Tuesday February 20/17

Whitley Camp

Surrey England

­Dear Mother, Father + Carrie

               Here we are again dears. I have started but I do not know what to write about.

               Sunday Afternoon + Evening I stayed in the hut, in fact I am getting to be a regular old hermit. If they do not give us a pass pretty soon I think we will all be ready for the nut house.,

               On Monday we fell in as usual but instead of going to the battalion parade ground we had our inspection on our company parade grd. And were then dismissed until 9:45 when we fell in for Battalion drill. Our battalion has been attached to the senior officers training school of Aldershoth. They come down, take charge, and carry on, they are all colonels or majors and most have [sic] them have seen service. Some are D.S.O, some V.C. and one chap had the Legion of Honor. But you should hear that instructor bawl them out. We drilled until 1 PM then broke off for dinner. We fell in again at 2:45 when we were told that we had to move again. For which we were sorry as we were just like a big family. Murray + I are still together so we are Jake, about 3 PM, I was warned to report to the orderly room. Captain young was there. He congratulated me on my work on machine gun etc. etc. He made me feel my neck as there was quite a bunch around. He finished up by telling me he was going to give me a stripe, so you can call me Lance Jack again, although I am not at all particular.

               I was on fatigue to-day and kept myself busy loafing. This afternoon I jumped on a transport and went to Liphook Hants about 14 miles and I sure enjoyed the ride.

               We have been getting some rain here the last few days and it is pretty muddy.

               Well dears I hope things are all jake and moving. I am anxiously waiting for another letter.

                              As Ever

                                             Bob