1 If cook wants a
job just send
her along here —
not too much to
do and 100,000
husbands. long &
short, fat or thin
to pick from.
She must learn
the German goose
step first, however. Witley Camp
Surrey. 30/12/15. My dear Father, I have spent a few strange Christmas
Days in my life, but I can safely say that
last Dec 25th in the wilds of Surrey will take
some beating. My first Xmas on the Continent
at Enghien was a memorable one, chiefly for
the absence of all one had been accustomed to
associate with this festive season, and Fr Chas.
will tell you that it was not a very gay time
at Tronchiennes after you had disposed of
your Christmas dinner, a dinner minus the
turkey, roast beef + plum pudding, at twelve
o'clock. Still these were red letter days compared
to this year. Camp life does not apparently
lend itself to the due celebration of our Lord's
Nativity, and in addition nearly all the
officers had leave of absence, of which I
could not avail myself; but to crown all
the rain seemed quite determined to make
an impression not only on the country but 2 but on us as well. With the help of
top-hats, a military coat and a water-
proof I manage to reach the hut, where
I celebrate Mass, fairly dry in spots.
Then just as I was beginning to preach,
the flood gates were opened on the tin roof
of my church, and a master-piece of
pulpit eloquence was lost & much to my
regret, you can imagine, as I was
quite ready for breakfast. I fancy, as
it was nearing the end of the year, the
Angels must have been having a wash-up
and pulled up the plugs of their wash tubs
all together; at least that is what it
sounded like. All the same I was never
in better spirits; I suppose the Lord
was making up in one way for what
He had taken in another. I have had my reward for these privations
already in a way you will hardly
guess; I slept last night in a spring
bed with real sheets !! Just think of
that luxury — clean, linen sheets !!! I
felt as happy as a sow half buried
in a manure heap, and absolutely wallowed. 3 You could not picture my happiness
unless you had been sleeping for the
past month with an army blanket tucked
under your chin; what material they are
made of I do not know, but when morning
comes you find there is little need to
shave as they have pretty well taken all the
beard, not to speak of skin, off your face.
My good fortune was the result of a visit
to the Jesuit home, or rather convalescent home,
at , some 15 miles from here, where
I had a very pleasant day with old friends
and a glorious night minus military blankets
but plus sheets — two of them !! — their memory
haunts me still. I generally get a good walk in the morning
so as to keep myself fit and in conditon for
the tramping before me. I have been able to
see a good deal of the country which is
very beautiful, even at this time of the
year, and in addition there is a magnificent
demesne belonging to Lord Pirrie just beside us, famous
(or infamous?) for the fact that it was the
residence of Whittaker Wright who spent tens
of thousands of other people's money on the
place. Not far away lives Major Rushhook, 4 an excellent Catholic, who owns a district
bearing his name, not far from Queenstown.
It is a small world after all, so I thought
once more when I met Richard Nolan of
Killiney on the road this evening. We have just got orders to march to Bordon
Camp, Hants, on Saturday, the 1st, much to
the indignation of both officers and men
who will lose their holiday and Sunday's
leave into the bargain. Bordon is about
14 miles from here but I am all right
as I intend to ride on my charger,
devoutlyhoping that the beast won't
mind the charging part for one day at
least; if he does I will put him into
a few mud swamps which will soon
bring him to his senses. We join the
other three battalions of the 49th Brigade at
Bordon, so I suppose we shall not have to
wait very long now for a move frontwards.
I have quite got over my cold now though
it was bad enough while it lasted; it was
bound to come so I am not sorry to have it over. Wishing you every happiness and blessing in
the New Year, with let us hope a speedy peace to
unite us all again,
As ever, dearest Father
Your loving son
Willie.