Stationed at Witley Camp, Godalming, Surrey

Dear May

Just a letter to let you know that I received your chocolate, handkerchief and letter safe, although the parcel was addressed Hants instead of Surrey. It was my mistake. I hope you are quite well, as I am quite now. I have lost all my cold now, altogether. I don't talk thick or cough now and my throat and chest is quite all right. I think it must have been the sudden change of air. No I was not nervous when we could not find the guardroom. Some of them said "Blow the guardroom, let's get into bed". I said "Blow wandering about like lost sheep, let's hurry up and find 'the guardroom" We started walking back then, and we met more of the K.R.R. who had given the passes in, and they showed where the guardroom was. It was quarter to twelve when we gave them in, and it was twelve o'clock when we got into bed. Of course I enjoyed my week's furlough, especially with Violet on Saturday, and Sunday. It was nice being at home, and it was rotten having to come back here, it's such a dreary, out of the way place. But now I'm here, I shall have to stop. We are expect-ing to move any time. But now I'm in the army, I'm going to stick. It's not such an easy a job as you at first think, but now I'm in, I'm going to stick it, whatever happens, for the duration of the war, at any rate, and for a good while after if I feel like it. I'm out to make a man of myself, don?t-cher know. Of course, I'm only a boy yet. Perhaps I shall get another leave, if we shift a bit nearer home. I expect Aunt has gone down to Mrs Cox, to see if there is any news from Violet. I might as well tell you that I rather took a liking to Violet while I was home and I hope she writes to me. My mate did not think much of my photo,I wonder what Violet thinks of it? My mate said I looked about 14, and not much like a soldier. I shan't be a soldier for another 2 or 3 years, I am only training for one yet awhile. How have the others turned out? I've asked Aunt to send me one, if she has one to spare. I am writing to Reg Timms, and Violet today.

Didn't Will finish the]etter he was writing with you. I received one from him in Aunt's letter. So George is having medicine now then? Well I hope it does him good. Yes, send me a photo when you have them done of the group May please. Dear May the chocolate is lovely, I like the Boiselliers plain chocolate. I don't think I shall be sick, it's a good many years since I was sick. I've only given one fellow a little bit, because all my mates are on leave. Thanks very much. It makes a nice dessert after dinner. I forgot to tell you that we nearly all got biffed over by a motor lorry on Thursday. You see it's like this. We used to have lanterns when we went night marching, and now we don't have them, because we are supposed to be doing the same as they do at the front. Well we were marching along quietly, when all of a sudden we heard a noise, and all chaps started yelling. I looked round and saw some lights going all over the show. I didn't look right round. I thought it's now or never, I didn't know which way to run. I thought the steering had gone wrong. I'd a good mind to stand where I was and chance getting biffed over, but at any rate I made a dash for the bank, with the others. Then I looked round the trolley was going about 30 miles an hour right into our chaps. If I had stood where I was, I should have been biffed over for a certainty. The officers and men were jumping about in all directions escaping by inches. All of a sudden it came to a stop. We looked to see if there was anybody under but we had all managed to get out of the way somehow. It appeared that the fellow lost his nerve when he found he was almost on top of us and rocked about all over the show, and then made a dive right into us. We was lucky that we all escaped, don't you think so? We are doing lots of skirmishing and march-ing about now. On Thursday after we had been route marching all day, we had to go marching to the fire trenches and skirmish about there. It's all done in full pack you know. Our captain told us he had been making a machine up to now, and now he was going to use it. Well May, keep on jogging along, we aren't down-hearted yet are we, and never shall be either. I shan't have time to write the others one now because I've two more to write yet awhile. Give my love to Dad and the boys.

With fondest love from

Albert

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