Witley Camp, 20/1/17

Dear Garnet:-

This is Saturday afternoon, and as there is nothing doing, I thought it wouldn't do me any harm to scratch a few lines to some of the people that I owe letters to.

I received your letter of Jan.3 last night, also a box from Mary, and the letter that the family wrote on Xmas day I got a couple of days ago. The 156th is still to gether as a battalion but it wasn't definitely settled yet wether it will go to France as a fighting battalion or some kind of laboring bunch, but I think it will go as a laboring battalion from the way things are going at present. From the way some people talk around here, the war will be over before/ we get to France at all; but I think our chances are pretty good of seeing a little bit of it. We haven't had a great deal of drill yet since we came back. They haven't been able to get rifles for us yet so all we have been doing is physical torture and squad drill.

Say! You hadn't better read any more of my letters in League, for I think some of the people look at some things in the wrong way. I think I said something about some of the fellows drinking since they came to this country, but it wasn't any of the fellows from around Spencerville. I haven't seen any of them drunk since we came over here. Some of them have been hearing of it lately, and they say it was read out in League that/ they were getting drunk. It sounded like some of the old ladies talk from around there,

You must have had some classy dinners on Xmas and New Year this year from the Bill o'fare that was sent to me, some of the dishes would have tasted better. You might have put some of them away until I get home. So they have built another factory at Roebuck. Did they rebuild in the same place this time. You seem to be having quite a lot of snow over there this winter. It seems funny to think that there is so much over there and here the grass is still green. There are any amount of roots that haven't been pulled yet. This is a great country for growing turnips. There are fields/ of ten or twentie acres of nothing but turnips.

We are looking forward to getting another six day pass the last of this month, but they haven't told us yet wether we will get it for sure or not. Andrew and Gordon are still in this camp. They are getting a transfer into the light artillery. Three or four of our fellows and myself are transferring into the same branch. The transfers haven't come through yet, but I was up to the orderly room yesterday to see about them, and Col. Bedell said they would be through in a few days. I am not sure what my address will be, so you can send my mail to the 156th for awhile, and I will get it alright for we have a good reliable mailman here, if anything is lost it is not his fault. I am feeling fine. Write again.

Sincerely, Jim