"L" Company, 2nd Battalion,
1st Brigade,
Bustard Camp,
Canadian Expeditionary Force
England

November 5, 1914

Dear Win,

It's been a long time coming, but here is the answer to that nice letter you wrote me moons ago.

I suppose you are having all sorts of fun at the "Grove" these days. Do you still keep the scores of the games? Will you ever forget the games between the "Giants" and the "Pirates", and particularly that last game when the winners played the "All Stars"?

It is very wet and dreary here; rain, rain, rain all the time, and the fields and the roads are ankle deep in mud. It is very difficult trying to write here (in the Lig Y.M.C.A. tent) as there are over five hundred men here, all singing hymns and patriotic songs. It is the only dry place in the camp. Opposite me, at the other table, are Keith Cumberland, Stuart Hayes and Reber Rogers, who are all in the same regiment in which I hold my humble position - the 2nd. WE fur are going to get our photo taken one of these days, and I will send you a copy when we get them done. Is there anything here that I can get you? Girls generally like little things that men never think of, so if there is anything I can do for you or your mother when I'm in London, don't hesitate to let me know. This, of course, applies to the whole family.

Have you had any snow yet? The weather is warm in England, or comparatively so, but it is spoilt by the amount of rain we have been having. I was out last night, doing sentry duty, and got soaked to the skin and I'm not dry yet, but we are all getting used to that.

Various rumours are circulating around the camp as to when we cross the Channel, but nobody knows anything definite yet. The King and Queen, K of K and "Bobs" inspected the camps and reviewed us yesterday, and I hear that Kitchener intimidated that we would not be in England for very long. I hope not. The boys are all in good condition, and I think we could give a pretty good account of ourselves if we were to meet the Germans.

I am writing to your mother this week, and will tell [?] the family news. Please write to me as soon as you can with all the news,

Yours,
Gordon H. Grahame