class dining room made up into sleeping quarters with the mess tables down the centre. I wrote to Hilda to-day and I told her to write to the Old Country but I think if she were to write as soon as she gets my letter I will get an answer because we expect to be here for a few days yet and I posted her letter before I knew about it, will you please tell her to write to the above address. How are you all keeping anyhow, well I hope, and what outfit is Gordon in now, tell me in your next letter. We are having a fairly good time here, but we are confined to the ship and we can't get ashore, we are out in the middle of the Bay and the Olympic is lying pretty close to us and the Baltic is loading up troops now and there are three more ships in the harbour waiting for the rest of the troops to come down here, I wish they would hurry so that we could get away, we might be here another 10 days yet because we all go together under the escort of the Canadian Navy the Rainbow & Niobe. How is Muriel keeping I hear she is back home again Well they are going to put out the lights so I will close With Love to all

I Remain

Your Loving Canadian Son

Billy
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