Lydd, Kent,
April 23rd 1916
Dear Mother:
Easter Sunday evening and I must write you a line. Have been writing letters for a couple of hours and got several cleared off. Had so many to answer that I don't know when I'll get it done. We went to church this morning in the Wesleyan Institute, a place for recreation, reading, writing etc. for the soldiers. There is no Presbyterian Church here. We had a splendid speaker and a very good sermon and then the sacrament was dispensed at the close of the service to all who wished to stay and there were a good number remained behind. This afternoon a bunch of us went for a walk then came back
to write letters. We had a flying accident in camp morning. An aeroplane goes out every day it is fit. This morning an amateur pilot went up in her and when alighting lost control of his machine and fell some 200 feet. The machine was pretty badly broken up but he escaped without a scratch
We have our shoot on Wednesday and Thursday this week and will have a busy week of it. Have to do our best to work as it is the qualifying test for the battery. We telephonists had our qualifying exam Friday and it was a busy Good Friday for us as our test took up most of the day. It was the hardest day's work I have done since joining the battery but I got on very well. Think my chances are very good. I think all the fellows did very well. We will not get the results for a couple of weeks yet.
Am sending a bunch of postcards in three separate envelopes. Let me know if you get them. I wrote to Aunt Clemmie but have lost her number so am enclosing it in this for you to forward. Received your letter of couple of days ago - the one dated April 2nd with Aunt Maggie's enclosed.
Yes Lieutenant Leawan (?) Is with us and is a splendid officer. Maj. Prowse is doing splendid work. He is hard to beat. We are certainly fortunate in our officers. You ask if there is anything besides socks you can send in the shape of clothes. No, we have more stuff now than we can take, especially socks. Don't send anymore until after we get across. We will only have the to leave them at the base.
About the assigned pay, have you been getting it? A few fellows have got word that it has not been coming regularly. Let me know about it. Of course it will come in time. I know a fellow who came over last summer whose pay did not go for five months and they got a check for $72 at once. However it should be going monthly and if it isn't I will see Mr. Hooper about it. He is the battery pay master.
I am afraid we will have six or seven weeks in England yet. The outbreak of measles delayed us a good deal. We should have been ready now but for that. However I hope we will get there yet in time to have a little part in the game before the decisive score is made. We have been in existence as a battery for nearly a year now and are getting anxious to get our little say over yonder where the only voice that speaks is lead. However we need not fear as we are the least exposed in siege work of any branch
of the service and there is very little danger. And even if there was it would be all the same. Since the beginning of time nothing worth while has been gained without sacrifice. This truth reached its climax in the sacrifice of Christ which we are commemorating at the present time, and, if He should require us to make the supreme sacrifice in upholding his cause then we should be willing and just as he conquered death so shall those who give themselves to upholding liberty and a righteousness and honor find in death that fuller life with no sorrow or regret. Few of us in our battery, I am confident, will be called upon to make this sacrifice That call comes largely to the infantry, but if it should
come to any of us, I feel perfectly sure that we will be ready for it and that we shall not fail to stand the test.
Think I must close for now and will write you during the week. Remember I am getting on fine and enjoying myself immensely. My weight is about 180 pounds and am not failing any. Do not worry about your boy. He is as happy as a lark and would not change the king's uniform for civilians for anything. Good night for this time.
Love to all from your loving soldier son, Harold
