The Munro Letters 1914 - 1917 : Letters Home from the Front - World War I
Date of Letter:
1915/05/28
Summary:
In which Gordon has arrived at the military camp located at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Includes description of the quality of food served; the soldiers' daily routine in the camp; and, mention is made of fellow soldiers known to the Munro family.
Transcription:
Niagra-on-the-Lake
May 28th/15

Dear Mother, -

At last we are in a real military camp. It is quite a change from Georgetown. We had a nice trip over & lots of fun with Blackall & "Scotie". We had no drill till yesterday as we were getting things straightened up. The meal the first night was a mistake. It was raining & they had no mess tents up & no system & not half enough grub. It was worth a quarter to see the fellows grab & swallow large chuncks of bread better known as "jsunk" that would kill a horse & every one was hollering like a bunch of Red Indians. It rained all the next day too & we went through the same kind of eats. The grub is pretty rotten & to-night about 2 or 300 fellows lined up & marched around to the officers tents & demanded better grub. The officers threatened to put them all under arrest but they would have some job. none of our fellows were in it as we have a system getting our plates in twice or three times. Its great the way they dish up grub. You are given a greasy tin plate & big bowl & the fellows stand & slap it on with their "mits" which are often none too clean but it always tastes pretty fair. Grease is the principle feature of all the meals.

The reinforcements have been separated & we take up the quarters of the Princess Pats next week. I saw Snyder several times & Scout & I tried hard to transfer to his bunch. We were promised we could go & were thinking of phoning home when the Col. changed his mind. They sailed for England this morning, that was some chance I missed.

I have seen Turquand & Jim McMillan & Kenneth Marlatt & H. Lightbourne so far. Jim stays here till he gets better.

I will have to wait till I get paid before I post this letter, as I heard we were to be paid today. I lent all my money last night to Scotie & havent the price of a one cent stamp & had to bum the paper from the Y.M.C.A.

We have to drill harder than ever & longer. We get up at 5.30 & run from 6 to 7 then we eat, & fall in from 8.30 to noon then from 2 p.m. till 5. We have a band & its a dandy. It plays at "Reveille" & "Lights out" every day & it sounds good when you are in bed.

Well I guess I have nearly finished & its near time to beat it as they are having a gospel meeting here & I am afraid they will take up a collection.

We wash our plates in the good old way . either not at all or spit on them & rub them in the grass or some one elses hair. It shows a poor bringing up if you wipe it on your own. another thing you dont have to wash if you dont want to.

Well good bye just now with love to all.

Gordon

My address in on back of page 1

Pte. H. G. Munro
37th B'n. Reinforcements
B. Company
In Camp
Niagra-on-the-Lake
Ont.

There will be more later.
Object ID:
2017.22.49
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Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915
Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915
Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915
Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915
Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915
Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915Gordon Munro Letters, May 28, 1915