Whitley Camp

Sunday

               Nov 19/16

Dear Mother Father + Carrie,

               Arrived back at Whitley Friday night and believe me I was tickled to find a couple of parcels + some letters waiting for me.

               We have not finished firing yet but had to leave Bordon on account of some Imperial troops who were coming there.

               Thursday Nov 16/16

Up at 5:30 breakfast at 6:30. Marched out to the ranges + fired 5 rounds snap + 10 rounds rapid. It is cold and windy to-day, and this damp climate certainly gets to your skin. We left the ranges about 11:30 and marched back. We had dinner, then packed up ready for our trip on Friday. By the way we are getting quite efficient in this art. Thursday evening I walked to the villages and between picture show and other amusements spend quite a nice evening, got back to camp about 10 where a funny incident happened. One of our fellows had been complaining bout a sore ankle, when I came in he asked me to look at it. I happened to have my flash with me, so I turned the light on it, could see a little piece of glass sticking we worked for a little while + took out a piece of glass over an inch long and about an /8 of an inch wide out. He had stepped on a piece of glass about 2 yrs ago + this piece had been in his foot ever since and worked right from the bottom up. I went off to the M.O’s + got some peroxide and dressed it. He reported to the M.O. next morning + he said it was a wonderful case. After this excitement I went to bed.

               Friday Nov 17/16

Up at 6:30 breakfast at 7:30 marched out to the ranges at 11 AM. Cold today and awfully windy. We only had 5 rounds to fire but I missed the target twice. My eyes were chuck full of sand and I closed my eyes completely twice when I fired. Came back to camp about 2:30. Had dinner, loaded transports, cleaned the huts and at 2:30 started on our 14 mile hike back to Whitley. I was pretty tired when I got here and kind of down in the lip but believe me when I saw those parcels etc I was all excitement and forgot I was tired. Everything in the parcel was just fine in fact Murray and I are now in the orderly room and about every half hour we have a piece of fruit cake. Murray and I slept together to-night and I was certainly glad to see him. I also received a package of tobacco from Harry. He is certainly some boy.

               Saturday Nov 18/16

Up at 6:30 breakfast at 7:30 at 8:30 fill in for musketry rifles bayonets etc. Marched to Milford station and took a train to ash where we are going to finish our shooting. It snowed hard all day and it was certainly hard shooting we left there at 4:30 and came back the same way. Had a good hot supper, went to bed early as I am still pretty tired.

               Murray is looking fine and is certainly getting along good here. I see by to-nights orders he is to go [on] an Anti Gas measures course of Instruction. He is now an instructor of Musketry. I am feeling fine + will be glad when this musketry course is over as it means a lot of marching to + fro. I am glad you persuaded dad to go north but remember dears not too much hard work.

               I think I have pretty well covered the news. Oh say I cannot understand how Annabelle got three letters and you got none because I always write home first.

               Remember me to all and thank all those who helped on the box. I will try myself but I do not write many letters just nows as generally I am pretty tired.

               Well dears for now I will say Trala

               As ever

                              Bob