Missanabie
July 2nd 1915

Dear Mother

Here we are near the end of the voyage. we expect to reach England tomorrow morning. We have had a lovely voyage. Left Montreal at 9 AM the 24th June and made rather slow time until we got clear of Cape Race (Nfld) as it was rather foggy. So far we have only seen two ships on the Cushing from N.Y. which we knew by the large name covering part of one side and the other a big steamer which crossed our bows this morning. This is a pretty good boat. In the last 23½ hrs she made 351 miles. (knots) and now she is going at full speed. There is a small pamphlet printed on board every day with all the important news. The officers and sergeants here have travelled 1st Class all the way from Vancouver so when we get down to Army rations again it will not be a nice change. For the first few days some of the fellows were pretty seasick but I never missed a meal. It was only a little rough. - that is for the Atlantic. On the banks of Newfoundland we saw a whale and a couple of days ago a school of porpoises. We are having great fun with the English money as there are so many different coins it is quite a job to get on to take run of it but we will manage it all right. I guess. For the first couple of days we were getting settled down then after that every morning we had physical drill which is pretty hard to do when they ship is rolling. After physical drill all the fellows who had money settled down to enjoy themselves gambling Crown & Anchor Poker, Banker Roulette and I guess nearly every gambling game on the calendar was played. It was hard to get around the deck sometimes for theme sitting on the deck gambling. One day we paraded with Life Belts and had boats assigned to the different companies in case of emergency. At present we are in the war zone and this afternoon about 3 oclock a torpedo boat destroyer came out to escort us in. Talk about speed! she is running back & forth across the bows of our ship all the time on the lookout for submarines. You should have heard the cheer when she came alongside. I expect by this time tomorrow. We have travelled across with all lights out at night so as not to give away our position should a submarine be around. Yesterday I was Ships Orderly Sergeant and was all over the ship with the Orderly Officer and the Ships Captain when they made their rounds. Saw all the Kitchens which are certainly worth it too. also the Watertight doors. which are used in case of accident The aft dining room seats 400 and the forward one 200 at each sitting. The 1st Class dining saloon. (note they use the word salon for the first class) seats 300.

Well I guess that is about all at present. I will finish this when I get ashore.

8.10 AM.

July 3rd.

Very foggy this morning we will be in Plymouth very shortly.

When you write address as below I think that will find me

Well Good bye for the present.

Sgt.
Sgt. CB
Sgt. CB Hamm

Sgt. Hamm 2nd Draft 47th Batt. C.E.F.
Shorncliffe Camp
England

Sunday July 4

We stayed aboard last night and are landing in ½ hours time.
Charlie