Transcription
Dear Papa,
I received three letters from you last week - dated the 16th and 26th Feb and 1st March. I got them all on Monday and Tuesday. I was thinking of the time that the German artillery had sunk a ship or two carrying our mail. In your letter of the 16th Feb you asked me if I had yet received the slippers, I have not, and I guess they are lost or sunk. Its too bad isint it. I received one package of imperial [????????] Once I came over and it is not all gone yet. We don't get as much time to smoke as we want to in Canada, but quite sufficient time at that.
I am glad your wrist is [??????????] But I guess it is pretty painful yet isint it. It is too bad, as it [??] [?????] [??????????] Very much with your work and you could not carry pannels etc like you have to. I am also glad you have found a women to do the work as it will make things more cheerful for you. I am glad auntie Brown packed up again and I certainly hope I will see her again. You must try and not feel blue at being alone papa as conditions certainly look like a speeding up of the war. It has been a grand [????????] Lately.
Today there has been a lit of excitment here, we have been confined to baracks for some reason. Rumors are that the Germans have actually made a landing, others that there is a big north sea light on, and still others that there is a food riot. Anyway we are held in baracks ready for service in some event, a big seppelin raid is expected tonight also,but everything is taken as a matter of course.
I was extently disappointed at being kept in as I learned that Mr. Sha[??????], and others in my odd company was expected to arrive in London today with a draft of men for the [???????] And service.a pants of 30 men nder Seph. As [??????] Arrived Tuesday. I have seen some of them but not all, and particularly wanted to see [?????????] Himself and George Goodenham, who with me was one of the first fve men to join the company. He has been in the Canadain artillery and is now coming into our imperial army.
I am quite pleased with the [??????] Now and think I have chosen the best branch of the service all right.
In your letter of Feb 21st you asked me what you could send me in the line of food, well I don't know as there is anything particular except perhaps a few sweet things. We live plainly but get alowence. We have a waiter who looks after us in the [????] away we gim him 25 euros a week each. He brings us anything we want, and then each Saturday + Sunday we go down town and have good meals. We are used to English ways of eating now and are also used to lack of [???????]. We only get potato's once in a while now, and no sugra is Tobe had but things are sweetened in the cooking so we don't [???????] [?????].
The past week has been very productive in letters. Besides your three I got 3 from Blauche, I frm Canrilla, 1 from Harry Potts, 1 from [???] C[???], 1 from Mis [?]ay[?]en of Trinity Church, and everal from different parts of England - 12 in all. It will take me some time to catch up now.
We had a ga[?] Helmeh pan[?]ell the other day after a lecture in the [???????] Employed us the Germans and how to meet them. It was very intrusting but we shall never see any gas attack of course. We would be far back I think to cme into the effective line of the gas.
We had an interesting Saturday morning, about 60 of us were mounted and taken to Hampstead Health where we went though the [???????] Of a [????????] Coming into position under different conditions. I had a grand time and galloped all over the field. The riding is the best thing we get of course, so we all look forward to days such as that.
On Saturday night I was supposed to be on guard but I leaned myself up and and got excused duty for being the cleanest man. That is the second time in succession I have got off. I am quite proud of it.
Do you know I am as tired tonight I think I will stop or the night and finish my letter tomorrow. It is now about 8P.M as I break off for dinner after I started this letter. This afternoon I lost about two hours or more waering and feeding the horse. I was [??????] Another boys turn. It has been so timeome to stay not being able to get out that it has had its affect and I am not able to write an interesting letter so I will finish it tomorrow. When I were have heard more about this [????????] Why we were kept in.
I have learned one piece of news of great [???????] To you which has never come out. Both the Deutcehland and Bremen were caught by the British, the former on her [??????] From U.S. the Bremen was sunk and the Deutcehland captured, with a [????] Of gold!
So goodbye till tomorrow
Harry.
