1 J2183 (6)
Many thanks for
the notes.
8th R. I. Fusiliers,
Witley Camp,
Surrey. 10/12/'15. My dear Father, Your welcome
letter came like a ray
of sunshine reminding
me of old times at
Ratcliffe when the arrival
of home news was a
regular read letter day.
The fact is I had almost
come to the conclusion
that I was living in
Canada or Norway! Our 2 2
camp is built in the
middle of a vast pine
forest, in the centre of
which a clearing has
been made for the
huts, parade ground etc. We are surrounded by
trees on every side; a
real case of Pines, pines
everywhere and never a
drop to drink. (I fear I
am getting mixed
somewhat). A few main
roads connect the different
sections of the camp
which extends for miles
through the forest, but 3 3
the rest is clay or sand,
which under the gentle
influence of steady,
almost unceasing rain
for the past fortnight
has reached a state of
mudpilism which baffles
description. I know now
the exact meaning of
stuck in the mud, a
lamentable state of
things which happens
to one at least a
score of times each day. For all that we are a
jolly, good humoured set
of officers, and I am
daily feeling more and 4 4
more at home though
the work is fearfully
hard. To begin with,
breakfast is a serious
undertaking consisting of
porridge, fish, bacon &
eggs, toast and jam,
with tea & coffee to Faugh
a Ballagh. Lunch at
one means hot meat
or cold joint and potatoes
with a choice of sweets. By a tremendous effort
we are able to keep
body & soul together till
tea and cake at four,
and a seven o' clock
dinner, consisting of
soup, fish, meat, sweets,
fruit and coffee brings 5 5 J2/83 (7)

an arduous day's work
to a close. We all wear
a Sam Brown belt (usually
known as Buster Brown) —
the addition of the adjective
is obvious, no wonder we
are all praying to get
to the real Front soon
to avoid catastrophy, as
another front is daily
becoming more visible. It is not very easy for
me to get at the men
but I have Mass each
morning at seven, a
good number attending
with a varying number
for Holy Communion daily. 6 6 Between four and dinner
time I hear confessions,
winding up with the
rosary which the men
like, judging by the
crowds who come. One of the soldiers who
serves at Mass is a Dalkey
man living at St. Patrick's
cottages, named Duff; he
knows you very well, &
I suppose on that account
takes good care that
I have all I want at
table. We are to remain here
till the 22nd when we
move to Bordon Camp, 7 7
Hants, to join the
other three battalions of
the 49th Brigade. In one
way it is no harm to
spend the most part of
the winter at home,
for we shall certainly
get as much roughing
as we wish next Jan;
The 47th and 48th Brigade,
both part of the 16th Div,
are sailing for France
on the 15th so it is possible
we may get orders sooner
than we expect. On the whole I must
say my present life 8 8
in a most acceptable
charge & rest from
the busy time of the
past few years. I am
feeling all the better
for it but somewhat
anxious about the
Buster Brown Belt. You might send on
any letters to the Rev
Charles for I find that
escaped my correspondants. With much love
from your affectionate son
Willie. The address on the letter
was quite correct