Pte C Gray
D Company
23th Res Batt
Dibgate Camp
Shornecliff
England

Dear Mother & Father

I now write these few lines to let you know we have got settled down once more but don't know how long for, well i am pleased to say we had a good trip across only had one rough right & one foggy one so we had to stop till it cleared off it is a good boat but a very slow the most we done was 348 miles one day that was the most she could do we had a few exiting times the last two or three day we had lifebelts parade twice a day we was called up one night ½ past 12 some of the fellows come up on deck just as they got out of bed just sliped their big coats on the nurses had was scared the same as we was but it was only a false alarm just to see how we got on deck, the next day we had orders to take our lifebelts with us everywhere so you can bet we had to laugh at each other when we went down to our meals but still we was not taking any chances, i happened to be picked out for the boat crew that was to man the lifeboat if anything happened the captain of the ship had everyone ready the crew told us they can launch every boat in 15 minutes as they are nearly all lowered electrily we had to wait for the escort sunday dinner time that missed us saturday night they kept with us till we reached plymouth got the about 9 oclock at night landed monday left there 10 oclock got in camp 7 oclock at night it was a nice journey by train pretty country coming up thought Devonshire [?] well & don't know when we are going on leave we get 6 days i have not let beaty or annie know we are here yet but i shall write to one of them to night i shall not got into town much as we are about 3 miles away from there, we havn't changed our money yet as they never had enough on the boat to change except 2 dollars which i had the to get changed 4's for the dollar, i hope you got the postcard alright they cost 10 cents i sent amy one but not quiet the same you must tell Len i will write to him later as i have three more letters to write sometime today well i don't think i have anymore to say time hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me with a cold which i caught on the boat & Wally's hand is getting on fine had the bandage taken off this morning so goodye for the next week then Wally will write i close now with Love to all from

Your Loving Son's Charlie & Wally

xxxxxx