Life Before the Front - Sandling Camp

From One of the Lads

The Following Letter from Lance-Corporal A.l. Satchell, was written to his mother Mrs. Emma Satchell, 52 Maple Street. He left with the 91st Battalion and is now with the 12th Reserve Battalion. His sisters are Mrs. A.W. Osborne, Fifth Avenue, Mrs. Wall, 60 Chestnut Street and Mrs. H. Osborne, 52 Maple Street.          

St. Thomas Journal Sept 15, 1916

Life Before the Front

West Sandling Camp
August 18, 1916

Dear Mother:
Well I am getting along O.K. Nearly all the 91st men are on draft and expect to go from here any time. We have just finished our shooting and musketry course today. Just two men out of “A” company, an Aylmer man and myself, were classified for marksmanship. We can wear the cross guns and get a $4.50 pipe. We are having nice weather here now. It rained yesterday for the first time in three weeks. I guess you had some hot weather in Ontario, it is hot enough here, although not 100 in the shade.

Cost of Food and Laundry

Everything is dear here, it’s because it’s so near the training divisions. They think we Canadians are millionaires, I guess. We went to a restaurant and got ham and eggs with no potatoes or coffee and with two slices of bread each- that cost one and six each. That’s thirty six cents in Canadian money. They talk about twenty five cents as going as far in England as a dollar in Canada, but I fail to see it. I get my washing done every week. Lots of women come to the camps for washing. They get lots to do and do it cheap. I get my fatigue pants, fatigue shirt, one undershirt, one towel and two handkerchiefs washed for one shilling, 24 cents. That’s not bad at all.

Those 'Little Animals'

There’s not much danger getting those little animals while we are here. We are sleeping in huts (little wooden ones) 35 men to a hut. We eat and sleep all in the same place. We detail two men every week for hut orderlies. They wash the dishes and clean the floor. It is inspected by the orderly officer every day. Our beds are three boards, but are good and springy. We haven’t any mattress, only three blankets – plenty this time of the year.

Camp Amenities

There is a Y.M.C.A. and a soldiers’ club in the camp. They are handy.
Each have a canteen and writing room. The club has two pool tables and all kinds of games. Everything is handy.

Aeroplanes & a Dirigible

There are lots of aeroplanes around here. One big British dirigible went over here yesterday 200 feet long as we could see and about 100 feet up. Well mother I guess I will close as I told you all I know. With love and best wishes for all.

I remain as ever your loving son. Lance-Corp. A.L. Satchell

For more about Camp Sandling visit: www.saltwoodkent.co.uk/ww1-sandling-camps