Rfn W.J.C. Brown

24^th (R) KRR B Co

Gloucester Lodge Camp

Blyth

Northumberland

My dear M^r Walters,

            As I have a half hour to spare before my next parade, I thought I could use it to no better advantage than to write to you, as I promised to do, telling you of my first week’s experiences as a Tommy.

I arrived at Skipton quite safely on Monday the 1^st finding Skipton to be a small industrial & market town nestled in a valley of the Pennines.  The scenery was most beautiful, the hills rising from emerald valleys, in which lie pretty farmhouses, with sheep and then lambs grazing nearby.  It appealed to me very much, and reminded me of the Charnwood Forest.

My first night was spent in a schoolroom in Skipton, having the floor for a bed.  The room soon began to fill with men as they came in from their evening stroll, and soon did I begin to see that they were not of the class of man that I had seen about the camps in which I had been.  They were altogether superior to the typical soldier morally and are clean honest, straightforward true Englishmen.  I enjoy their company and get along with them all very well indeed.

The next day I was sent to the camp at Skipton, where preliminary drills were taught to us new recruits.  We lived quite comfortably in hutments, and the food, in comparison with the general standard of Army food was good.

On Friday last we left Skipton and travelled, by train, to Blyth, where I am now stationed.  The camp is about 50 yards from the sea coast, the battalion having been sent on coast defence work here – life here is as comfortable as can be expected, and our officers, both NCO’s & commissioned, are an extremely good selection, although strict disciplinarians they are quits thoughtful, and gentlemanly as possible.

It is quite a new experience for me to be on the sea coast, having lived so far inland all my life.  The coast in this part is well defended, permanent military guards in their dugouts being amongst the sand dunes immediately on the water-line.  The Navy is also very vigilant, submarines, destroyers, warships and aeroplanes being constantly on patrol.  Without doubt, this part of the coast would be one of the most likely, at which invasion would be attempted.

Trusting you are in the very best of health

Believe me

Sincerely & respectfully yours

Cecil Brown

P.S.   I should be delighted to receive a copy of this month’s parish magazine.

P.P.S.  Kindly excuse pencil-writing but I cannot easily use ink.

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, Whitwick, Lester.

Letter postmarked BLYTH 9 MY 16.  7.30 PM.