#475465, P.P.C.L.I.
Hut 9, No 1. Company
2nd Canadian Command Depot
Shoreham, Sussex
Sept 12, 1916.
Dear Edna:-
I am thoroughly ashamed that I have been so long in answering your last letter. It is now about 3 weeks since I wrote you from Epsom and since then I have had two letters from you, which I should have answered before. Please forgive me. I have had a lazy fit I think and besides that I have been rather unsettled in this new camp which is just being organized.
This camp is not nearly so pleasant as the one at Epsom. There are no beautiful parks that I told you about, nothing but bare chalk hills here. When I wrote last I thought I would have stayed at Epsom for 6 weeks but evidently it became so filled up that they had to make enlargements, and this camp is the result. About 300 of us were sent here three weeks ago and we prepared the huts for ourselves and those that were to follow. It was hard to get used to sleeping on the boards and straw again after the beds in hospital and at Epsom. The old system that was followed at Shorncliffe that of eating and sleeping in the same huts is used here. In fact it is the elementary stage of active service training again.
Our daily routine is something like this: Reveille 6.30, Roll Call at 6:45, Breakfast at 7, Morning parade 8:30-11:00, Afternoon parade 2-4. Our training is physical "jerks" entirely, and of course its purpose is to make us fit for going back to France as soon as possible. I rather like it for it certainly tends to make one feel stronger again.
Shoreham is a sea-coast town about 5 miles from Brighton, the latter place being, as you know, the fashionable sea-side resort for London people, being just 50 miles South of London. Another fellow and I, (the graduate of McDonald College whom I met in hospital) went to Brighton for a weekend and we certainly enjoyed it. There are great piers running about 500 yds into the sea and upon these are theatres and all kinds of places to amuse curious people. The hotels along the beach are as fine as any I have ever seen. Bathing is the chief attraction now. I was sorry I could not go in myself, but my side is not entirely healed yet and I was afraid the salt water would not do it any good.
Since I came here also I have had my sick-leave. Instead of 10 days which I expected I, as well as all the others in the camp, was granted only 6 days, and I had to do some tall hustling to go everywhere I wanted to go.
First, I went to Cornwall to visit the same people whom I visited before my uncle died there, and I had a very pleasant time. Having made the acquaintance of many people on my first visit, I was kept busy during my 3 days stay. From there I went back to London, and out to Surbiton, Surrey to see my cousin and the same evening went back to London and up to Leicester to revisit the scenes of my hospital days and incidentally visit some people whom I met during that period.
Arriving back to Shoreham 8 hours over due I expected to have to spend a few days in the "Clink" but was not worried over it very much. When I appeared before the O.C. though, I managed to spin a pretty smooth yarn and got off, so my crime sheet is not quite full yet.
I am sorry to say that I have not written to your brother yet for the reason that in moving from Leicester to Epsom I lost a little notebook that contained his address. By this time, doubtless, he has gone to France.
I sincerely hope he may be fortunate and return safely. I suppose you do not know what division he is going to in France. I have heard on pretty reliable authority that the 1st and 3rd Can. Divisions have left the Ypres salient and have gone to the Somme, leaving the 2nd and 4th still at Ypres. I am afraid there is little choice between the two places now, since the offensive on the Somme has reached such proportions.
I have a great deal more to say to you, Edna, but must leave it until next time, for it is so dark I can hardly see. I shall then answer your letters properly.
Thanking you for putting up with my negligence, and with every good wish.
Ever sincerely yours,
Dick
