Y.M.C.A.
H.M.FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY
Reply to me B Company 196 Bat. the Regt.
Stationed at Seaford Sussex Jan 28th 1917

Dear Mither.

We the undersigned do hereby make the statement that I have not had a line from you for over a week & do not understand the why or the wherefore. Unless as last week they are saving them up to send two or three at once. I got one from Emmie & one from Jessie this morning, one from Sadie yesterday & as far as I can make out from Jessies letter I believe my accusations were not very far out in the letter I wrote her a few days ago. Sadie says that she has not been very well but that she can't make the grade to get up there this year. She also told me about Old Mrs. Hay's death poor old lady, In a way it is a mercy to her.

To bad about poor Milt Dunbar. I had heard the day before from Fred King who is now in the same hut with me now. He says his people are pretty badly upset but if he isn't too bad he is much better off than in the firing line, for he will be sent back to England & probably not have to go in again. Thus the worry will be much less at home. By what they say I guess he is pretty bad though & I hope it will not leave any effects on him.

I am sure I do not know what or where my lot will be cast for there is nothing sure about the O.T.C. About 80 of the first bunch leave for Croborough where they finnish the course off & we get our preliminary exams this week. I expect they will be pretty steep for they will figure on cuttling the number down a big bit. There were 28 of the first bunch failed. Leech being one of them. He gets a second chance this week though so he has a good chance of making good. I don't expect to get away with it for it would be out of my line to be so lucky. Map reading I expect will get me for it is one of the hardest they have & we have a regular crank on the job as examiner. Capt Oliver of our own Battn. not the chaplain. I saw Dr. Brace for a couple of minutes this morning while I was waiting for our battn to go into the Y.M.C.A. for church. He asked after you all & wished to be remembered to you all. It has been terribly cold here lately. That is for here & believe me you feel it here too. The wind has been blowing off the sea for a week & everything is frozen up. Of course when I say off the sea I mean from the south & east though the wind is always off the sea here for it is only a few miles anyway to jump over board. Everytime I see the sea it makes me homesick for it brings back the thought of the blue miles we crossed. I dont see it very often "though it is only a few hundred yds to the cliffs" for The Y & the hut are about the only places I kill much time in.

Everything moves on in the same old way just parade & eat & sleep day in & day out. Not much wonder we envy the guys who get away on the drafts. Next week is exams though which will be a good change from the regular routine. There is not much to write about so I guess Ill quit & go with Bert Dickey to kirk the night. We haven't been able to get out for ever so long to church. The quarantine & picquets etc have kept us in. I have not been down town for over two weeks & there I had to take my chances.

Well mither I guess I must quit & will write more when I get yours.

Lovingly Rae