Series 1 Oliver McNaughton

[black and white photograph of:]

Photo GENERAL SIR H. SMITH DORRIEN Lafayette

Monday. Cove Ranges

Well, I have been here about a week, and I believe I am getting fat. It rained the first two nights I was certainly cold. We are ten men in a tent here, but will be 6 in a tent when we get to the Heights. The Cove is West of London. Each battalion spends ten days or two weeks here on Musketry. We will be through by about next Friday. We certainly are kept busy, and will be for a week. I was in the canteen yesterday for an hour during a rush. The major wouldn't hear to me going into it permanently. Too bad about Bertha Larkin eh. We had church service hear on Sunday. An out door service with band for music. Sunday evening Will Mollard & I called on Sam Radcliffe. We are asked there on Wednesday night (dinner).

My address is: Pte O. J. McNaughton, #802301, Granton Platoon, "C" Co. 135th Batt Cove Ranges London.

[pre-printed envelope] "A Place to Go" MEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION SOLDIERS' CLUB DUNDAS STREET :: LONDON, CANADA (Majestic Theatre Building)]

[postmark: LONDON, ONTARIO JUN 11 11 - PM 1916]

Miss Netta McNaughton, R. R. No. 1 Granton. Ont.

[letterhead: "A PLACE TO GO" SPORTSMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION SOLDIER'S CLUB 229 DUNDAS STREET MAJESTIC THEATRE BLDG. PHONE 338 LONDON, CANADA] June 11 1916.

"C" Coy. 135th Batt. Carlings Heights London.

Dear Sister:-

Received your letter and was sorry to disappoint you, but the District orders that were issued called for a pass once in ten weeks. It made the boys pretty sore, seeing that we expect to leave for England during the first part of July. A great many took "French Leave" a week ago and consequently had some pay cut off and there names on the "crime sheet." If I don't get a pass next week my name goes there too, although I hate to do it, and also to lose any pay, as they cut off some pay for some reason or other, and I seem to have some time financing myself, and I am sure I am not spending but very little on amusement. I spend a bit in the canteen, but by Jove I can't help it especially in hot weather, for the grub they give you gets your goat. You know how it goes.

I saw Wibb Baker the other day, and Jack McIlveen to-day. We had quite a march the other day, but I could not find

[letterhead: "A PLACE TO GO" SPORTSMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION SOLDIER'S CLUB 229 DUNDAS STREET MAJESTIC THEATRE BLDG. PHONE 338 LONDON CANADA]

2 out for certain what day it was to be on. You people ought to come in some time and up to the heights and pay us a call. Come up about noon, or after four, We are at the corner of Oxford and Quebec Streets. Ask for C. Company's line and walk down the cinder path till you come to a tent maked Grantonians, and that is our tent. We had it nicely fixed up in past but it is all spoiled now.

Saw Barbara Stewart this forenoon, just after Church parade. She paid us a call and invited us down.

Was inoculated a week ago, Friday. And it seemed to go after me, and I got a touch of tonsilitis on top of it, but am getting over it now; I just went off parade one day. One is not supposed to lay up in this business till he is real sick. It is do or die; - that is a soldier's creed.

Millson got his discharge before the Medical board last week, also Nelson Kirk.