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Date: November 20th 1915
To
Mother
From
James Fargey
Letter

Nov.20th/15
East Sandling
Kent.,
Eng

Dear Mother,-

I rec' your letter lastnight and was very glad to receive a letter as I had just returned from my six days leave I do not know how long it [?] here; but it had been written on the last day of October.

George Money and I went away with Arthur to Leeds. We certainly had a fine time but the six days went too fast and when we came back the work seemed to be hard than it was before we left.

Mr and Mrs Allis treated us splendi treated us fine. They are a very nice and gave us a splendid time. We used to be in bed every morning til 9-o-'clock and have four meals a day after that. English ways are different from our Canadian way. They thought it funny that we were only used to three meals because they have four meals. Arthur has a younger sister about fiteen age. She is a splendid player and singer. It reminded me of home again to hear them playing and singing.

We were out several evenings for tea and everybody treated us fine. We got a hearty invitation up for Xmas but I do-not know whether we can get off or not.

The lights have been off all evening til just now and we have been writing by candle light and it is rather poor light. We didn't spend very long in London only a couple of hours and didn't have very much time to look around, but we might be able to get a weekend pass and go up. Leslie spend all his holidays in London he says he has a fine time. London is not very hard to get around The underground to [?] help you to get around and they will take you any place in London underneath the ground.

Sunday Morning
I did not finish this last night and will finish it this morning. We held church service this morning in the recreation room because it was too cold to hold it in the open. Dr.Gordon is our Chaplain. He preached a very good sermon this morning.

I think Jack Wighan[?] and the rest of the Belmont boys are coming down this afternoon to see us. They do not li8ve very far away and it isn't very hard to visit each other. I was on officer's mess yesterday, this is washing dishes and cleaning up in the officers [?], but we got off at dinner time and so had yesterday afternoon off; but I did some washing yesterday and did not go out any place.

We still get very good food but the worst [?] it is washing our own mess [?] with cold water I suppose Frans will be College by this time. Have you still got Percy yet and do you intend keeping him all winter.
There certainly will be a few chores to do this winter and if father has to drive Eileen and Cecil to school It will be hard on Father if the winter is cold. But I think he should hire another man and it will be easier for him. Tell Pecil[?] I got his letter and it was a splendid one. I was[?] [?] Eileen and Cecil and I guess the letters crossed.

The kilts are fine for wearing only the worst [?] is to wash your knees. They get dirty quick, but we only have to wear our kilts on Sunday church service and when we are guard or picket Arthur has been on guard twice since we came to this camp; but I havn't had any yet.

I suppose you have seen on the Canadain papers about conscription in this country; but I dont think it will come into force. There are thousand of young men in London and other cities walking around without a Job; but will not enlist.

Where I was at Leeds they have the ammunition factories situated there. If a man has a Job in the ammunition factory they can't force him to enlist, and fellows from other towns and cities come down to Leeds to get a job in the factories. Some well of fellows are driven in automobiles, to work every morning and are taken home every evening just to save them selves from being forced to Join and from going to the front. Even the women are working here. I hav In Leeds I saw several women streetcar conductor, and woman postmen delivering the mail.

It certainly was a big surprise to us to see as many young men walking around on the streets who havnt enlisted yet and there is such a cry for men.

I havn't had any letter from Wpg. yet but expect one this week. Xmas will snow be here only a month and fourmoredays. I do not know whether we will get any leave at Xmas or not I think I will send a few cards around this Xmas as it is almost impossible to send anything from camphere. That song I sent Eileen is very popular one here and is a nice one. I must write to Miss Loyrie this afternoon and also to Jack Glass. Get up these chilly mornings in the shack makes us wish many a time that we were back in that Little Grey Home in [?] as one of the lads calls says but we are soldiering now and have to put up with the circumstances which we don't like Tell Father I will write him next time. All the rest of the lads are feeling a [?]

With lots of love to everyone

From your loving son
JH Fargey

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