East Sandling
Jan.17/16

My Dear Mother,

I rec' your letter Saturday dated Christmas day and was very glad to receive it. You will have to excuse me for not writing because we have been very busy this last week and it has been after six o'clock when we get in every evening and we had a bath parade the other night in our own time. We are going to the ranges for a couple of days this week and then we will be thro our shooting course. There is some talk of moving us from this camp to Bramshott but I don't know whether there is any truth in it or not. We expect to be moved over to France as a battalion instead of in drafts. I don't think it will be long till we are all over there. We have had to parade for inspections several times with full marching order and had to parade to the ranges in kilts. It rained nearly all afternoon and is raining now.

I put in for a week end pass last week and went up to London with Leslie Smith, We certainly had a fine time but the week end was too short. We got in to London three o'clock Saturday afternoon and had to be back in camp Sunday night. Leslie's Uncle took us around Sunday morning and we saw some good sights. We were in St Paul's Cathedral for the service in the morning. It certainly is a find old building. We then went to Westminster Abby but it was closed so we had to look around the outside. I guess you have heard of Trafalgar Square often with Nelson's monument in the center. I saw it too but we hadn't time to go down to Buckingham Palace where the king resides.

Leslie's Grandmother treated me fine and it was a change to get away from camp for a Sunday. One of the best parts we saw was them changing guards at Whitehall. They were mounted and certainly had a fine uniform. I am glad to receive the [?] in time for Xmas. I didn't know whether it would be in time or not I guess by the time you get this letter Father will be at Uncle Frank's. The visit will go him good if he will stay long enough. I am glad to hear that you won't be very busy this winter and not to many cows to milk. I suppose cream will be a good price this winter. I guess there will be plenty of snow and good sleighing now. Do Arleen and Cecil go to the rink very often? I t will be kind of hard for them to get in now. I had a letter from Jack Glass the other day. He said he had tried to enlist but they turned him down on account of his eyes. Well Mother I think this is all the news this time. With love to all.

From your loving son
J. Fargey

I am sending you a picture which we got taken while at Leeds.