Transcription
Dear Papa,
There is not much new this week, nothing happened but wor. I have not received any mail yet but two letters from Blauche on Thursday. I did however get a notification from the P.O. that a parcel, [?????????], in there for me asking for instructions. So that means your parcel with the [??????] In it has arrived. As I said before it is an awful shame that the duty percells on [???????] [???????] To the best price, so we wont try to send any more [??????] As I said they let one go exempt because of the little "[?????]" Showing I am in the army. Otherwise it would waste your money.
The work this week has been interesting, we now work with the 4.5 [?????????] Which is a much nicer gun than the 18-pounder. A [?????????] Is a gun which fires at an extremely high angle of election so that the angle of [???????] Is [????]splendingly great in order to drop into trenches, close behind walls etc. Troops can [?????] [??] [????????] From good cover where an ordinary gun would fire over their heads.
We also have good field work. We go out on map-reading expeditions and best of all we do "Battery Staff." That is we are mounted individually, act as officers of different ranks and do the duties of such when riding ahead of the battery in an allowance to choose a new battery position etc. it is thoughly practical work and we carry our tactical schemes faithfully, doing all the work that we will actually have to do at the front. It is wonderful training and the efficiency of it is wonderful. I have a great admiration for the efficiency of the training and instructions, particularly here.
You remember me telling you of the parcel of canned goods [??????] at Mickie's that I didn't know who came from. Well Keelsman and I ate the pork + beans and spaghetti on Tuesday night, when we were late for dinner on accident as our watches being out of order. We didn't want to go in and apologise so we went back to the hut and warmed them up on the stove. We were quite satisfied. I am looking forward to the arrival of your parcel tommrow as I have not tasted any sweets since I came here. I still have about 1/2 [??] Of butter which has kept well and some cheese too. Bread is so [?]earce we cant get any to eat it with.
Those films have not yet arrived from London but the boys who are coming here tomorrow from Londs was [?????] Them. I will then send snapshots to you in my next letter. Some of them are real good. I am going to take a few before I leave here but photo supplies are so expensive here that I have to go slowly. It is a shame that Farnham turned out that way for I wont be able to get the value out of my trip here so well as I should have been able to. But when in a strange country you always try to help another stranger, without safeguard necessarily. Faith in human nature makes one's life far more pleasant, though it often receives a jolt. But in the long run one is happier with his faith than with his lost money, don't you think so? I know I would hate to be so constr[???]ted as to dought everyone.
Blauche in her letter sent me the clipping of Dr. Wilsons death. That is too bad. He was such a friend of our family. I am writing Mis. Wilson today. Blauche also told me that her father is having rose bushes planted in our yard. Mr. Boyd told me before I left, some months before, that he could get that specially beautiful [?????]he has himself, and he is certainly awfully decent to have them planted and everything. Mr. [??????] Who is going to do it is an expert gardener, so leave everything to him. He does Mr. Boyds gardening and also assists in Harry Pellatt's gardens I believe. Our little old backyard will be great when it is full of the sent of roses, and the flowers is undoubtedly the best ever.
I have not received any letters from Rhea though I have written her several times. I guess the mail was sunk. Deverall who came over with me from the old company, and who went into the Royal Engenieers, is now though and wears his badges of rank. They get though a month earlier than we do. It hardly seems possible that I have only two more weeks and a half before I will have my commission. I have been so fearully busy that the time has gone very quickly. Yet it seems ages and ages since I left. It is a mixture of feelings. I would give a good deal to be able to get on the [???????????] On Brunswick avenue now that the nice weather has come, but who knows? I may be able to sooner than I expect.
At this school one is continually under aberration and if they think he needs extra training in any aspect they make him repeat this month's course here. I am awfully anxious to get through in the proper time, though another month here would be of great benefit I admit. One never knows what the officers think of him. We are all afraid as now that we are almost through we realise how little we really do know.
Well I have no more news this time. I hope to get a letter from you soon as I have not heard for weeks. But as Blauche's came yours ought to turn up soon.
Yours affectionately,
HarryTranscriber
Victoria StewartLanguage
English
