Aug 8, 1917

Dear Dad,

Well! We have arrived here all present & correct. Landed at Liverpool Friday morning 8am Aug 3/17 & took a trained from there at 11am for London. Nearly missed the train thanks to the darned baggage system of baggage there is here and I also stood in line for fully thirty minutes in order to send you a cablegram - as follows.

I travelled first class corridor train to London. I was in a compartment with Sharpe, Smith and two nursing sisters that we met on board. Bought a bunch on the way up. About 15cents worth for 2/6. Got into Euston St. Station at 3:40 and had to wait there for two hours before were told what to do next. We were told to report at the Hotel Cecil - RFC headquarters at 11am next morning. Everybody went to the Regent Palace Hotel so Sharpe and I followed suit and got adjoining rooms 8/6 with breakfast. That is for each. Had dinner in the grill. We are not allowed to go higher than 5/6 for dinner 3/6 for lunch. In the evening Sharpe went over to see one of the nurses and I went alone to see that nobody ran off with him which is not so much of a joke as it might seem. We got back quite early and arose at 9:15 am Saturday morning, had breakfast and walked down to the Hotel Cecil, reported there and were given our letters of appointment and told to report somewhere else. We did so and were told to come back at 3pm. Had lunch in the Regent grill and came back. Our travelling so far had been mostly confined to taxis but we had begun to get a little idea of where we were.

Forgot to say that after reporting at 11am I started to look up Metcalfe. Started at Traglagar Sq. and walked. Occasional showers. We have quite a system of getting around. Ask a policeman. He points. We go a block and ask another gabber. He points. And so on until, having eliminated all the other streets we find the one we want. As a matter of fact the hardest part of all was to find 56/7 after I got to [...?] I bet I walked up and down that street five times before I found 56. Everybody was gone and the caretaker said that they would not be back until Tuesday so I have not yet seen Mitcalfe but will go down tomorrow.

I have not been able to cash my drafts yet as the banks are closed from Friday to Tuesday as it is a bank holiday.

Reported at 3 a.m Saturday and was given ten days leave and order to report at Lincoln on the 14 of Aug. Lincoln I believe is somewhere near Hull but I have not yet looked it up.

Went back to the Regent and ran square in [to] Max just at the door. Sharpe, Max, Coloer, and I had dinner at Regent.

Got up Sunday morning but didn't get down till after ten and consequently had to pay 6 extra. Everything in London seems to be " 6d with a please." Max, Coloer, Sharpe and I took a bus and train ti Hampton Court at 11 am. Got there about 1pm. Had lunch at Jharmes Hotel. Max and C had an engagement and went off at 3pm. Sharpe and I took a bus home. The four of us had dinner at Maison Lyons Oxford St. recommended by Max as the nearest approach to a cabaret we could find in London.

Will write Kathleen and will continue from here on. We have moved as you can see from the paper. Address Metcalfe will see him tomorrow. Paper scarce and am requested to write on both sides. Saw Clive Harst at Regent last night and Reg Hoedge just now.

Take care of yourself and write often, with love

Gord