Cpl. J.R. Norton,
4082506.
1^st. Canadian Reserves.
Seaford.
Sussex.
England.
June 3/18.

Misses L. and E Hayes.

Dear Girls,

Received your letters and pictures O.K. on Friday last.

It is the only letter I have received yet since leaving Victoria, so I will leave you to guess how welcome it was.

I met you Cousin and his friend at Halifax. We see each other quite often around here.

Scotty and I are still the same pals, although we do not see so much of each other as we used to. He is in a different tent and also a different platoon, so that we cannot share our fun together while on parades as we used to. We make up for lost time when evening comes and drills are over.

We enjoyed ourselves on the voyage fine. We did not even feed the fishes once, or miss any meals that could be gotten, but we surely did miss many meals we could not get. I would’nt care to try and state the food and its quality they gave us. It was absolutely rotten.

We reached here a week ago tonight. (May 27^th.) I don’t mind it here. Its the best I have struck since joining the army. We are still held in a separate camp, I suppose we shall be moving over into the regular camp some day this week.

The training here is just the same as we received at the R.S.L. I shall be glad when the first month is over for I am tired of squad drill. Every body starts all over afresh here. I don’t see what they keep men in Canada for to train at all if they do not recognize it when he comes here.

Life here is made very enjoyable. The Y.M.C.A. always has every night a very good programme. The hire Concert parties to come from London and other places near to.

They hold a morning and evening service on Sunday. and a Bible Class in the afternoon.

Last Sunday there was a sacrament service held after the Church parade to which everyone was invited.

While we were having our service yesterday morning there came about 21 Air Planes flying over us.

They were travelling inland. They are as common in this country as the “Ford Car” is in Canada.

This is a very beautiful place, one could not wish for a better camp to live in.

The sun shines, the birds sings, and everything speaks of summer. and with Browning I can say, “The Gods in his Heaven and all is right with the world.” There are many who cannot say that during these days of bloodshed and sorrow, but when all is over and the world looks backward I believe we shall see more clearly and believe more strongly in his love.

There are things I could write about our trip but they would probably be censored. We are not allowed to tell name of boat or landing Port. We had to be here four days before we could write back to Canada. We were escorted over by the Cruiser. H,M.S. Cornwall. There were three more troop ships and seven freighters along with us. We were met two mornings before we landed by six Submarine Torpedoe Destroyers which stayed with us until we landed. We were exactly eleven days on water.

I think I must close now and will drop you another line later on. Writing letters sitting on the floor with one knee stuck up in the air for a table is more that I am used to.

Give My Best Wishes and Prayers to your Father and Mother. Except the same for yourselves and the remainder.

Your True Friend
and Bro In Christ Jesus.
Joe

P.S.
Tell Rollie I will write him on Sunday morning.
Joe