Ramsgate

13.8.17

Y.M.C.A. WITH HIS MAJESTY'S FLEET

Patron Y.M.C.A. National Council,

His Majesty the King

Patron Military Camp Dept

H.R.H. Duke of Connaught.

My Dear Ones at Home, -

This morning at 8 o'clock I left Ore Hospital and Hastings and came down to Ramsgate. It was quite a nice little trip and of course thro' a beautiful country. We passed thro' Canterbury, and I had a good look at the grand old cathedral

I am in a splendid hospital here right on the sea-front. It is a huge building, and was built for a hotel in pre-war times. Every-thing is very clean and comfortable and the meals are good. It is an all-Canadian institution, and is only for patients requiring massage & electrical treatment I have not been examined by a doctor yet but probably will be in the morning.

Ramsgate is not nearly as fine a town as Hastings. It has neither the natural nor the artificial beauty, and of course is little used as a summer resort now, lying as it does, within the air-raid area. The most attractive feature of the place is the wonderful sandy shore - the finest in England, and in this respect it is ahead of Hastings. There is quite a large artificial harbour here, and consequently there are a great many sailors about.

I was very sorry to leave Hastings. It was such a beautiful old place and I certainly enjoyed myself there. Mac is leaving tomorrow for Shorncliffe. We both felt pretty bad at having to say good-bye. It is hard to say when we will see one another again

It has been a wonderful summer for me, and I have had a great opportunity of seeing the old land. My how I wish over and over again that father was with me to enjoy it all. And yet there is always that longing and yearning that makes me pray at night “God take me back to the prairies - my home

Goodnight my dear ones

Your boy Markle