Shoreham by the Sea
Sussex
England

Nov 22nd /16
291494
C. Coy 222 Battn C.E.F.
C/o Army Post Office
London
England

My Dear Wife:-

You will no doubt receive two letters at the same time may be more, I wrote this morning just a line or two to let you know where we are but I forgot to tell you to address all my mail c/o Army Post Office, London as this address will always find me where-ever we may be. I am at the present moment doing guard duty, Serg't in charge of the 1st guard our battn has done in England, am glad to get it over for it will leave me clear for a while - & I hope to get away on leave for 6 or 7 days. I can't tell you much about the place we are in for I have not seen much of it as yet - we came in, in the dark, but it must be a beautiful place, it had been raining quite a bit before we came & in places we had to wade through from 6" to 12" of mud we arrived at about 12-30 A.M. & it was 2 am & after before we got lying down, we were just tired right out, our boat arrived in Liverpool early on Monday morning & we expected to disembark the same day but we did not get off until noon Tuesday, so that we are up practically two nights on the boat & more than half the night Tuesday, & now guard tonight Wednesday, so you can imagine that I feel kind of tired. Every-thing is dark here after sunset - blinds drawn - the lights on the streets the few that there are - are painted black, the upper half throwing the light down, the trains also have to keep the blinds drawn after sunset - it seemed strange coming through large towns & cities, especially London & seeing everything in darkness.

This is quite a large camp, our Battn is quartered in huts about 25 men to a hut, we are down in a valley hills all around very steep. We are about 6 miles from Brighton one of Englands finest sea-side resorts & not very far about 1 hours run from London. We see aireoplanes every day & all the day sometimes 5 or 6 up in the air at once - it is pittiful to see the wounded soldiers crippled in every way, & nerves gone etc - etc oh its simply awful, God bring the war to an end speedily. The Canadians are certainly thought a great deal of over here but the immorality is well shocking to say the least of it. I must close for to night, will write more to morrow - I have a drunk in the Guard Room must now & he's making too much noise for writing "Good Night" dear ones God bless you all, dearest love "Good Night" 1-15 P.M. Nov 23 More rain to day & consequently mud or batter everywhere through which we have to wade. The Batt'n is having its first inspection this afternoon, I shall not be on it being on guard for which I am very thankful, its no joke standing arround 2 or 3 hours with a pack on. We had the news in the paper this morning of the sinking of the White Star Liner "Britanic" a sister ship of the "Olympic" & launched 2 years later, also the death of the old Emperor of Austria. You ought to be thankful that you are living in Canada, living is higher here than with you quite a little & after New Years or commencing with the New Year no white flour is to be used by itself, nothing but whole meal, that means brown bread etc, potatoes are scarce as well as sugar & bacon etc, but I guess I must not say too much, one cannot write all they would like to, our news is pretty well limmited. I am enclosing a couple of Picture cards, one each for the children, my I wish I could have them climbing on my knee & feeling their little arms arround my neck but there - some time again "please God" just at the moment of writing a little English lad (10 years) (his father a sailor in the Navy) is singing to the boys for pennies & he is reaping quite a harvest, I guess he needs them all poor little chap there are eight of them at home & he is pretty ragged. kiss & hug my kiddies for me. With fondest love, remember me to Mattie. Betty xxxxxxx Shirley xxxxxxxx Billy xxxxxxxxx your lovingly Will.