Aldershot
Aug. 23rd, 16
My Dear Sade:

Read Fathers letter monday was glad to hear from him. How are you and everything else in [?]. Suppose people are getting pretty well along with haying by this time, the grain must be about ready to cut, isn't it, it is down here. Don't think there is any chance of getting a furbough [?] for harvesting, although I think we will be here long enough to. They are having a number of competitions between boys and platoons in the Brigade and they last until 17th Sept., so that looks as though we were here for a while yet.

Hope some of you from home will be down Fri. or Sat. It would be a nice trip for you. We have Fri. morning and Sat. afternoon off, so hope there is someone I know down.

The Major told us on parade yesterday that if we had any bros or friends in the 219th we would like to have in the 85th to give in their names and they would transfer them; I told Don. Dug. and Vic. about it, and they thought they would like to transfer, so I put in their names. The reason for transferring them I think is because the 219th is over strength and we a little under. They will be in 85th before long likely.

The whole Brigade have had their photos taken and put in a book. The book costs about $1.75; if you people wish me to get one, I will, If ever this thing gets over with and we get back home, it won't be many years until we would like to have a book of the faces of some our old friends. Just as you say at home though, perhaps we have enough now.

I guess this is all the news.

Write soon
Aff. bro. Spence