Tues july 11th
1916

Dear Kiddo

I write these few lines hoping to find you all well as it leaves me at present we have had quite a lot of shuffling around since we came here, they split our battalion up, and put about 7 or 8 hundred in the 75th battalion, and about 150 in the 73rd battalion, and they had the band split up once to go in the ranks, and then they cancelled the order then again about two days after they had us all up before the doctor again, to pass so that they could put us into the 75th battalion, the doctor did not pass me at first on account of my right eye being short sighted, he passed billie all right, and the two gooch's, so when they read out the lost of those who had passed, and those who had not, and mind was not down as having passed I beat it straight back to the doctor, and asked him to try me again, so he did, and I passed all right, and there was 19 of the band went to the 75th the following morning, the bandmaster of the 75th came into our hut, and asked to see the bandsmen as he wanted 7 or 8 more men, and billie and I, and arthur and jack gooch were picked to go in the band you see, a brigade band too we shall go to France with the battalion, to-day we had bayonet fighting drill and I think we have to take a ten day course of rifle practice at the ranges. to-morrow the band has to go away somewhere to give a concert, so were are not left idle very long, the food is a lot better since we came to bramshot, and they gave us tow more blankets than the 84th gave us, Reggie Wicksie has gone to France with a draft, that was sent out, he was well liked here I don't think we shall be long before we go to France either, how is everybody getting on, write as often as possible as it is about all I have to look forward to is letters, it seems a long time to be without any news, well I guess I must close now, so ta-ta for the present, from your Loving Husband

Herbert

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divide them

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xx for yourself xx

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clos letter