Halifax
Oct. 24th, 1915

Dear John:

We have slipped off from church parade down to the Y.M.C.A. to write some letters, there is no chance to write a letter in the tent.

Received Sade's letter and Jessies card and was glad to hear from home. I will write them as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

We had a medical exam by the military Dr. yesterday; (at least four of us did). H.Y.N.[?].H.K. and myself. We all passed it but Kent; he was put down on acc. of his eyesight, which I will venture to say is as good as any of ours. The Dr. made us put our hand over one eye and read with the other at a distance of 20 ft. Kent read with the first eye splendid , but his hand dazed the eye he had closed and when he removed that hand from his eye he could not see with it for a min; the Dr. was too quick at turning him down; if Kent had any spunk he would go and have another exam, and not press his eye so hard. The boys were all cursing the Dr. they had yesterday; it seems he turned a number down too quick, or with to little reason for doing so. There was a bunch of 15 men went in to him and out of these he turned down 11; that's going some. At any rate I hope no more of us get turned down.

It is kind of tough on us down here. We came away with the clothes we had on and thats what we are still wearing, with the exception of a few things we had to buy. They have not given us our uniforms yet, nor anything else, with the exception of a bunch of straw and some blankets to sleep on. Harry and I double, Ervin and Art. Harold and Norman and Manroe sleeps alone.

The first day we were here they put us into the Mess room at which we all have to take our turn. It seems that just what Manroe doesn't want he gets. Pioneer fatigue is sweeping up all around the Armouries, in such places as the toilets, and as sure as Manroe did not like it; he got it one day. We all laughed at him. Well if I said all I could about this life, it would make a little book.

Eff. Bro. Spence.

P.S. Tell Father I am going to write him when I get my check if I ever do. Love to all. Write me all [? cut off]