November 9/16

Borden Camp

               I do not know whether this will be a letter or just a note, we will see how it progresses. I received letters, papers, magazines also menu and believe me I am sure I was as much pleased as you were it was certainly a good advertisement but surely must have been well deserved coming from that source. I was certainly proud of it and showed it to about all the fellows in our hut. I was sorry I could not show it to Murray but he and I have been strangers since last weekend. He is still on a Musketry course at Bramshoth we have been at Whitley until to-day. It seems like old times to hear from Carrie and I hope the Bails have all gone East so she can keep up the good work. I was also glad to hear that Mrs. McNeil was still there to look after you all. I sure wish I could sit down to one of her good meals again. My diary says that I left off Monday so will start in.

Tuesday Nov 7/16

Up as per usual we have the first setting this week and as per usual it keeps us stepping to even have a wash before breakfast, but after all the breakfast is most important. We are still on Musketry + from 3:30 to 4:30 we have bayonet fighting for a change. To-day has been nice and clear. I went over to Tin Town and saw the movies which were by the way pretty good, went to bed about 10 PM. Thus endeth to-day.

Wednesday Nov 8/16

Up as per. Musketry all morning in the afternoon we had Gas Helmet drill. This took about an hour and I sure hope I do not have to use Gas Helmets very often it didn’t bother most of the fellows but gave me a peach of a headache. At 3:30 we had Bayonet fighting. After supper I borrowed a pair of hose tops and went down to Godalming in my kilts as soon as we get back I am going to have my “pitcher took” and will send one home. Got back from Godalming about 10 PM and went to bed another day ended.

Thursday Nov. 9/16

Up and early routine as per. We had an inspection of rifles by some old dude which lasted until about 10:30 AM. Then we carried on with musketry for the remainder of the morning in the afternoon we were issued with mattress, so we had to parade over and fill them with straw, we saw a chance of an easy afternoon so we took our time and it took us all afternoon. Some cinch. It was to-day I received all the mail so stayed in, intending to write but my noble + industrious intentions were cast aside by a fit of laziness so I read instead + went to bed.

Friday Nov 10/16

Up as per + Musketry all morning. Which consisted of firing in the miniature ranges with Gas Helmets on. I did not mind the mask so much this morning. I suppose I will soon get used to them. We had it pretty easy this morning. In the afternoon we cleaned our rifles and got things ready for the big ranges at Bordon. At 4 PM those on musketry were issued with Hose Tops + Aprons but we had to bundle them up kilts and all and turn them in the orderly room until we came back. I had a pretty busy night, we have to take everything with us so we had to pack up. I was on a fatigue party to report at 6:30 AM so knew I would not have time to do anything in the morning. Went over to Tin Town about 8:30 PM and had bacon + eggs and believe me they went good. Went to bed about 10 PM

Over

Saturday November 11/16

Up at 5 AM. Had breakfast at 6 AM and reported at 6:30 and loaded up kit bags + blankets on transports at 7:30 we fell in with full packs. Bordon is about 14 miles away. We marched with full packs. It was a nice day, and I kept up the pace. We got here at 12:30 pretty “nough said”. We fell in again at 2:30 and marched out to the ranges which is 3 miles each way. We got back here about 5:30 and believe me I was tired. We quartered in huts here which are pretty crowded. This is certainly the hardest day I have put in since I have enlisted. Well dears I am pretty tired to-night but I think this can be classed as a letter, Well now dears I expect to be here for about 10 days.

               Remember me to all

                              As ever

                                             Bob