The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-10-06
FROM OVER THE WATER.

hramshot, England. August is. 1916
Editor Gazette:-
AS promised to write a letter after
got to England, here 1t is. After leay-
ing Grand Forks, B. c., l reported at
hhgston, Ontario, and was there for
two and a half months. Was baking
during that time at the field bakery for
the military camp. About the 1st of
July we left Kingston for England.
went to Halifax by train and sailed by
the Empress OF Britain, which had
ABOUT 1000 soldiers on board. Another
snip, the Lapland, had about $500 SOL
diers. An English an-of-war. the
Drake, escorted us over.
We had a fine voyage and l worked
IN the bake shop on the ship, as they
were short handed. Landing at Liver
pool we got great reception, also at
Iall the different cities we passed
through. At London all gave us q hear
ty welcome. We went on to a military
camp at Shorncliffe. Kent, and were
there for two weeks. Shorncliffe is
about two and half miles from Folk
stone, which Is big seaside watering
place, one of the finest In the south
part OF England. 1t Is on the English
channel. and is very pretty place.
From the Lees Ia big promenade) you
can. on clear day, see the coast of
France. and when the wind is favorable
we could hear the big guns at the front
in France. Every day we could see
several big English air crafts.
About one week ago the bakers were
transferred from Shorncliffe to Bram-
shot camp. l am baking here and like
it fine, although we do not turn out as
|good bread as the Crescent cafe in
Oroville does, but it Is good bread. We
bake at present rs bags of 14O pounds
each day.
| suppose you wonder how we live
in regards to eating and sleeping. To-
day for dinner We had roast beef, pota-
toes, green peas, bread and butter and
tea. We sleep in what we call huts,
lumber buildings holding about 20.
Mattresses, blankets and pillows and
Everything kept very clean, as We have
daily inspections. We work as a rule
eight to nine hours a day. There are
several small towns around here with
in walking distance, and every even
ing l generally visit one Of these towns.
From the time left Oroville have
had a good time, plenty of enjoyment,
a pleasant trip and since have been
in England have enjoyed myself. like
England fine. 1t is a pretty country. 1t
looks its best at this season of the
year. At Bramshot there are many
pretty groves and walks and lanes In
every direction enclosed by hedges,
which make it very attractive. Some
people may think the army poor
place to be, but l differ there. In the
Canadian army, from what have seen
and experienced so far, young man
has no complaint to make whatever
He gets good eats and plenty Of 1t, and
good places and beds to sleep in. and
good pay; $11O day and board, bed
and clothes, and $40 month for sepa-
ration allowance for his wife. Counting
it all up the majority gets more money
in the army than they get in civil life,
the trip besides and return to where
the recruit came from.
This is all for this time. / expect to
20 to France before two weeks and
will write more Hoping to be remem-
bered to old friends I am
H. F. McDAVITT.
No. 514,9O7, c. A. s. c. Bakers Sec
tion. Bramshot Camp, England.