Roffey Camp, Horsham,
March 12, 1916
Dear Everybody:
Just a line tonight. Sent three notes last week. Hope you get them. Our last week's mail hasn't come yet. It went to Lydd with the 97th and has to come back through the Army P.O. There is a good deal of delay and red tape about it. We expect it tomorrow morning however. Was to church in the YMCA this morning so didn't go out tonight. This has been a perfect day, just like a May day at home. It was so fine I think I was almost a little homesick. During the week we are so busy there is no time for the feeling of loneliness to creep in but sometimes on a fine Sunday afternoon when everything is quiet and peaceful we cannot help wishing that we were back in Prince Edward Island for the day. But during the week we wouldn't be back again for anything. Somehow Sunday seems to have an influence on the most hardened man in the bunch and to bring back memories of the past which are entirely forgotten or at least dormant during the busy week days.
We got the results of our weekly progress tests yesterday and I got R.D. in all the tests at 18 words on the buzzer, 12 in semaphore, 8 on flags in Morse and 6 in lamp. Sgt. Robinson of the brigade staff and Jimmy Regan, one of our fellows, both telegraph operators of several years' experience had 25 words on the buzzer. Clear of them Wagner and I were the two highest. But there are about a dozen of us in our bunch so nearly the same it is hard to judge between us. It is reported we may go to Lydd next Saturday. I hope it is true, as we want to get away and get down to business. With the exception of the signallers we are as far ahead as we can be here, and we can finish our work as well at Lydd as here. Have only a couple of weeks to go on this course and then we expect to qualify as first class signallers. We will be six weeks at least and probably a couple of months at Lydd and then couple of weeks at resting school before going across to France.
Haven't a scrap of news tonight. Well, I'll write again in time for Friday's boat. Don't suppose this will go till Friday anyway. There have been no more cases of measles and I think they are indeed stamped out.Fellows are all coming along fine. Am well and busy. Must get down to studying next week so as to do as well as I can in the qualifying exam.
Lots of love to all, Harold
