Fort Garry Horse. Canadian Cavalry Depot
Shorncliffe. Kent
May 6th

Dear Mother.

Well at last I am back in old England. I can scarcely believe that I am here.

I little thought when I went out that I should come back like this.

We arrived last night about 10 o'clock and are so far in tents although we hop to get into a building of some sort in a day or so. We had an excellent trip starting on the 18th April & arriving here 5th May it is certainly an awful distance.

On Tuesday 18th April 1916 we, 70 men & officer of the 34th Fort Garry Horse left Winnipeg at 7 am. We reached Montreal on following Friday at noon & there joined the train, conveying drafts from the Strathcona Horse & C.M.R.s, which reached St John the next morning @ 6am where we embarked on the troopship ‘Metagama' (C.P.R.) together with the Strathconas CMRs & 63 Battalion from Edmonton. We stayed in dock all Saturday and Sunday (Easter day) whilst crew loaded cargo of bacon & wooden box sides etc. Sailed Sunday night and reached Halifax, N.S. Monday @ 4pm.

I was one the guard posted for the 24 hour shift on Easter Sunday. Each of us taking sifts of 2 hours on and 4 hours off. The passage from St John to Halifax was pretty rough. I managed to hold myself together until my last shift at 5am-7 Monday morning when I collapsed.

We anchored in Halifax harbour alongside the troopship Olympic (White Star) beyond which were anchored the troopships Empress of Britain (CPR) the Lapland & another one funnelled lines also loaded with troops. All these boats are carrying a quick firing fun in the bows & a 12 pounder in stern. There are also three cruisers in harbours HMS Carnarvon, HMCS [?] & another. The harbour is also protected with submarine nets.

There are nearly 2000 soldiers aboard the ‘Metagama'. We are well fed & comfortably berthed. We have two ‘physical torture' parades daily & in between times amuse ourselves with boxing & concerts the [?th] Batt having a good brass band.

We have now been in Halifax barbour about 30 hours & are unable to find out when we are likely to move.

We left Halifax harbour at 4pm. The cruiser Carnarvon leading followed by the Lapland, Metagana & Empress of Britain. For the first three days the sea was rather rough but after that the weather was fine.

On the 7th day we were met by four torpedo boats (?) or destroyers I couldn't quite make out which. Numbers 74. 76. 60. & 8[?]

I was a great sight to see them coming, travelling at full speed, the waves at times going right over the bows.

They escorted us without mishap to Liverpool.

I don't know when I shall be able to get any leave it seems to be rather difficult to get it so I hope you will be able to come down sometime.

Sunday

Several of us walked down the sea front to Folkestone last night. The place is just packed with soldiers. There are 16,000 Canadian soldiers in the district & the little narrow streets are crowded.

It is scandalous the way the charge for everything here it is worse than Winnipeg.

Four of us had supper ham & eggs tea& butter it cost us 6/8. The pay wont last long at that rate.

On leaving Canada we were put on half pay and to sign over the other half to somebody else. I made the papers out to Dad, so I hope you will let know whether you received anything or not. We are payed twice monthly on the 1st & 15th.

Well goodbye

Much love Cuthbert