March 13th 1915

Dearest Alice,

We have just been here one week and today is the first fine day. Yesterday we were inspected by the Garrison General, all the Canadian soldiers. He was well pleased with the show. The Canadians are a much smarter looking crowd than the regular troops round here but that is because the best of the British troops have gone to the front and they have had to take smaller men to make up the regiments. I am glad I joined the artillery because we have a much better chance of going to the front and quicker. I had a letter from Mother the other day and she said that she had received a letter from you. Some of the boys have gone on leave so I am going to put in a pass myself soon. Some of the H.Q.S. have been up for office already but I have behaved myself and I am going to keep on the way I have started. We are getting fine food now, roast beef, potatoes, jam, marmalade, bread, butter, cheese, condensed milk, and kippers or haddocks, soup and tea. This is served out to us every day and we get lots of it. We get up at 6 a.m. Physical drill from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Drill parade at 9 a.m. to 11:30. Dinner at 12 noon. Drill parade at 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Supper at 5 o'clock then we are allowed out till 10 o'clock. Lights out 10:15. Today is Saturday and we were dismissed at 10 o'clock for the day so we have a good time when we come to consider it. Dear Alice did you get my diary and letter? I am just longing to receive a letter from you. Please send me a nice long one and tell me all the news from home. We are going to have a church parade tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. It seems so long to me since I was in a church. I am so sorry that we did not go to communion that Sunday. I have not been since. We are situated on the top of a hill overlooking the sea and the country round here is very pretty. Folkstone is a nice town but at night it is in total darkness. You cannot see a light so we don't go far in case we loose our way. Your watch is invaluable to me here. There are only three of us carrying them. Well dear, I don't think much of the so-called pretty girls round here. I would not give ten cents for a car load of them. Some of the boys go out every night and pick up girls. I don't know what they see in them round here. I have been to town twice since I came here. Dear Alice, how is everybody at home now? All well I hope. We see areoplanes over here every day and they are quite a sight to see and they do travel. There are a lot of wounded men here from the front and they tell some awful tales. Well dear, I don't think I have any more to say now so I will close with my best love to you and all the folks. Goodbye dear. Write soon.

I remain your
loving boy the
same as ever,
Bob
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Gunner Hale
H.Q.S. 6th Brigade F.A.
2nd Division C.E.F.
Moore Barracks
Shorncliffe
England
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