Sunday July 1/7

Witley Camp

Surrey

England

My dear Mother, Father + Carrie

               Received two dandy letters this week. One from home + one from Carrie and believe me they were jake.

               I am sorry that I have been unable to write 2 letters a week for the past two weeks but hope to get in the swing again some time soon. We have been pretty busy people here since the new men came but they are coming into shape now.

               I am glad you are having it easier and now that the bricks are in I hope it will not be very long before you will all be happy in your new home. That bungalow sounds just like a golden dream to me and I am sure looking forward to the time when we will be all together enjoying it.

               Murray and I are feeling fine as we expect a move pretty soon, I think our passes are a thing of the past. I was co. orderly Sgt. Last week and as the clerk was on a gas course I was kept pretty busy doing both jobs from Wednesday until Friday all the old men were out on a bivouacking scheme. We were the defense + the 160^th were the attacking party and it was by far the hardest three successive days work we have yet had.

               WE left camp at 6:30 AM wed. morning and arrived at our first camp at 11:30 a distance of 14 miles. WE had dinner from the field kitchen and pitched our tents at 2:30. B+D cos. Parade with light equipment + rolled overcoats. I surely thought we were marching to heaven as we marched four miles right up hill + landed at the top of telegraph hill. About 4 PM were then detailed for our special duties. Sentry groups, patrols etc. I was in charge of a standing patrol about 200 yards in advance of our line. It was not bad out there only about 1 AM it started to rain and it kepy it up pretty steady until we were relieved at 6:30 AM by A+C co. instead of us coming back + resting. They brought the field kitchens along and we had our breakfast there and then we had to act as supports for A+C. The 160^th made an attack about 11AM and we were given the decision by the judge so we marched back to our camp got our packs then marched another four miles to our new camp it was 1:30 PM when we got there. We had dinner pitched our tents and had our first wash in two days in a dirty little creek. We were loafing  around then until about 5 PM when A+C co went out for their dose of night maneuvers. We thought we would have a dandy rest but were doomed to disappointment about 11 PM it started to rain and it woke me up. It came down in torrents and our tents leaked like sieves so we got properly soaked. A + C co. got in about 11:15 PM. Friday morning it was still raining, steady drizzle. WE got up at 5 AM, had breakfast packed the tents and at 6:30 D co. started out as an escort for our transport. We had some pretty lively scraps with the 160 but managed to reach our position about 11:30. And at 12 the war was called off. I sure wish we could call this other war off as easily as they did our miniature war. Needless to say we did not enjoy our dinner very much in the rain and as we only had 11 miles to go we beat it for camp, we only had one halt on the way + arrived back here about 5 PM. I had about 3 hours sleep in the three days, as my duties as orderly Sgt. carried on there + as they were short of N.C.O.s I also had to do general duties along with the other.

               Sat. morning there was no parade for the bivouackers but I had to take over a fresh class of 16 men who are going to the ranges Thursday and outside of Sat morning some of them have never seen a machine gun.

               Monday is a holiday here. I have put in for a pass for Guildford and I sure hope I get it as I have not been out of camp for nearly 5 weeks.

               At 5:45 I came on the divisional guard and came off at 6 AM to-morrow morning although I suppose you have recognized this paper before now.

               Well dears I received a notice from London Eng. To call at the Witley post office and get the money you sent me on Jan 31^st. Some speed artists over here aren’t they. Takes from Jan 31^st ntil July 1^st to get a cable (Ha Ha)

Remember me to all with best love.

               Your loving Son + Brother

                              Bob