Transcription
Dear Papa,
I believe it was the 31st Jan when I wrote you last, at least that is my last record. I scarcely get time to write now except at weekends in town.
Since I last wrote you, we have made a [???] we were quartered at [???] and had to go to [?????], the main barrack for our work and meals. Well we are(?) at [??] now. We are no longer in the junior squad "7" but have moved up to "3" squad, having had our for our fortnightly exam on Saturday the 3rd. Although I [???] two in three days work through a severe cold, and [?] two paper was [?] on [?] given [?] these days which I had no opportunities of I passed with 84% which I consider good under the circumstances.
I [????] and all the [??????]. They have the [?] system at the school. They make you [??] drills and the wind [?] cold and [?] and gave me a heavy cold. I lost my voice for two days [?] they appreciation(?) of were cloth on my throat at night. I [?] it up. I paraded sick for 6 days but the [?] is the doctor is a fizzle(?) and the [?] are not [?????]. There is a reading room with a [???] in it but it is [??????] I would not stay there long. I was missing(?) so much work that I simply had to go back. [?] duty and I have stayed there. I will(?) get [?] rid of it I hope in a few days. I would have smashed(?) it last Sunday when I got the doctor to recommend my staying in town [?] Saturday night to have a [????????] of the school, who is nothing but a [??] swine, would not let me. He does not believe in anyone getting sick. I was [?] to go to town but had to [?] roll-call in the early(?) morning at [?] which destroyed the [?] work of the [?] room for the night. I am able(?) to sleep warm enough at night and [????] a sweat but the [?] is all sick people must parade at 6a.m. with the rest so one does not get a chance to stay in + [?????????]
I am [?] the work much better now I am getting used to the life and do not consider it such a hardship as I did at first. I go to bed anywhere between 7:30 and 9 and [???] sleep [???] and can rise at 5:30 quite easily now. But you can [???] that I have no time to [?] all week. I cannot study or write. What time I can scrape in at night is all taken up with cleaning my bit for the next day. they are so strict that a dirty button, boot, spur, white la[?]yard around the arm, white band around the cap, [?] cap-badge(?), white sword belt(?) etc would cause one to heavily punished. Therefore all my spare time is taken up cleaning boots, b[???]ishing, or whitening band + sword [?]. It is simply ridiculous but cannot be helped. I therefore plan all my writing Sat. or Sunday afternoon at the Imperial Hotel waiting room where I always go when off duty.
I received your letter dated Jan 11th I believe(?). I have not yet received any word for you or [?] after you received word of my safe arrival. Nor(?) have I received the parcel with my [?]. But I guess parcel(?) post(?) is always delayed.
I saw a [??] party of our(?) fellow from. the Company who left Canada last august - [?] Jack Newcombe of Brunswik. He is in the Royal [?] and is [?], expecting to leave for France this week. The [??] expect to go in a few days also.
This Wednesday night I also saw another party of 6 from our Company who left Toronto two weeks ago. They are all in the [?] air service. Some of them were close friends of mine in the Company and it is quite pleasant to see them. I put in yesterday afternoon and expect to(?) have dinner(?) with them tonight. I have not yet [??????] of the flying corps who [?] Oxford University as I cannot get out of [?????????]. It is nice to have our Saturday and Sunday afternoon [???] every week. We can also get a week end, that is sleep [???] Saturday night, every two or three weeks ends. I could have had [?] this time had I not been on the sick list during the week which prevented my getting it. I will(?) get it next(?) Saturday [?] I am on guard or some other special duty.
We have our Officer [?] to wo[?]k out [?] now, and they are fine. In(?) a few days I am going to a my picture taken in(?) it when I will send(?) you one I paraded before our officer of the school to have it inspected so I could draw my $40 allowance for it as I was short of money, You see(?) although I [?] lots with me I have had a sick man of our part on my hands. He is an Australian who has won his [?????????] He joined our Company and I got [?] in the flying corps over here. He has [?] of malaria fever(?) he got in [?]. His government [?] to have sent(?) hime some [?] of dollar back pay and he expected(?) to [???????????????????] completely st[??] and the [??]. I have [????] my money on him and I had spent the other half on my [?]. He has called his government [?] have(?) not yet located the money but [??] will soon . The $40 [?] keep me going in the meantime but if I should(?) [??] you to [?] me $50 or [?] could you do it temporarily. You would go to my Bank the Royal [???], deposit the money there and have them [?] it to their [?] here. I don't think I will have to do it but in case [???] and I don't get my $250 as soon as I expect I might get badly stranded(?) and believe me London(?) is no place to get stranded as things are so [?].
Well now you will like to hear(?) a little about my work. We work [??] the 18, p[??] quick firing gun, the gun drill being quite complicated, each man(?) of the [?] of 10 having [?] special duties to perform like lighting or(?) getting a certain command. We have [????] every day, sword drill once in a while, a lot of work signalling with the [??] buzzer which is [???], and lectures.
It is a long day, needlessly[?] stretched out , [?] we are [?] overworked , the day is just stretched out unnecessarily. I have decided to stay in the field artillery[?] and not [?????] on the latter us all mathematics [?????] too long ago. I am getting used to horses[?]. But above all, if I stay in the field artillery there is a chance of getting into the Canadian artillery and I [?] would get back [?] Canadian if I can. I can [???] letter to the high commissioner(?) when I am through and he [?] me into the Canadians.
I am [???] I will not be able to see him when he comes to London. I am in quite a hurry(?) [??] so while [??] but will write you in a few days.
Yours affectionately
Harry.
I got Mr.[?] letter O.K.
It looks(?) like war(?) between U.S.A and Germany doesn't(?) it? Also like [??] peace — peace can't come too soon. I want to get back to Canada as soon as I can.Transcriber
Victoria Stewart, Mia Laguerre, Sopie NeangLanguage
English
