Thursday, Dec. 3/14
Bustard Camp. Co. B

My dear Sister –

Both your welcome letters of Nov. 9 and 17 arrived O.K. but as I was on a week’s pass from Nov. 25 to Dec 1. I was unable to answer them before now.  I am always glad to hear from you and to get the news of your doings at the farm such as getting a new furnace no less; getting father to cut me out of a job of bricklaying; and all about my young nephews etc.  It all is very interesting to me.

Well Susie I had my trip to London and Ireland and just returned on Tuesday.  I’m not going to give you an elaborate account of my trip for that would be fatiguing to read.  I only spent one day in London but in that time I visited most of the places of interest such as the Strand, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, a magnificent place, the Guild Hall where I sat in the Mayor’s chair and lastly the British House of Commons.  I had the greatest luck Susie you ever heard of, for Parliament happened to be sitting and I realized a long cherished desire to see the British House in action.  I had to get a pass to get in and this had to be signed by an M.P.  I was quite willing to forego all the rest of the sights if I could only gain admission.  Through some maneuvering I was introduced to Sir Robt. Pierce MP who shook my hand and welcomed me as a Canadian.  He secured a pass for me and I was admitted into the sacred precincts.  Here I had the pleasure of hearing Austen Chamberlain, Keir Hardie, Wm. R. Long and others speak and also the other notables such as Mr Asquith, Bonar Law etc.  I stayed to the last second and only had time to catch an underground back to the hotel and then the station and just jumped on the train as it was moving out on the way to Heysham en route to Belfast.  The House adjourned the next day so I was glad I seized the opportunity.

The trip from London to Heysham took 6 hours and then we took the steamer across the Irish Sea another 8 hours to Belfast.  My but the Irish Sea is a rough place Susie.  For the first time in my life I was seasick and bad too.  The vessel was tossed about like a cork on both trips but coming back I was not sick.  One of the fellows at the camp had asked me to call on his mother in Belfast so I did and his married sister insisted in me staying at their home.  Her husband is a chief of a police barracks so I was in safe hands.  They were R.C.’s but treated me just like a brother and I had a fine time during my stay in Belfast.  It is a very nice city but there is nothing much to see.  It is about the same size as Toronto but of course not as up-to-date.  I travelled over the Crumlin Rd., Shankill Rd. etc that father and mother use to tell us about but there are great changes since they were there.  I took a couple of side trips to Antrim and Lisburn also passing through Lambeg.  I neednt tell you all about my doings Susie but shall keep them until I get home.  After my pleasant stay I got back safely to camp and again hit the boards instead of a feather bed.  While in London I stayed at a hotel – swell room, fireplace, feather bed; valet to polish my shoes etc – some class to your soldier brother, but it was a pleasant change after camp life, you can bet.

Coming back on Dec 1 I saw the English farmers plowing and it was just a year to the date that I was travelling on a train to Harriston and saw the Canadian farmers plowing.  I little thought then that a year would find me in old England.  Ireland is a pretty place and lives up to its reputation for green, but no place I have seen yet can touch Canada.

Now I’m back in camp and maneuvering around in the mud for recreation.  We have been supplied with sweater-coat, underwear, boots and jack knives; I really don’t know where I shall keep all my clothes for we have no dressers or wardrobes here – only one small kit bag.  I’ll soon have as many clothes as I had at home.

You mentioned about the wet canteen Susie.  You are about right in your estimate for men who were in the pink of condition and fine types of manhood at Valcartier are now physical and moral wrecks – it is nothing less than damnable.  Lord Kitchener’s sister has posters up in the camp asking the soldiers to sign the pledge during the war – while all the time his government allows the Canteens to be staring the men in the face.  The irony and shame of the whole thing is quite apparent to you.  I can tell you sister that I’m a stronger temperance man now than I ever was before and Gen. Sam Hughs has risen a good many points in my estimation – for he kept liquor out of Valcartier

I hope you have got rid of your colds and are ready to have a good time at Xmas.  I am having a few cards printed, but it is difficult for us to get things on time here as we have to send away for them.  However I’ll send you one when I get them.  I’m not sending any presents home for obvious reasons but shall send a little money so you can get some little thing for yourself and the boys.  Well, Susie, I’ll take this opportunity of wishing you, Joe and the boys a very, very Merry Xmas and a Bright and Prosperous New Year.  I shall be thinking of you all at Xmas you may be sure.  We may get a few days holidays and if we do I am going with Herb to some friends of his who have invited us down so shall spend a pleasant Xmas, but of course not like the one at home.  However its all in a life time, so here’s to the turkey and plum pudding – but dont let the boys overload their stomachs and may Santa be good to you all.  Bye-bye dear Sister for now.  Your loving soldier brother.

Tom.

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