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  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in oa_core_visibility_data() (line 607 of /app/profiles/viu/modules/contrib/oa_core/includes/oa_core.access.inc).
Date: July 21st 1915
To
Nita
From
Perry Sanderson
Letter

Otterpool, July 21, 1915 Dear Nita: - Received your welcome letter on R stationery from which I gathered you were on your way to Tyrone and other eastern points. Well, it will sure be a great trip and, as the boat goes, you will travel in a lot more luxury than we did, also considerably more room. I really enjoyed the train journey more. As far as sleeping on a train I can sleep like a top but I can sleep anywhere. Our bed now is board floor-one blanket under us, two over. Pillow a solid kit bag and it seems just as good as a feather bed. Fellow going home cannot sleep the first night or two in a good bed. Well, we had another inspection last week by Borden and Sam Hughes. This caused much trouble as the 31st Batt. Of our Brigade were at Hyde, fifteen miles away. They came to Bidgate and were put in with us making fourteen men to a tent- add to this, a twenty-four hour rain. A slight leak in the tent and you haven't comfort. Well, the next morning we paraded and as we stood on parade it came a downpour which properly soaked us. As it finished, the band struck up very properly" We're Here, the Gangs all Here". Well the inspection was quite extensive- the most soldiers I have every seen in one place, about twenty or twenty-four thousand. We marched past in platoons, rifles sloped, bayonets fixed. It was, by far, the best inspection yet- witnessed by a small crowd of staff officers, a few nurses and wounded soldiers from a nearby hospital and a few civilians. We then returned to Bidgate; the 31st left and we settled down again for a few days. On Sunday night I went on guard; came off on Monday night. Tuesday morning I got up at four-thirty and began the process of leveling camp for we were to move to Otterpool. Moving camp is a very interesting and speedy spectacle. All the baggages are piles outside; the guy ropes of the tent are loosened and what is one minute a standing camp, at a given signal, is leveled. In a few minutes the tents are rolled up and in tent bags and camp is being cleared up It is one mass of men. Well, we pulled camp down and ate and were on our way to the ranges before four o'clock, all except for a fatigue party who were to go and put up the tents at our new camp. We were at the ranges all day; got home about three o'clock. Also found a camp situated in an old hay meadow, in a much nicer country than our old one. It is much flatter around here, lots of trees, a real divine camp. Say, talk about letters- I got five Monday night and on Tuesday got five. Some hay, eh! Letters from most unexpected quarter. Example; Mrs. Evans, Jennie McGill. As well as her (a good letter), Jim McGill, Cliff, Aunt Bertie and Ina is developing into quite a letter writer. Holland is having quite a hard time in baseball (this according to Cliff) as nobody is taking any interest-Cobb being the only one who seems to have any life. Good to see Press , at least Gos did. They seem to be having a fine time with the government. One seems [more] crooked than the other. Well, I must go to bed early-that means nine or nine-thirty. The tent, at present, is singing or reciting poetry. Kind of hard to concentrate. Will write better later. Love, Perry P.S. Have a good time, as I know you will- before they are not too lonesome at home.