Seaborn, Eng
Nov 12/16
Dear Jessie:

Well Jess I'm afraid this will be a pretty blue letter but I'll do my best. We arrived at this place after 17 days travel, "this morning at 6 A.M.," We pulled into Liverpool the other morning at 9,A.M. and got off the boat during the afternoon. We took the cars, "quite English", at eight oclock and travelled all night arriving here as I said this morning. Gee those cars get my goat; they are about as big as old Ned's Bus and make about as much noise. There was no sway to the cars but a continual jolt like a handcar. You just walk up and pull a door open in the side of a car and step in to a compartment about 6 ft sq. in which about eight men can sit. There are about four of these compartments to a car and to get from one to the other you have to step out the side and open the wall in another place and step in. Of course this must be done when she is stopped. The engines Oh Gee, I thought they were larking when they brought it out and was going to have the kids take their toys out of the way. However they made good time and we passed through a lot of country I would have liked to have seen. Among other places was Tom Browns birthplace ("Rugby")) Then we went through the outskirts of London but of course every thing was black for they keep all lights out at night. The trains keep the blinds drawn to prevent Aircraft following them into the cities.

When we arrived in camp we were all split up without five minutes notice and that before daylight. We were sent of in small bunches to fill in where drafts had been made from other Bats. I happened to hit the same company that Leslie Ray and Raymond Bell are in. We just get herded about here like so many cattle. They say that it continues so until you hit the trenches. Then they treat you as a man and if you come back wounded you can do nearly as you please so here is hoping we get there soon..

I'm afraid mail connection will be fierce from now on. so don't keep from writing just because you fail to here from me. This Seaford is a very quaint old place and one of the most fashionable sumer resorts in England. It is right near Dearborn. You often read of them both in Penny novels. We are just a short way from London and as we get 6 days leave right away soon it is me for London and perhaps on to Glasgow if I have the necessary coin. They stick us for nearly everything here, so we have to keep our eyes open. The people seem very standoffish and I do not wonder by the name the Canadians have made for themselves over here in England but if they did not treat us as dogs they would not act as dogs.

We are all C.B.'d until after we get medical examinations which we expect tomorrow. The Col is trying to get us together again and if he has any luck we may get back again in our own Batt. If not I am going to try to get transferred into air service or something else. I don't think much of being switched all over the show.

Golly I have some job with my coin here their are so many different values.

I haven't had any mail yet but expect some any old time if they can find us for we are sure scattered all over the place. Still we may get some of it and here is hoping we do.

I mailed two letters to Mother from Liverpool, but if this gets there first don't be surprised. I intended to cable but could not get one away so gave up in hopes you would get news through the papers.

Well Jess I must get a good nights rest and a bath tonight so ta, ta, Do write often and tell others to do so too for it is terrible lonely.

Your Loving brother
Rae.