Letters to Miss Jeanne Reid
17 Stanley Ave, Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Bramshott Camp
June 5 /19
Dear Jeanne:
I am in board room ready for work and it is only 8:45 am so will commence a letter to you. This will be my last letter to you from Bramshott as I expect to be leaving here for Witley Camp, June 9th. I am being sent there for return to Canada, and may be there from two to six weeks. While I am waiting I will get leave and am counting on going to Ireland. Wish you were here to go along. I am sorry I cannot go directly to boat from this camp, as I will have to attend parade at Witley and that will be something new for we fellows from the Dental Corps.
We are very comfortable here as four of us have a hut to ourselves. I have a camp bed and very little to do.
We play tennis most every day for one hour – have a stand in with some of the Boys in Officers’ Mess and get the odd lunch from them. Last Sunday I was to hear Mrs. Parkhurst speak in one of the Y’s and she was very good. She spoke to us as a mother would speak to her sons. Of course, her subject was on women’s rights. It was on Sunday night and we had a sacred concert and heard some good singing.
I received your letter about one week ago and as I seldom get any mail any more it was very welcome.
I remember those little baskets Ethel gave us and did I tell you some person was kind enough to steal the egg out of mine, which made me angry. But such is life in boarding houses.
I have not attended any more dances since the one in Scotland. I will say the girls over here are not to be compared with you Canadian girls. I will tell you what I think of them when I return.
No doubt your nephew is home before this. I wonder if he came through this camp, if so I might of made out his Dental Certificate. Does he live in Chatham? If so, I may meet him when I come to see you.
What is your opinion of Day Light Saving time? I was in favour of it in civilian life.
I have just received a letter from my Sister-in-law with no news as they are expecting me home before I receive it. I am sorry to say I have not heard from the Burr’s since last fall.
I hope to be back in Hamilton when peace is signed.
Algae, my boy friend, is a great friend of a priest at the R.C. Hut (Father Kelly) and he is a fine fellow, so we go there every night for lunch at 8:30 and they make us special cocoa. Think they think we are R.C.s, but none of us are. But we should not worry as long as we get the cocoa.
Yesterday was Derby Day and the favourite ran absolutely last.
I will keep writing to you but, although I like getting letters, you better not write any more overseas as I may be home early in July.
Tell your Sister-in-law I am counting on finding out all about the joke I was supposed to get.
Hoping to see you soon.
Remain,
Ed
