Canadian School of Musketry

Mytchett, nr. Aldershot

Nov 1st 18

Dear Mother,

I have let my correspondence go slack again. I have had so much writing to do here that I have not felt like writing letters. I shall be finished here next weekend and shall proceed back to Seaford.

Well there was pretty good news in the paper this morning and it looks as if there will be good chances of our coming home next summer at the latest. Austria seems to have given up the fight and I hope by the time this letter reaches you the same thing happens to Germany.

I have not written to Sydney since I have been here and I expect he will be wild, but what about it?

I had a letter from Dad the other day. He says he has lost 25 lb. since August as he has been marching anywhere from 10 to 25 kilometers a day.

Frank seems to be quite happy but also marching a lot. I had a letter from him this week. He says they are kept on the move all the time.

Seaford is out of bounds to the troops because of the ravages of the 'flu. All the picture houses and places of amusement are closed. They have also cancelled all leave till further orders. Half of this camp is under quarantine for 'flu & mumps. We have had no one sick in our hut yet so we are provided with special passes to go out of camp. I have just come back from a picture show now and they can only run one show per night now as the theatre has to be ventilated for an hour between shows.

I have been feeling fine so far and in the open air most of the time. It is a regular wilderness here, nothing but pine trees & scrub, a sort of heather.

Well dear I suppose you will be looking forward to a long winter but cheerio.

Love to all,

Jack