March 18, 1940
09342 C Cecil Slack
1st medium regiment C.A.S.F
3/23rd medium step R.C.A
Base Post office Canada
Dear John and Georgia
Perhaps by now you will think that I have forgotten all about you and the kiddies, but far from it, you have been on my mind many times. No doubt John you are in the middle of the wood business these days. We sure had a lot of fun last winter at it and little we thought then I would be away over here and especially in a uniform. No doubt you have had a good Easter and I suppose this is about the first Easter they realize what it all means. I am quite happy here as far as the army goes but I am quite lonely at times to be back in Canada. Lately I have been making several new friends and very well to do people at that. Such people certainly doesn’t do one harm.
England itself like many other places is very disappointing when you get settled. I guess ones expectations are so great and then it is all quite a let down. The city of London is very traditional and beautiful. Like many other large cities it is very crowded. Especially now with all its trenches and bomb shelters. All the stores are sand bagged to save the large windows, one thinks you are walking through Flanders with its black out and air raid precautions. I have seen the balloon barrage and it is a wonderful site. Like search lights at night here are like northern lights. England I believe is sure ready for any enemy attack. There is no doubt about it, they sure are ready for Hitler this time. Even all through the country sides of England windows are blackened at night all automobiles have special lights, one wonders how they find their way about. I know all about this because I am now a dispatch rider and we have many night schemes and I half to ride without any lights at all. I ride around 800 miles a week and my machine in a peach.
There is no doubt about it this must be a good country in peace time but the war has had such an effect on it. Every family is effected same way or another if not by men in uniforms, ???? The climate here hasn’t agreed with me or any one I know. Nearly all of us have been sick, I have lost my voice a couple of times and I also have had a bad head cold. Naturally riding in all kinds of weather you can’t just get rid of a cold. But we have a job to do and I guess we will half to put up with a lot more than this before we are finished.
We have been most fortunate in securing barracks as good as we have. Really they are grand nicer than many homes. They aren’t crowded and my room has two small fire place in it, plenty of light and good beds. Each of us have individual lockers for our belongings. Our canteens here are grand. The canteen has a beautiful organ in it and we sit there often nights listening to it. A young fellow plays there every night and he can play anything you ask him. He is paid by the government for entertainment for all troops. The organ is valued at $3000. This Thursday night there is a Canadian broadcast for our troops from there so I hope I get a chance to say hello!
The voyage over was grand, I found out I was a very good sailor. We had two very bad days. The convoy was grand protection and a marvelous site to see. Our ship was one of the largest in the world and we had our own cabins. In peace time the cabin I had is called 1st class passage. I was on ‘A’ deck and on an outside cabin so I didn’t miss very much. The boat wasn’t dismantled one bit, the only thing I’ve missed were the girls, it seemed funny all men. The Halifax band was aboard coming over and they furnished us with many a good program.
The war at present as you know is at a standstill. If this keeps up we will be home before long and I sure will have plenty to talk about for awhile. Here are a couple of pictures I took that day at your place. Gwen got them developed and sent them to me. They really will have travelled a good many miles when you get them. I have another and I am keeping it among my other pictures. John, did you ever get that coat from Gwen? Now Georgia I know what a good hand John is to write, he doesn’t like it any more than I do so you take a few minutes off and write me a line if it is only hello. One has to be far across the sea like this to realize what a letter really means. You look for them every day. So far the service has been good. We get mail every two weeks. I understand it is very slow going to Canada, of course this is where they are really censored. Gwen has been very faithful to me. I have received a great many of her letters and two grand parcels, cigarettes and cookies and did they ever taste good.
I have made several new friends here. I was to church this morning Plam Sunday here, we have a lovely church right here in a camp area. Next Sunday will be Easter, I wish I could be at home to spend it and see all you folks. One just can’t help getting lonesome you know at times like this. These people near the camp area have been very good to me. They are very well to do and of course you can keep this under your hat, they have a lovely daughter in the family and a swell car. She takes me out for the odd ride, I have been to a few dances and quite a number of shows. Up to London two weeks ago Sunday and I saw a swell play Georgia, the Venetian was the name, and what a beautiful theatre. It costs four shillings and 6 pence a seat, that is $1.18 in our money, of course being a soldier she paid the shot. Really English people are grand to us, I can’t begin to imagine our Canadian girls using English troops in Canada, the way some of us have been treated here. They really are grand and so generous and free in spite of the war and all.
No doubt you are getting tired reading all of this news by now but I really could write for hours. Now remember there are certain things in this letter I couldn’t wish to have passed on, I guess it wouldn’t matter much though but one never knows. Remember me to the kiddies I often wish I could see them I suppose they often mention me. Write often, a letter will always be welcome.
Love Cecil
P.S.
Keep those horses looking nice John. I hope the farm doesn’t fall down before I get back.