Friday Feb. 5th 1915

Dear Mother and All the rest-

I wrote you one day this week and this many even catch the same boat. But as we are to move out on our journey to France on Monday I will probably have another chance of writing an uncensored letter so here goes for the latest news.

The King visited us yesterday accompanied by Kitchener, several Pitcairn-Campbell Commander of the Southern Division and a host of others. Mabel and the lady with whom you are staying here came over and saw the review They had a great day. The division was all drawn up in two long Columns about ¾ of a mile in length and about 20 even deep. In the Centre was the artillery and at one end the infantry and the other end the Cavalry. It was a magnificent sight. I am just in process of transfer from the Battalion to the Brigade staff so had no particular obligation to march past with the Battalion. The Colonel asked me if I would like to go & stand over near the reviewing stand & report to him how his men looked in marching. That suited me as I was able to join Mabel. A funny thing happened. I went near to shoot the King (with my Kodak. I looked around for a man with a walking stick to borrow it to rest the Kodak on a seat seeing one saw a lady with an umbrella asked her for it. As I spoke I looked up from the umbrella to her face & who should it be but Miss [?] (Mabel's former governess who visited us in Cobourg). I got two good pictures of the King & several others. Will send you later. The soldiers looked very business like but the spectacular has gone with the red tunics. The sombre appearance is suggestive of a very sombre & solemn business. As battalion followed battalion & battery followed battery I could not help but say what a horrible thing is war when double the number fire are slain in a single battle. It makes me sick to think about it. Really one must not think.

The King looked very pleased. He asked Col. [?] where his men were from, how they had [?] the winter how our winter compared with this and remarked that the men looked very well and fit. When he got into the train to go away a look of sadness crept over his face as much as to say poor fellows cheering for me and going off to lay down their lives for me, their country & their homes. The line of railway was lined by the troops who cheered wildly,. A pilot engine went ahead and another followed the Kinds train which consisted of one car & a freight truck. The King shook hands with all the Colonels who commanded Battalions alas the County Constable who was very pleased at being presented [?]

The King of course was very sorry that I could not go and preach at Buckingham Palace [?] Sunday. I told him that I was really (re-awlly) sorry to disappoint him so badly but that I could come & stay a week with him to make up for this sore disappointment. He said all right. Billy just come along anytime & stay as long as you like and if you would like a V.C. or [?]. I have lots of them lying around- going to give you several when you come. Well really don't yer know I quite expected its he is such a jolly old chap is George.

Again there are changes galore & lots of disappointed officers form every Battalion who are to be left behind. The new organization is a Battalion [?] 4 Companies of double strength instead of eight. That means fewer officers. We lose about a dozen who have to go to the base to wait till needed. Then too they have changed Chaplains three times. First draft all were to go that is 32. Second draft brought it down to five. Third draft increased it to eleven which they say is final. I have had no trouble about [?]. I have now got the Brigade (first) and I am expecting it will give me about 6000 men all to myself. It is a Staff appointment. It may also get me staff pay which will be about 90.00 a month more than I get now. We are better off now than in peace I get $150.00 and Mabel gets $50.00 separation allowance. There are lots of ways for it. Officers things are so expensive. I have two pair of boots for example on par $11.50 and the other $21.00.

Don't give this letter to papers. If you wish to give them items from it such as those marked marginally you may but preface it with these words "In a letter from Major Beattie Chaplain to his mother received here (date) he says --- This will get over the prohibition of writing to the press. I must now Close with much love to all.

Will