Sunday December 31/16

Whitley Camp

Surrey

Dear Mother Father + Carrie

               Received a letter from home to-day part written by Mother + part by dad. I certainly look forward to letters from home and they cannot come too often for me.

               Wednesday December 27

Up as per usual was warned to go to the dentist but nothing doing as they were too busy getting the 116^th fixed up. Fell in with the company and Physial drill. Squad drill, bayonet fighting, and company drill. It was a hard morning’s work. After dinner paraded with heavy marching order where we were digging trenches. About 7 PM signals were sent up and messages passed etc. Got back about 8 PM. Murray and I went over to the Y.M.C.A. had buns + luke warm coffee. I was tired so went to bed early.

               Tursday December 28/16

               Up as per paraded with fatigue pants. Marched to Thursley which is about 3 miles away in the morning we had physical drill, bayonet fighting and squad drill for dinner. We had 2 bully beef sandwiches which we had carried with us in the afternoon. We were again digging trenches. We got back to camp about 5 PM and as they had stew Murray and I went to the bungalow at Tin Town. Came back to camp and went to bed early.

               Friday December 29/16

Up as per. Heavy Marching order. Marched through Milford + Godalming, Officers + Seargants are being inspected and if all right we will be going to France pretty soon, of course we expect that anytime now. In the afternoon we had a foot inspection + bathing parade. Dressed to go to Godalming but as it started raining I stayed in the hut.

               Saturday December 30/16

               Bombers were called out, we marched to Thurslet Commons. We are all in trenches waiting our turn to live bombs and you can hear shrapnel zinging over your head. I threw one and managed I guess more by good luck than anything else to put it in the pit and was marked down as first class bomber. Murray is also a first class. Got back to camp about 1:40 had dinner and got ready for Godalming where we had supper had a good time and got back about 10 PM.

               Sunday December 31/16

Up at 6 AM. We are duty company this week, I have been warned as orderly in Battalion orderly room it is certainly a rotten job. Keep the fire burning, running messages, etc. Oh I didn’t like it at all but that doesn’t matter. It is raining to-night and the lights are out. I am writing this by the aid of a candle about ½” long.

I am glad to hear you are well. Murray and I are feeling fine so don’t worry about us.

               Remember me to all

                              Your Loving Son + Brother

                                             Bob

P.S.

Was glad to hear about Carrie’s raise

               Bob