Letters From the Front

Dated: October 15, 1914

Dear Mother,

I guess you have concluded by now that I am at the bottom of the Atlantic, but I’m very much alive and am certainly enjoying my first voyage. We have a dandy boat and have had fine weather with the exception of two days, but I have as yet to have my first attack of seasickness.We are taking a long time crossing the pond, but some of the ships with the “ordinary” soldiers are pretty slow so we have to go at their pace. But we are not worrying any, as everyone seems to be enjoying it and we expect to land in England about Wednesday. . .
We boarded the transport on Sunday, 30^th Sept, at Quebec with the Valcartier troops, and were in the harbor until Wednesday. We had two route marches while the ship waited, and on Wednesday we were taken to the butts for rifle practice when the word came to leave at once.
On Thursday we got to Gaspe Bay, New Brunswick, where we found part of the fleet waiting for us. We didn’t know what the delay was, but every night added more transports to our number until Saturday. On Saturday afternoon things began to move, and it looked as if we were going to get away. Bye and bye we noticed columns forming and about 4 pm the whole fleet with the escort was on the way and the voyage had begun. We have had physical exercises every morning, such as hopping round the deck on one foot and other stunts which would seem crazy to an onlooker who didn’t understand. We were preparing for future hard marches. . .
There is a concert held nearly every night, and we have some very good talent. Last night Lady Gault sang. She is the only lady passenger on board, and is very nice, not at all high-headed. You probably know that she is the wife of Sir Andrew Hamilton Gault, who raised and equipped the PPCLI’s, and she is going to take up Red Cross work in the Canadian Hospital at Folkstone.
Our ship is a fast armed troop ship, and we and the Maurentic are sent out right and left every morning to do scouting. “We return with the others at night. So you see if the Germans have any mines laid along our route we may have the pleasure of hitting them. Then we will have something to write home about, but I think some of those who are seasick on our ship would be thankful if we went up in the air.
This sea air is certainly good for one’s appetite. Of course I don’t need any tonic for mine, but I don’t eat like some, and I notice that those who like to overdo things at the table are those who have to feed the fish afterwards.
We got our third dose of inoculation for typhoid two days before leaving Point Levis, and are over the last stages of its effects on the system. At first we thought we’d have to have a scratching post put in. . .
[W]e expect to land tomorrow. We can see England and I assure you it’s a welcome sight.
Good-bye and love to all.
Jack