On Board
Oct. 10., '16.

Dear Mr. Aitkin

I am writing this letter on board the transport. It is the last night of our voyage - or at least I am hoping so from information I have received; I intend to put the address, and date on it when I get on land.

Since writing my last long letter to you I have had many new experiences, but I thought that I would confine my writing this time to the time prior to getting on board.

We were sent to Digby, N.S. instead of to Halifax, where we stayed just two weeks and two days. They were days of keenest interest, instead of as I feared - days of weary waiting.

It is a little village on the Annapolis Basin, just inside the Bay of Fundy and is very beautiful. It is surrounded by orchards, but depends for its prosperity on fish and summer visitors. The leaves when we arrived were just beginning to fall, and I never saw such a profusion of harmonious colours. The sea and the "sheaves" of fish set out to dry were were very curious for us all. Some had never seen the sea before, and when they saw the tide out it was fine to hear the comments. We had a good camp amongst the trees on a cliff overlooking the sea, & we had our "drill" at another part, where we found a field or golf links, the only open space for miles around of any size. The rest of the time we spent in route marches & holidays.

But what I liked best of all was the great reception given to us by the people. From the first they did all they could to make us feel at home. They had given all their young men to the war, and felt that we were taking their places. The Methodist Church from the first few days gave us the use of their school room and provided us with writing paper & ink as did the Presbyterian & English Church later on. They invited us to their homes - the townspeople as a whole I mean - and we grew to know them as our real friends, & we were very sorry to part with them. Nova Scotia now has a place on the map for a thousand Westerners from Swift Current.

I called at the parsonage during the first week and made acquaintance of the minister & his wife, daughter & son - a soldier in training. I preached to a huge congregation of soldiers & civilians on the second Sunday evening & also at an afternoon appointment out in the country to which I had a delightful drive. On the third Sunday - the day we received unexpected word to entrain on the Monday - I preached in the morning at a church quite a long drive away right on the Bay of Fundy. They were all fishermen & I felt as if I was amongst perfect strangers; but as the church was full I soon felt at home. In the afternoon I preached again in a crowded little school to a heterogeneous crowd where I enjoyed myself. But that school! - We should have been heartily ashamed of it even in the remotest place in Saskatchewan - I think I know something of Sask. schools. One of our fine new schools with such beautiful scenery around it would be ideal however.

A "farmer" drove me. But you would never know he was a farmer. I believe I could have put all the wheat he had to sell in my pocket! He seemed proud to tell me that he grew enough to supply the whole of this year's flour. But then it came to apples!!! Well, then he was a farmer, I saw a sample of his wheat and passed judgment on it before I knew he had grown it. Our chaplain fittingly refered to it as No. 1 Nova Scotian!

Then again he drove me with a "team" as he called it, but it was just one horse; however it was a fine animal - much like my old Prince in disposition. However, I may have to transfer to Nova Scotia conference! 'Some' joke, wouldn't it be?

But I should have written this letter before I left Canada, for my thoughts are too much occupied with anticipation of seeing England & my relatives

And I am also wondering how you are getting along. I received no letter from you at Digby, & so I have had none since I came from you at Harvest leave. That seems about 1000 years ago, & I suppose before I get any at all it will seem another thousand years. So what shall I write more? I will write about the voyage later and include something about England maybe.

Give my kindest to Mrs Aitkin & the children, & to my other friends on the circuit.
Yours as ever
Thos. W. Johnson

P.S. Arrived safely. My address is

Pte. Thos. W. Johnson
No. 252656.
Shorncliffe Camp,
209th. Batt., B. Coy