Sun 28 Feb 1915, Guelph, Ontario

Guelph. 28/2/15

C.Co. 34th Bat

Dear P.

This is the first chance I have had to write anything in detail.

I am in C Company and as yet without my uniform. They will probably come along this week. The first day I had very little to do. But in the afternoon I went out with the parade.

We arise at 6.30 and all go down to the wash rooms. These are fine. There are shower baths and hot and cold water. [next page] I expect many of the fellows here have not been accustomed to as good times as we get here. Our cots are arranged in long rowns by companies. They have strips of loose metal across them. Then we have straw ticks, and pillows with three big grey blankets.

At seven we all go for a parade for a couple of miles and breakfast at seven. This consists of porridge which is very stiff, but good, bacon, bread and butter, and coffee. All the meals are good, clean, and no [next page] scraps. At nine o’clock we have parade out to the O.A.C. [Ontario Agriculture College] grounds in a big open field of about forty acres. It is cold but fine. The field is about two miles out and the winter fair buildings are in the centre of town just next the station.

We come back about twelve and have dinner at 12.30. This consists of a plate piled well with meat, potatoes, and two or three kinds of vegetables, bread and butter and tea. [next page] We can get all we want of anything.

At two o’clock we parade again to O.A.C. till about four. At four thirty we are free for the rest of the day. Tea at 5.30 of Bread + butter cheese and jam, and tea. All these are varied a little each day. Friday night there was a big boxing match in the arena and last night there was a big concert in the Y.M.C.A. canteen. Saturday afternoon we have off. Bluethner and Sergeant Fuller [Note 1] [next page] and I went out to the Y.M.C.A. for a swim and a shower bath. My cold has almost disappeared and though I caught a small new one, it is about gone too.

The fellows are all a very decent bunch, and very easy to get on with. I think most of them are Old Countrymen but there are a great many Canadians. There are a thousand men here and we are nearly complete in complement. We are divided into platoons. [next page] Formerly there were eight sections in a company of two half companies, but now there are four sections to a platoon and four platoons to a company. Four companies in the battalion.

I was not out to Church Parade this a.m. owing to lack of uniform but I shall go this evening. In fact all goes well and I feel O.K.



            Your loving son

                        Car

            Love to all

Note 1: This is Quartermaster Sergeant Ernest Denny Fuller, Regimental number 602171. He was born in England on 8 Jan 1878, gave his occupation on his attestation paper as a clerk and had previously served  with the Norfolk Regiment (Territorial Army reserve). His next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs Anna Maria Fuller, of Lyndhurst, North Walsham, Norfolk, England. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3331 - 46.