From: Witley Camp, Godalming, Surrey
4 Feb. 1917

Dearest Mother -

I have received four letters all on Feb. 1, since I wrote the card to you last Sunday. One of them was yours of the 14th containing the annual church report, one was from Gladys, one from Jack Sissons at the University to whom I had written some time ago, and the fourth was from Clarence Knowlton.

I told you in the last card I wrote that I had just been transferred to the 54th Battery. That Sun. forenoon, there was a muster parade of all those 14th Brigade Surplus Details, as they were called - those who were not in any battery and some were sent to 13th, some to 14th & some to 15th Brigade, while the few that were left were put in trench mortars. Of the 20th, 50th Bty men in the bunch, one went back to the 13th Bde (53rd Bty), one went to 60th Bty in 14th Bde and 5 of whom I was one, went to 54th Bty in 15th Bde. All the rest are in the trench mortars, our former O.C. didn't care what happened to them. The person who worked to get me transferred into a battery is, I believe, Serg. Major Lloyd. He used to be Sergeant of C sub in 50th, was promoted to Brigade S.M. in the 13th and is now B.S.M. in 15th.

I was not sure at first, whether I was permanently attached to 54th or not, as for the following week we took parades with the 14th Surplus Details as in the week preceding - exercising and looking after horses, but on Fri. those horses were taken away and yesterday & today, I have paraded with 54th and, I guess, it is permanent alright. I am in E. subsection of 54th which used to be in 12th Bde. then 16th and now 15th. It is now a 6 gun battery and E. & F. subs are made up of C. & D. subs (Left Section) of the 47th (later 80th) Battery. The men are mostly from Toronto, many college fellows - a very fine bunch as I may consider myself rather lucky in transfer after all.

The weather has continued dry and pretty cold - no snow. We have just heard today of break in diplomatic relations between U.S. & Germany - it was to come sometime - whether it will make much difference in length of war, is another matter. There is quite a bit in papers about the plot to murder Lloyd George & Mr. Henderson - I suppose you have read of it.

The Brigades here have been in 4th Artillery Division, but that Division may now be made up of drafts at Shorncliffe & elsewhere and I believe we are now in the 5th Division of Artillery. We may have to wait sometime in England, either here or at Shorncliffe till the 5th Infantry Division is ready. There have been rumours that we may not go to France till May - others, that we won't go for a month or six weeks yet. As weather is pretty bad over there and will be worse for a month or so, maybe it is just as well, but here I have been about 13 mos. in training.

You will have an awful hard time of it, now that Harold has gone and do you think Harold can make his year after starting so late. You must take care of yourself and do no more than you really have to. As for myself, I am feeling pretty well these days.

Love to you and Arthur
Yours affectionately,
Gordon