Dibgate Camp
Shorncliffe
July 16, 1915

Dear Grandad:-

I received your very welcome letter on Wednesday and as tonight is a very wet night I have seized the opportunity of answering it.

I received a big surprise when Dad walked in last Sunday night as I did not know he was coming so soon. I had only rec'd Mother's letter a few days earlier saying that he mad joined the Medical Corps, but as for him coming over so soon we took no notice of that. He is stationed about a mile and a half from us in Moore Barracks. His address is: Corporal J. Row, 16 Field Ambulance, Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe.

He is looking well and enjoyed the trip very much. We are all thinking of getting a weekend pass and going up to Tunbridge Wells for a little holiday. I have been trying to get a long leave pass to go up to London but the home grown variety get the first chance so none of us know when we will get leave, although Dad should have no trouble as he is an NCO.

Do you know I think Dad would have been more contented if he had stuck to the North West Mounted Police. He is like a kid out of school now he is back in barracks. I sympathize with him; if I was my own boss there is nothing I'd like better than army life. A lot of people take the three of us for brothers at first. I was talking to one of the boys and he said he'd seen me with my two brothers the other night. It's great fun to see Syd giving "the old man" pointers on the proper way to wear khaki. It takes quite a while to get onto the knack of rolling a service puttee neatly.

We are having a big review tomorrow by the Hon. Sam Hughes and Prime Minister Borden. We have to sleep 15 men to a tent tonight to make room for two battalions who have come up to be ready for the morning.

Be sure and give my love to Aunt Ethel from the three of us, also our regards to Arthur. He doesn't like to be called uncle.

Your grandson,

John Row