Wednesday
I did not get time to write til tonight, we are no longer confined to barracks, but we could not find out what was the matter and why we were kept in. You will porbally hear more about it in Canada than we in England.
We are very warry this week as we have one exam tomorrow and one on Saturday, and we are anxious t pass and keep together.
On Monday I received another letter from you and two from Blauche also a parcel from Trinity Church, I thank [??????????] A good pair of socks, a handkerchief, some Loa fsugar, a candle, a fwe candies and some chicleto, also a sewing outfit.
On Tuesday I recieved a letter from Rebecca with a tie and 1 euro, it will certainly come in good. Today I recieved a note from Sue Matthews and a letter from Bill Morrison who is engaged to Camilla Boyd.
I certainly am looking forward to getting those parcels of food things to eat. We never buy them new here as tings are too expensive. You could not have made a better choice [??] The [????????].
I recieved the 10 euros you [?????] Almost at once, and I certainly needed it. I feel quite bad now as the worst has happened, Max Farnham has disappeared. I tried to find him for several weeks together with a friend of mine who is an officer in the [???????????] Dept of the war office. I finally got a letter from a close friend of Farnham's, a captain Bishops of [???????] Who came over on the boat with me. He also had befriended Max like we did, and his letter was quite bitter in tone. He said Max shipped out with a lot of his (Bishop's) uniforms he had loaned him, without paying back any of the money he also loaned him and that Max did not intend to be found. Farnham got into serious trouble with the war [????] And I saw a paper that he has been sentenced to jail. That means goodbye to my money. I don't believe he intended to skim us as he thought a lot of us who [??] Well befriended him and I believe he could not get out of financial trouble before he was caught. the layers and judge said so too, admended him for his [??????] And for his good intentions to get back to the front as it seems when he learned he was being searched for he enlisted a a private in the new [?????????] And tried to get over to France. But the judge of course said he must pay the penaltys. I don't know whether it was the hotel or his tailor that prosecuted him after he skipped.
Now as you see I am again approaching the broke state. I owed half of what you sent me and now have but 6 euros left. London is a awful place and I will be glad to leave it. Everything is so [??????????] Expensive, a [????????] Alone costs 35 euros, as you can see what [?????] cost.to make things worse we are forced to take an Easter holiday from April 5th - 12th and we are all worried over the [?????????] financial cost, as we see it will cost 3 euros to live [????????] Closing it is fine for those with homes or relationships here, but those of us who happen to live at a hotel or private boarding house finds things different. The cheapest place I know of is a private boarding house where it costs $1.12 for bed and breakfast. The other two meals cost between $1.25 and $1.50 at the ceapest and the barracks will be closed to us.
Therefore my small stock of money which I was [??]gunning on taking me to the per[????] When I wil be [??]setted and [????] My 50 euros will be cut in half by this one holiday. I also must [????] [?????] More [????] And [????????] For the cause at Lakehill in gunnery, I feel quite mad at Farnham turning out the [?????] He did and the other boys the same. The money I loaned him would have sent me though nicely. You see we are practically drowning [???] Pay as our mearly 8 shillings a week only pays the necessary trips to our [??????].
Therefore papa can you send me some more money till I draw my allowance, I certainly will be glad to begin drawing [?????] Pay on which I see I can easily live. If you can spare another 10 euros, you had better send it. If you cant can you send spare 5 euros. I will not put any more faith in human nature you may be sure and I intend to return the money [????] When I draw mine in another two months or so. I simply hate to have to ask for more but see no way out under the circumstances because all the other boys are in the same boat now and are [???????] Home one by one. But mind I dont want you to stunt yourself just send what you can if only a pound or two to keep me going. If you can spare the other sum please [?????] It, taking the expense of [??????] It out of the amount so you won't be stuck with it. I mention [??????] So there will be no fear of it being sunk on a ship.
Well I must quit now and study for tomorrows exam. I will write again Sunday.
Yours [???????????????]
HarryTranscriber
Victoria StewartLanguage
English
