Letters From the Front

Dated: October 23, 1914

FROM A. BURGESS

The following extracts from a letter received by Chas. Raymond, Peel Street, from A. Burgess, who is with the first contingent now encamped at Salisbury Plains, in England, will be of interest to the people of Dundas:

October 23rd, 1914.

The boys are all feeling good after their long trip, with three weeks on the water. Jack Pacey, who is in the same tent with me, has been made corporal of the police, and is getting along fine. We are getting three days off on pass, so we can go to different places in England. We marched eight miles from the station to the camp. We are still sleeping in tents, and it is very cold night and morning. It has rained for two days steady, and the rain has leaked through our tent, but we're not kicking. We are just as happy as ever, and are just waiting to get a shot at the Germans, and when they see this mob coming I think they will open their eyes, for the 77th boys are all good shots. We had the highest marks for shooting at Valcartier. We held 173 points over any other company in the 1st Battalion¹, and I was the second highest in the company. I shot 88 out of 100 and the lowest shot made was 74, so Dundas has nothing to be ashamed of. We also got praise for the cleanest lines in camp and for the cleanest rooms on board ship, and we mean to keep up the good work.

Major Kimmins² and Capt. Greenwood have gone to London for three days. They are just as happy as ever, and looking in the best of health. The officers and men of the 77th will give a good account of themselves when they get to the front, and they have two of the finest officers in the 1st Battalion. They are always willing and ready to do everything they can to help the boys along, and the boys are always willing to do as they are told.