Chisledon Camp, Wilts, England

February 27/17

Dear People,

Since I last wrote nothing very eventful has happened around camp. I received the second copy of the new Pres – West. How is it going? I thought the first two numbers were very good under the circumstances. Of course when the Church union actually does come it will have a larger field. To day and yesterday have been bright and cool – real spring days. We were out on advanced guard work this morning and fell out for a few moments at the foot of Liddington Castle. A range of down land, running south to north and parallel with the camp culminates in a high peak which slopes steeplu down to one of the main roads running east into Berkshire. This point was strongly fortified in Roman times and the remains of the ancient earth works can still be seen. The name ‘castle’ here signifies ‘castledown’ – a fort and not what we usually mean by the word. From where we halted in the road there is one of the most beautiful prospects in this part of the country. There is a gradual fall towards the north down to a level plain over which you can look for miles and see the typically English fields with hedgerows and lines of trees. In front, behind a thick wood you can just see the spires of Swindon. To the left of Chisledon and to the right on an escarpment of the downs lies the old, old village of Wanborough. It has, to my mind, the most beautiful church of all the villages around a conspicuous landmark changing from gray to white as the sun comes out from behind the clouds. The peculiar feature of this church is that it has both a tower and spire, the latter a small stone spire on the rear of the nave. The village is of Saxon origin and was a stronghold before the Norman conquest. It is said that a great battle was fought here in 519.

Well I guess I might finish my trip to Scotland in this letter. To morrow or the next night I intend writing to the Keiths to thank them for their Christmas boxes in and that letter I shall tell about our bombing course. So between the two of you you will get all the news going. I think I had got as far as Friday night in Glasgow. The next morning after an excellent breakfast of porridge fired whiting and marmalade, we went out to make the best of our forenoon. First we went to George square and went into the municipal buildings. There are the most gorgeous ‘town hall’ I ever saw. It has been built since you were in Scotland, I think, Father. The interior is all fitted with Italian alabaster. The main staircase is a marvel and the beautiful pillars and slabs of marble with their red veining make one think of a Venetian palace. The reception rooms are fitted out in mahogany, and other elegant tropical woods which I didnot know. After being piloted over the building we went up to Glasgow Cathedral. It is not very imposing from the outside as you may see from the post card which I sent but the interior is extremely beautiful. The choir only is used for services, and the absence of chairs in the nave makes it much more impressive and gives it a real medival atmosphere. The cathedral is built in the early English style with a high roof and narrow pointed arches. The crypt also is very interesting, containing some ancient tombs. By the time we had gone through the Cathedral it was time to go to the station as we wanted to spend the afternoon in Edinburgh. I had just bought two cherry tarts and a cup of coffee in the refreshment room at the station when I discovered the loss of my ticket. Search proved unavailing, I was for going back to the hotel to seek trace of it but Jim provided on me to go to Edinburgh. When we got back here I telegraphed to the hotel where we had stayed in Glasgow and also to Farmer in London the cable me three pounds. Later in the afternoon I got an answer from Farmer saying he didn’t have the amount on hand. Fortunately Jim had just enough money to enable me to buy my ticked back to Swindon. During the afternoon went went for a walk, finishing up when it got dusk and the moon came out by going up the Calton Hill down around the other side, across to Holyrood Palace and up the Connongate. Then we went to the theatre, left at half past nine and caught the London train at 10 o’clock. It was filled with soldiers and sailors returning from leave, a noisy greasy bunch, and for awhile we had to stand in the corridor. Finally Jim got into a compartment with a bunch of girls – five or six of them – very nice Scotch girls going down to London. They had simply tons of luggage and were very fortunate in having us to help them off in the morning and look after them till they were safely [?]nsed in a hotel and could get a taxi. As far as I could judge they appeared to be attending some school, though they may have had some sort of [?] position. It was difficult to judge as I hardly exchanged a word with them, but that was what Jim gathered. I finally managed to find a seat in a compartment containing a woman with a couple of babies who were good but took up a lot of room, a Scotch serjeant, a New Zealand serjeant, and a garrulous little Lancashire man, a civilian, exempted for some reason or other I suppose. We talked most of the night and if I dozed at all it was only for a few moments sitting bolt upright.

When we got to London the first thing we did was to take Tombe to Earls court as we only had a shilling between us. Farmer lent me a florin. He said he was short, but I think he thought I wasn’t a safe person to be trusted with money. Well we got some breakfast and then we beat it down to Brighton to interview Earle. When we found the flat, however, Earle had left and had not left his new address. Then I thought of pawning my watch. Jim thought we might be able to find a pawn shop open down in Whitechapel, but a policeman dissuaded us from taking that trip. Then I thought of Miss Wes Brissy, but first we decided to go over to the Strand Carnes House and see if we couldn’t run across somebody on leave. Sure enough we ran across another chap, who lent me five. We spent the afternoon in Hyde Park, following the Serpentine and listening to the orators. We had just enough money to get a good dinner and get back to Swindon.

The other day that money which I lost in the bunkhouse was handed in to the orderly room. I couldn’t find out who left it there as it was laid on the table in an envelope, but I am almost certain that Dorland or somebody was playing a trick on me with the laudable intention of teaching me a lesson. Dorland denied it but I have several reasons for thinking that he at least was concerned in the business. However I was so glad to recover the money that I didn’t bother making further investigations.

Very much love to all. There is a chance of the war being over this fall I think so here’s hoping,

George