Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 17, 1916
Dear Marjorie:
Received your letter and was glad to hear from you. I suppose you have had one delicious time of it up at the camp with the birds and the squirrels, and are all ready for school the first of the month. I wish I could only spend a few days in the woods. We are still in this place but are in the dark as to how long we will remain here. The Olympic is in port and will sail in eight days or so. We have been expecting to go on it this trip but understand we are not booked for it. Troopships are sailing from here every week or two so will go soon anyway, still there is yet a chance of us going this week and nothing would please us more. By the marching we have been having it looks as if the Major might be going to march us across the seas. We have been having a route march every forenoon this week of about eight miles with part of our equipment. This isn't a very great distance but it is far enough to start with for the first time with tender feet. We have no intense heat down here. The weather has been glorious lately, in fact it always is when there is a change in the moon, the days being just warm enough to be comfortable. One of the fellows and myself went out on the Arm last night, there was a band concert at the Wagmatho Club so it was fine on the water. There are some dandy spots here but little Lake Massawippi still looks pretty good to me. The 117th sailed Tuesday on the Empress of Britain, they embarked on Monday. A bunch of us went down to the pier. We could not get close enough to see them so procured a rowboat and rowed out close to the ship. I saw Bill Husband, Clarke and a number of others that I knew. They felt pretty happy over leaving as they want to get over but no doubt many experienced the natural feeling that one would have over sailing from home to be away an indefinite length of time. We have oilskin raincoats now so like it to rain occasionally so as to have a chance to sport them. A couple of us were strutting along downtown the other night with them on and were saluted, we didn't inform our humble servant of his mistake though. Well I must go and buy something to smoke before the canteen closes, will finish this letter later. Am getting so that I smoke more in a day than I used to in a fortnight, as saying to myself every day that I am going to cut it out but haven't done so yet.
Will finish this now, everyone has gone out but two of us so I won't be disturbed. I saw Mr. Margraff down here the other day. He will be down this way to the end of the month. He asked me to call around to see him some eve so will try to do so. Am glad you liked the photo, sure and send me one of yourself, sometime in the near future Marjorie. You don't need to get one specially taken for the purpose, one like the last ones you had taken will be very acceptable. If I should go overseas before I hear from you again, I will write as soon as I reach English soil so you will have my address. What do you think of the Battery's stationary? Well must close so as to rest up for that little march tomorrow forenoon.
Your sincere friend,
Gordon