Are We Downhearted?

Date: October 5th, 1914?

Address: Halton Park Camp, Bucks.

From: Tom

To: Father, Lily, Brothers and Sisters



Dear Father, Lily, Brothers and Sisters

We just received yours and Mat's letters this morning. Are we downhearted - No - No - No - We are all A.1. Jack was poorly on Thursday morning but was allright by dinner time. My throat is allright and has taken no harm so far. We are roughing it now but I expect we will have a rougher time before we get things settled. There are 15 of us in a tent and we have to keep all eyes and ears open to get our share of meals but we have always got plenty.

We are now supplied with kit bags, uniform, a shirt, a pair of pants. 2 prs of socks, 2 towels, soap, razor, lather brush and overcoat, knife, fork and spoon, 3 blankets, waterproof sheet, plate and basin, and have some more things to get yet.

We had 4/- pay last week and 3/- this week. I haven't got mine yet as I was on duty at the hospital, but I'll get it. (have got it)

At this camp the following regiments are encamped 9th and 10th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the Winchester Rifle Brigade and the 14th and 15th Durham Light infantry. The 14th D.L.I. is going to be the best of the whole lot.

A battalion consists of approximately 1100 men, so you see there are 5000 of us. About 3/4 mile there is a very large camp of 10,000 men, Northumberland Fusiliers (2 batts) King's Royal Rifles Lincoln Regiment, West Yorks, Green Howards. At that camp there are the 62nd and 63rd Infantry Brigade, our camp is the 64th Brigade in the British Army.

Our battalion is divided into 4 Companies, each in charge of a captain; each company is divided into 4 platoons, each in charge of a lieutenant with a sergeant, corporal and lance-corporal. So that there are 16 platoons in a battallion, ours is the 3rd. Our officers are Lieutenant Edwards & Capt. Wilson, both young men and decent fellows. A platoon is divided into 4 squads. In our platoon there are about 70 men.

The routine of camp life is as follows: Reveille at 5.30 AM - coffee at 6 AM. 7 to 8 Parade drills (Swedish) and doubling, marching. 8 to 9 Breakfast (cocoa or tea - bread & bacon). 9 to 12.30 Parade & drills. 12.30 to 2 - 2.30 Dinner (potatoes, meat,carrots, turnips). 2.30 to 4.30 Parade & drills. 5 or 5.30 Tea (tea or coffee, bread, jam or cheese). That is our last meal but we generally have some bread left for supper. 9 PM First Post (time to come in to camp). 9.30 PM Last Post (time is up). 9.45 Lights Out. 9.45 to 5.30 Snoring, Sleeping & Dreaming.

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Last Monday we had a regular stream of sick patients from the lines to hospital, mostly due to getting cold in bowels due to sudden change from comfortable warm beds in Aylesbury to the rough damp colder beds in camp. Since then we have had more waterproof sheets given out, we each have 3 blankets. I with some other privates have been assisting at the field hospital this week and that is the reason I have not been with my mates. We collect all patients at the field hospital and during the day we send them to the following hospitals Ayelesbury County Hosp. Tring Hosp. and Leighton Buzzard Hosp. The sickness is down to normal now and I have just returned to my own tent for my own parades. Jim sleeps in a tent with the Officers' Orderlies close to the Officers so that they can be handy to call them up and mug for them.The Horden news is interesting and is what we want. We write to George every week and he answers the letters. Had a letter from J.Wilkinson and he is sending his brother's address to you. Send photos to the following Easington (Aunts) Moorsly 2, Millars 1, R.Richardson 1, Watsons 1, Windy Nook. Mrs.Gorman (5 Victoria St, Hetton) G.Humble, Jarrow, J.Wilkinson. One of us will write to Easington on Monday. I wrote on Saturday night.

Give George one of the large photos. I did not finish the letter until the parcel arrived, we have got it allright. We will send our clothes back this week when we go down to Aylesbury. We will send the parcels to the station and at the same time will send you a postcard so that Frank can go for them.

Tom