Otterpool Aug. 27, 1915 Dear Folks, Just back to camp, last night, from Bonnie Scotland. Arrived in London Wednesday night. Had a fairly hard day's travel. Left Crail at 6:30 a.m. and left Edinburgh about ten o'clock; got into London at six p.m. Scott went on to camp- two days late. I stayed in London and, on Thursday went up and got Cameron's brother out of bed and he just naturally took the job of escort. We took in Tower Bridge and had an exterior view of the Tower- an immense, old-looking building, not very high but spread over [page torn and some words missing]. In the afternoon, we saw a show. I going in on half [admission ?] [Next few sentences indecipherable and many missing words]. {Hotel a very comfortable. Arrived in camp last night [?] dissatisfied, as is usual [after] pass. May state at this time that Scott is getting away with his overtime, the first on record. The cause was that the whole battalion, including guard, have been out four days this week so nobody asked him for his pass. Pretty lucky as there are fellows doing pack drill every night for being late on pass. Will also state at this point that, from Edinburgh we traveled with a wounded Scots Guard, a regular and a fine chap. He stated that Trench life is not so bad now and that he has read worse stories of it than ever he saw. Was sent there for seven months. He says the Germans lost their chance to break through, as they will never do it now, and, if they had only known how weak we were, they could have last fall. The French artillery is wonderful-covers you right to the trenches. He did not say it but many have- that the French infantry is just so so. Now for the main story: Crail is a small town on the coast of Scotland situated at the estuary of the Forth, where it reaches out to the North Sea. In crossing the Forth Bridge, a good view of the river & the fleet was gained. A good many naval boats are stationed here. At Crail we were received by Mrs. Scott, a very motherly woman, Maisie, a nice girl- very pleasant and easy to get on with, John, a fine Scotch lad who will do anything for you-get odd jobs and volunteers for others. Last, but not least, Betty Bruce, Maisie's school friend. They went to a boarding school together. Now, Scotts have a very nice house, overlooking the sea. The have a very strong telescope, through which you get a good of the shipping, mine sweepers and so on. The dining room & kitchen & bathroom are downstairs; sitting room, bedrooms upstairs- three-storey house built of stone, as everything is in Scotland. They even go so far as having about a two-foot stone fence along the front of their farm. Well- the meals served were fine, showing many signs of Scotch, such as scones & so on. Your meat is served & then the servant comes to each in turn with vegetables & so on. You see very little of the servant-she rules the kitchen and silently passes the meals around. Of course, never sits down at the same table. Well, Maisie & Betty sing considerably, also, play tennis with vigour-learned it at school. The courts are asphalt, or some such material, very true & fast. Certainly a treat playing on them-three courts, the town also sports two fine bowling greens and clubhouse. In connection with both tennis & bowling, next comes the golf links & fine clubhouse. Here, I played my first golf. I hit not bad but my direction was rotten. Put two balls in the sea & lost another. Not bad but think I would get quite in love with the game. Had two afternoons at it, may say Betty takes an interest in it and Sydney Scott & his sister Maisie are good players. Crial is quite an old place, several very old castles in the vicinity. The farms are quite up to date & larger than in Kent [where the camp is located]. Also, the buildings are in better repair & yards are much cleaner. In fact, everything about them is more prosperous. The people are friendly & hospitable and, I tell you, a fellow in Scotland would not go long in civilians. You don't see a young fellow of army age about. People don't believe in it. Ex.I was returning a rented wheel [bike] to shop; in shop was a fairly young fellow in civic getting his bike fixed. Old lad in shop say " Why aren't you in Karkee [khaki]/" Fellow " Beg his pardon". Old lad " Well in that outfit"- points to me. I left. Had two fellows in the train make excuses to tell why they were not in uniform. One said he was signing up Tuesday; another made a some remark as to how clean the stations were at Montreal were to the ones in Scotland &, on asking him if he had been long in Canada he said he had come home to join the navy but had been thrown out on a/c of Rheum[atism]. I said "hard luck" & it is as a fellow gets all kinds of jobs. Girls punch your tickets and, at one or two places, ere handling the baggage. Just heard, one of our section, Bannister, was run over with a big motor truck tonight and was seriously injured. Will never go to the front- both legs broken, thigh fractured. Too bad a time-Canadian from Regina. To continue, Scotland is a fine spot and I will always have a great respect for them & their ways. One thing-Sunday is respected for all it's worth. You go to the Kirk twice a day; the whole population turns out, church was crowded in the morning. A person does not speak lightly of the Kirk, it don't go. You can respect them for it. Down here [England], Sunday is no doubt uses- still the swill their beer- a rotten habit. Would far sooner see a man drink whiskey where he takes a few ounces at a time {than] to see him take beer by the pint (20 oz.) but they partly live on it here. Don't mention this to the English at Holland, or to anyone else. But the Scotch for me everytime. I had the time of my life and, as for the Gouldings thinking Gos[should] take me to London, he had a good time, no doubt, but I'll bet I had just as good a time- more home like. Gos has a place near camp though where he spends his evenings, some girls; it is sure nice for him. Had a letter from Jeannie McLean, George Edwards. George expects to be there till next year. A letter from Nita, Ma & Ina- this on my return from leave. Hard luck on the Conservatives & Steele especially. Say, this letter does not comment much on home affairs. Ina does not look forward to school. Too bad Kid but better luck next time. So John is finished, also Clifton [fickle ?] again. Well, must say goodnight and hope that you hope that I get to Crail, Fife once again. With love, Perry. They all called me "Sandy" at Scotts- my camp name, until the last day, then it was my right one. I reached the stage of calling Miss Bruce " Betty", Maisie just "Maisie" [Perry seems quite impressed with Betty Bruce] Sorry I did not write for almost a week. My last letter may have gone down on the [Crabic?], also one to Carrie Wood. Tell her I wrote a long letter, if she does not get it. Only regret that I did not know where Nurse Sutherland or I would sure have spent my last day looking her up. Enclosed find small 1 small broach and piece of heather.