Jan 21st 1917
Seaford Sussex.
Dear Mither.
Just got two of your letters yesterday one written on the 26 Dec & one on the 2nd Jan. I had been waiting for two whole weeks for it but something must have kept the mail back for several others got letters the same way. I never heard from anyone else either in fact yours are the only ones I have got for some time.
I am sorry I sent that blooming blue letter after I was kicked out of the O.T.C. I would not have mentioned it, but I did not want the news to get out that I was taking it at all However that is all over now & I am installed for a while at least back in the O.T.C. The company I was with first though, are nearly sure of promotion while we are not at all sure. In fact a draft is being made today & we are all C.B. until it is made up. We don't know who it will be but I don't think I will be one of them for I have to undergo a special examination on my eye to get glasses. I don't care though if they do put me on the draft for then there would be some certainty as to what we will be doing. I am tired of not knowing from one day until the next what we will be at. The draft will likely be finished today but won't leave for a while yet. They usually get them ready at least two weeks ahead. Now don't get worrying about me for the chances are very slim that I will go on this one & if I do I will let you know by next mail.
Smith got set back a class behind the one I am in for not keeping any notes & if he is paraded again he will get kicked out. Leetch is doing fine in his first exams which are on now. I think his chances are good for getting through for a commission. Also Billy Wales did fine I don't think you knew him He was signalman in the tower at Oban.
No Mither I was not so terribly blue on xmas day or new Years for we all kept each other going as you will note from my former letters I am sending you a picture of our xmas dinner & also one of the bunch out side the hut. It was taken after church parade the day before Xmas. The bottles on the table on Xmas day were filled with mineral water so dont imagine we had a wild time. That came on New years day & the few who went down town sure got soused then.
I was sorry to hear about Sadie. I had a letter from her but she never mentioned it to me. I hope she will get up home, though I should be there to cheer her up right. I am glad the gvt is keeping the assigned pay coming in regular for the money affairs at home will be hard enough to keep up. I have only been getting $15 a month here when I should have been getting 18 or 19 but am making out fairly well. If we get $20 tomorrow as I hear we are I will be jake so don't trouble about me. The only trouble is I promised a locket picture before I left & I havent been able to make the grade yet but there is plenty of time.
Tell Jim for me that there would be no use in him getting in any of those battn unless he gets a com. for if they do pass him over there now they will keep him on base work here building roads etc & there are lots of fellows for that who cannot do the work he can at home. I think this thing will end pretty soon anyway & that very suddenly too!
`Well mither I can relieve your mind right now for they have just lined up the draft & I am not on it. They took two dandy fellows from our hut & our goal keeper from the football team as well as a lot more whom I do not know very well.
You asked what I would do when my kit sack got full. Well if you had seen a letter I wrote to Emmie last week you would think I had dumped it out right there in her letter.
I am glad the Xmas tree went off so well Also that your class did so well in their part, but it was not necessary to tell me that Ida looked the best
We have had our lines moved the other night & are nearly all together again. The new lines are very wet & muddy but the grub is fine so we have nothing to kick on at the change (see the change) We go on our first real services tonight with loaded rifles. Five hundred of us go on picket to protect against air raids tonight. It is a new thing & I don't know whether they expect a raid or not. Well mither I must get ready for picket so I will have to quit. Love to all.
Lovingly Rae
