Bramshott Camp
July 19th 1917

Dear Tom.-

Your letter of the 8th just received a few days ago and I was very glad to hear from you.

If you get leave I would try to get a few days off too and get around London. I wish you would let me know if you get or rather expect to get a pass and I will try to get one too.

As you probably know all N.C.O's coming from Canada have to revert to their permanent grade on arrival: so we were all "luck privates" when we got here. While we were in the Segregation Camp we had our stripes on but as soon as we came up here to the 17th we were all privates. The other day two of us ex Sergeants got one stripe. That is alright for a start but we hope to get more soon

I am trying to get over to France and be with my brother as soon as they will let me. There is so much red tape etc., that they keep a person here much longer than is really necessary it seems to me. I am over here to go to France and have a few shots at the Bosche and I want to get there as soon as possible and have it over one way or another.

We had our landing leave sometime ago and a party of us ex- N.C.O's went to Scotland on our leave. We had a day in London and saw a few interesting things. On our return we spent part of July 2nd in London and had the pleasure of seeing the King and Queen enroute for Westminster Abbey for Dominion Day celebrations.

Bramshott is quite a nice comp. Everything is kept very neat and clean of course and we like it fine but are all sick of having to do the same kind of drill as I myself have done three years ago.

I have had quite a few letters from home and elsewhere in Canada. I never knew how good it was to hear from home until I got over here I have had two nice boxes from home and there is one on the way from a College friend of mine. As you know anything from home is surely great.

This is a nasty wet day and we have had no parole yet. The M O is around now and will soon be here to have the usual weekly inspection. This afternoon there are organized sports as usual. There is a competition in Aldershot today, between all the units who wish to compete in Bayonet, Bullet and Bomb. Our team is down there and we are hoping they will return victorious.

Well Tom I cant think of anything else to write about today. I shall be very glad to hear from you anytime and will try to answer it soon.

Very sincerely yours
#1060081 (Lt.Cpe) Carman M Croft
D'Corp. 17th Canadian Recrue Bn
Bramshott Camp

Please excuse my writing in bad pencil. I am writing in a hurry.
Carman