LETTER (FROM ENGLAND)
Mr. F.M. Field, K.C., received this week from Pte. Frank Hart, son of Mr. James Hart of this town, a letter of which the following extracts will be of interest to our readers:
Chisledon Camp, England, April 6th, 1916
To-day it is the best opportunity 1 will have to answer it. We are taking musketry now after two months of doing nothing ... I like the idea of being an officer but now that we are working in earnest I am thoroughly satisfied to stay as a private... We find our nights a little tiresome but we have had plenty of excitement this week. We marched into Swindon the night before last and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Last night a man who was in our platoon and has since been transferred to another, as a lance-corporal. Boxed, with a corporal from the Army Cycle Corps. We went around to see him and it was one of the cleanest and nicest bouts I ever saw. Our man won.
The weather here now is ideal and has been such for a week. It is indeed very pleasant.
There are a great many predictions over here as to how soon the war will be over. If the soldiers are any judge, I can safely say it will be over by Christmas. I don't want to go back to Canada without being at the front and we all hope to be sent out soon.
Hoping that some time in the future I will have the pleasure of hearing from you again, I remain,
Your old student,
FRANK HART.