You will see my number has been
Changed. We are to be inspected
By the king and Lord K. on
Thursday
Folkestone
Sunday Aug. 8th 1915
Reg no. 118573

My dear old Ray,

I have long intended writing to you, but there has been no opportunity since the girls first came to Folkestone as all my spare time has been spent with them. I have got the Sunday off again this week so consider myself lucky. I arrived on the sea front outside the rooms about 7 a.m. Then after sitting on a bench for twenty minutes or so Madge appeared on the scene, and later Doll with some tea in a thermos flask. Then we went for a walk by the sea until breakfast time. We met Hubert also out for an early stroll so he joined us. It is an enormous blessing to be able to get away for a whole day like this and feel there is no hurry. In the ordinary course of events it is quite a rush getting down in the evenings as I can't get away till six and have to start back about 9 p.m. They have very nice rooms here, and we are indeed fortunate in having such a family gathering. Thank you very much for your last two letters to me. All the news was most interesting. You did well to get the steers in without mishap. I was surprised that that one of mine weighed so much heavier than Bsorkes. Doll and Olive were very pleased with their share of the spoils and it came at an opportune time with their visit here coming off. I was rather perturbed to think of you being without a hired man with such a busy time coming on. I do hope it would not be for long and that the right one would turn up. If he did, Frank's leaving would perhaps be a blessing in disguise, as he must have been getting rather trying. I think of you so much and wish I could give you a hand with the hay. It often gives me a homesick feeling when we are on a route march and get little peeps at the work going on in the farms. I expect the girls told you that Craig came here to supper a few nights ago, and yesterday afternoon he called in and took four of them out to tea at a vaudeville show close by, Rather nice of him, wasn't it? We have been having rather a strenuous time lately, and march down to Hythe every day to start. We start about 7 a.m., our lunch consisting of a jam sandwich and small piece of cheese. Hythe is about seven miles away, and we don't get back till five in the evening. Then I have a wash and clean up and get down to the rooms in time for supper at 7. This means that I have been doing about sixteen miles a day for the last week. I find I keep pretty fit on it though my feet are rather sore with the hard roads, and a rest today is welcome. Bill got a week-end pass yesterday and left for London in the afternoon. I expect he will have to be back by reveille on Monday, that is 5 a.m. We are getting rather tired of having horses to look after. It tires on down so much and there does not seem to be any more prospect of riding them. I saved four pounds out of my last month's pay and gave it to Nance to keep for me. I thought it was hardly worth while sending it out to you as you can draw on my share of the beef steers for any expenses and wages you have to pay out. The floods at Edmonton seem to have been bad; I wonder if it would affect the Vermilion at all. Well, old man, I must stop. Heaps of love to you and Lysbeth, and remembrances to Wilson and Liz.

Ever your affectionate brother
Ernest