Dear Mother and Steve and the rest:

Bramshott, Nov. 17th,1916

Today brought the first Canadian Mail, and I drew five letters, rather four Canadian letters and one from P. McEwan, Salisbury Plain, Lark Hill to be exact. I as did Carman, wrote cards during our six days’ leave in Ayr, where we spent a most enjoyable holiday. You spoke of "mal de mer" aboardship, well fortunately we had a very pleasant voyage and very few suffered in that way. We embarked just before midday, Oct 25th, on the Mauritania and had excellent cabins. The vessel left Halifax shortly after midnight and we woke up to find ourselves out on the broad deep ocean, and I think that helped us to get our sea legs. The train trip had left me thoroughly tired for the first few days, and there were only five, I lay in my bunk all or nearly all of my spare time. At night all lights were out on the open decks and no portholes left without being covered. All lights had to be out in the main hallways by 9.30. I could write about the peculiar situations in which we have figured since we left Canada. On board ship it was a serious crime to be seen above decks without a life preserver. I became so accustomed to lugging one around that I intended getting a teddy bear to take its place on land.

The English trains are a study for anyone who has never seen the like before. I had heard about compartments but never figured that you could not move from one compartment to another. There are no corridors except in long distance trains, and engines look very small but they are powerful for all that. At night the blinds must be drawn –punishment for disregard of this rule, 40/0 fine. We disembarked at Liverpool on the morning of Oct. 31st and reached the nearest station, Liphook, shortly after nine p.m. Just as we detrained a shower came up and we had to march 3 miles to camp, carrying a full pack, which must weigh about 60 lbs. in addition to our kitbags. It was a bright way to spend Halloween night. Some of the fellows were unable to do it after sitting cramped up in a train all day with two sandwiches for lunch. I heard one fellow muttering over and over to himself, "You’re not going to break me!" as we tramped along. That old bamboo cane I brought from home helped me along and I arrived fairly fresh. In fact there were no casualties in the whole platoon.

We were fortunate to get our leave before we were here a week but it rained every day till we did get it, and most of the time we were on leave it was dark and dreary. Since coming back it has been dry but I’m on a course in musketry and all the lectures are given in the open air. Our leave commenced the evening of Nov. 7th, and we were marched to the station in a rain and in one place the water was half way to the knees. Got into Waterloo Station about 8.15 p.m. and met Jim P. who was with the first part of the battalion. He led us by a series of lifts and drops through the subway (underground railway) to St. Pancra station where we took the train for Ayr, which we reached about 7.30 the next morning. Albion House, Ayr, (Scotland) is a great big stone house- they made us right at home and no wonder is proud of it. He has two sisters and a brother living in the old home. He also has three married brothers in Ayr and a couple of very eligible young nieces in addition to some younger nephews and nieces. You knew he has two brothers in France, one of whom was at 92 Isabella St, they have commissions in the "Engineers". We spent the time around Ayr, visiting historic places and places of interest. I forgot to say that Jimmie brought Kelly and Bremner, two of Carman’s pals with us to Ayr and Buchanan was to come but was detained to take a special course.

We spent one day in Glasgow but our visit was spoiled by the Battalion recalling Jimmie a day and a half before his pass was up & sent him on a special course. But we got so well acquainted in Ayr that we stayed till last Monday morning and then started for Bramshott. We missed the 7 o’clock train and had to wait till 11 o’clock. There was one of London’s famous fogs, and as there are no lights it was dangerous to be gallivanting in Blighty. The station was one mob of soldiers, Canadian, Australian, British. We saw some fellows just out of the trenches with mud on them and all the evidences of wear and tear of trench warfare. I walked a few blocks down the street but the fog made it as dark and weird as a cave. You could hardly breath so I came back to the lighted station.

I have just mentioned the absence of streetlights. In addition the windows of the houses in all towns must be closely covered and the limps shaded inside. I mentioned the underground system of tube railways in London. I didn’t see the London buses and cabs, as I wasn’t able to see the city, but the "double-deckers" the call "trams", i.e. streetcars, were a novelty to me. The conductors and motormen are very largely women and girls. The conductors on the railway were usually girls or mere boys. We say women working in the fields and taking men’s places in almost everyway. And even at that there are thousands of men dodging the military scheme of compulsory service.

Regarding military conditions here, they are rotten enough, a shade worse than in Canada. A soldier told us that they tame lions here the night we arrived. Well we don’t mind the work but the climate and the general state of instability make us growl and grumble. The army is the rottenest organization in the world, the last profession or occupation to be entered. "Thank god we have a navy!" the boys often sing and the arguments about the respective merits of Canada and England used to be the order of the day. But since coming back from leave everybody is satisfied that Canada is the only place in the world. If any of the boys think of entering the army let them consult me first, but I don’t want you to think I’d be willing to go back without a chance at Fritz whenever it’s necessary or as long as it’s necessary. Drafts are leaving every day for the front but it may be spring before we are chosen. In the meantime we have to pass our musketry and do the firing at the ranges. So we are hoping to get four days’ leave at Christmas and if so it will mean another trip to Ayr. I’m going up to London on my first leave over a weekend, i.e. from Sat. noon till Sunday night.

I haven’t seen Reg Topp since we went on leave. Bert Rivers, who is now in the 72nd Highland Battn. was down to see Carman & me a couple of nights ago. He looks well and seems cheerful. Owing to being in hospital he didn’t get to France when the 71st went. He was lucky as Ernest Neale likely knows by this time. The 160th Bruce Battn. are up the line from us. They got over 3 or 4 months ahead of us but were at Witley for a week. I saw them march into Bramshott and went down to see them that night. Gordon Smeltzer had a bad cold with a cough-Walter Barbour, who used to work at Uncle Isaac’s, came down our lines to see Carman.

The Lucknow boys are all together- Irwin Henry, George; Charlie Twamley, Clair Irwin and others They haven’t been paid for a month and were the worst broke I ever saw, at least to listen to their story. Money is scarce over here as you only get half pay and they make you build up a balance equal to you assigned pay.

 By the way Steve, you can send me a draft for 10 pounds or 10 quid as they call it here. Send it to Albion House, Ayr, Scotland as I expect to spend Christmas or New Year’s there. I didn’t hear about young Rathwell being killed, but I heard about George Spriggs, who used to work at Alton’s. He was in the 18th M.G.S. with a friend of mine, Archibald from Seaforth. Archibald was a Toronto teacher and his brother is in the 119th who are right near us.

I haven’t heard whether the 161st arrived or not. I hope they come here as it will be more like home to have so many friends near. I have quite a few acquaintances throughout the camp. The first night we arrived, we were given a meal by the 120th Battn, and a little bugler comes up to me with "Hello, Mr. Stothers". He used to be at Fern Ave school. But I don’t get Mr. very often now, Ha Ha!I wrote a note to Laura. Hope she got it. Carman sent her a postcard when we were in Scotland. Is Alfred Andrew sick again? I suppose Dave is married by this time. Give them my best regards.

Isaac writes a very concise but humorous letter. He says the same old birthday suits still wear well around Uncle Jimmie’s. Remember me to Janie- I hop she has cured that kissing epidemic in No. 9. It is serious when it develops unwound sometimes. The boys who are playing cards here seem to think I’m composing a poem of the epic variety or else writing a book. There are 1001 things I might say but my feet are cold and I must get near the fire if I can pry my way into the select circle now gathered there.

With love, Cannon