No1 Command
Durham Downs. 14/6/17
Dear Amy,
I’ve left Oxford. Had a fly around back in Camp and leave on the 21st and will be among the boys soon. I am 2nd Lieutenant and like the job. There is still plenty for me to learn but I have a fair groundwork for a base and my old experience will help me. Seeing other people work is much easier and cleaner than doing it myself. I have a man clean my boots and room and attend at meals so am to have a better time now onward if my old luck sticks and it probably will. Everything is good.
I’ve been acting orderly officer yesterday and today and probably will be while I’m here. It’s usual to get only a day at a time but the other chaps aren’t keen on it and I don’t mind. I keeps me occupied. it’s much easier to do a job continuously than to keep changing about and I’ve a fair eye for what agrees with me. It gets me out of parades. I am just as busy or even more busy than those who go out but I don’t like drilling much even when it’s only the yelling part. Officer’s job is something like that of the M.C. at a bush dance.
By the way I had a few waltzes in London one evening and found there is just as much fun in it as ever and I’m just a kiddie soldiering in England. It’s a comparatively easy matter to spend money and though we us and company must not carry our bags it’s a kind of unwritten law and it amuses me to slip out of a taxi and wait for someone to get my bag who isn’t better to carry it than I am. Still, it’s all part of the day’s march and I guess the habit will grow on me in time.
There are four 18th officers here. The others have been wounded and are returning with me so we keep each other company. Clap trap ends.
Love to all,
Stid.
