Monday September 17/7

Witley Camp

Surrey

England

Dear Mother Father + Carrie

               Just a few lines dears to let you first of all know that Murray and I are feeling jake although we have been working pretty hard in bad weather and rather rotten circumstances. Last week we were out on the completion of the bivouac scheme we had the previous week. We were out from Monday until Thursday and believe me dears we are getting a few events so indelibly impressed on our minds that it will be hard for us to forget out soldier days. It rained every night and as our only protection were our rubber sheets and our coats we all got pretty well soaked. In fact Murray got up Wed night and the water poured out of the sleeves of his overcoat like out of a pail.

               But here we are, the beginning of another week feeling none the worse for our experience.

               I am sorry yesterday went by without me writing but I had a very busy day unexpectedly after church parade Murray and I went down to see one of our Corporals there on the way down we met Alex Skelton and we all went into the hospital, we were just coming out of the hospital when I spotted the most unexpected person, Tommy Britton or better known to us as Sergt. Britton of the 33^rd Canteen. He is a groom for a Major in the medical Corps and has it pretty soft. I met him again just after dinner and we went for a walk and talk about old time, in the course of our wanderings he bought me a good supper and believe me I appreciated it as I am just about broke and could not afford to buy one myself.

               About 6:30 we made our way back here as I had told him I must write home, etc. When I arrived back here Murray had left a message for me to go down to 64 hut, artillery lines and we I got down there met Gordon Murrick, Alex’s brother, + Bill Johnston. We had another good old talk as they had only been over here a couple of months.

               Ed Johnston is not here yet but is on his way. This is a reserve camp for artillery and they expect to be called any day.

               Well dears this is about all I have time for now. We start on a 100 mile march Thursday to be done in 6 ½ day.

               Well dears I hope everything is going along fine at home. Please let me know. We have not had any Canadian mail now for over two weeks.

               Remember me to all dears

                              Your loving son + bro

                                             Bob