23rd March 1915
My dear Mother,
I am pleased to say we had a lovely voyage and have arrived safe and sound. It seems heaps warmer here. I can tell you we felt jolly warm pulling our pack along this morning especilly seeing we had a hill like Skiddaw to climb. It was frightfully steep, but well worth the climb when we got to the top.
We are in a camp with other Terriers having a rest, so there is no need for you to worry about us. Billie and his platoon have not arrived up yet, they are helping to discharge the transport poor beggars they will feel jolly tired when they turn in. I hope you are quite well again and all the others the same. We are feeling jolly fit and well. The warm weather will soon put you all well.
Let me know when you get this and I can form some idea as to how long it takes. Rather strange to say the first person I saw when we arrived here was a 5th Border chap from Workington. You can imagine how pleased I was to see him. We take rather badly to the grub at present. Bully beef and biscuits do get a bit monotonous after the third consecutive meal of them. Still under the circumstances we are all right. When we are finished travelling they may come back to their usual standard.
Well I must close now, cheer up and don't get downhearted. I wish you could only see us now. You would not worry any more. You would get the fright of your life as we have nearly all our hair completely off, convicts are not in it. Our Billie is keeping us all alive.
Hoping all are well. Best of love from both.
John
