Better & better. There must be some Gawd Almighty snag somewhere ! First Squad, No75. Twenty four of us. All tweed coats & flannels, always good manners, all with a sense of humour. Some are slightly sub-average, but most of us are decent blokes. I’m the oldest ! Grandpa they call me. Ages are 33, 30 & down to 27, With one terrified little 19 year old. Already the haze of shyness is melting, & we are getting each other into focus.

                        The reception room is very pleasant, though our Sergeant keeps on apologising about it. 11 beds in one room, remainder in the other. Spring beds, paliases, very cosy. Three blankets, & soft cosy ones. I slept like a log & woke fresh. The window over my bed, (I’ve got the nicest, in the corner) opens to the sea, 70 yards away. But soon we go to our permanent room, polished floors, lockers, fans, central heating, h/c. (& very h) Showers, all tiled. WC’s with doors. Flower boxes everywhere. It’s a cissy lot of soldiers will be. The meals are served in a long hall, fans in the ceiling. Radio speakers for each two tables, music always on. Efficient A.T.S. serving us. Tea was sausages, jam, b/b & tea. Breakfast was porridge, whiting, & marmalade & tea. Dinners in a minute or two. An officer (a shy young subaltern) comes round & says, as always “Any Complaints ?”

                        As you come into the barracks you see a winding drive with flower borders, Then great iron gates, bright green in colour, with a sentry. Then a square, white asphalt, & buildings all round. Officers club, M.O.s office & so on, & blocks of new Georgian style buildings, the barracks. To the right of the square are playing fields, 2 cricket grounds, (2 wickets on each) & 3 super 25 yard sets of nets. There’s a lot of cricket, & all kit is provided, flannels, shirts, pads etc. there’s also tennis, bathing in an appropriated bathing pool just outside the barracks, beyond the playing fields are sand dunes & the sea. There’s wire at the bottom, but you can lounge there in the sun, & sight of the sea.

                        But the best of all is the morale of the whole barracks. Everyone, the “old hands”   & the 70, 71, 72, & 73 & 74 squads is cheerful & praises the place. And there are no roughs or tough. We have barristers, stockbrokers & all sorts, but no authors that I know of. My trade is still a secret, except thatthe M.O. asked what me what I did this morning. He was intrigued about it all & examined me afresh (almost). He remarked on my fitness & said “A1 with a vengeance !”

                        Our programme today has been :-

                        10 last night. We returned to barracks from our stroll round Scarborough & went to our room. Half a dozen of battery C,     “old hands” & yarn for an hour, very gay they were & friendly. They told us the system. ie:-
4 weeks of “taking it out of us”, P.T., parades, rifle drill,etc. etc. etc.
5 weeks mechanised work, driving lorries, cars, Bren carriers & motor bikes, lectures & practice in motor maintenance. Qualify as Drivers (I.C.) (= Internal Combustion)
9 weeks signal work, lectures, practice, flags, helio, tapper, radio etc.

                        Then after 5 months we are signallers, with crossed flags on our arms. Very chique.

                        At 11o/c we went to bed & I to sleep. At 6o/c we woke up, but no one took any notice of us at all. We had hot showers etc & breakfast at 7.30. I wrote to Eleanor & Mother, & then we, or rather our six, walked round the place & sat in the sun by the sea until our Dental & Medical inspections. Then dinner & here we are. All very holiday camp.

                        We start in properly on Monday. This evening we have our first injection & then an easy time for 48 hours. We are allowed out on Sunday evening if we like to go.

                        Maybe this afternoon we’ll play cricket, this room versus the other. I’ve asked the Bombardier to draw some kit. May as well while we can. There’s a match here tomorrow, R.A. v R.E.s. I shall go & watch.

                        All this is so very pleasant, it’s not fair. It would be better if I was in a tough place maybe. No swearing here, no smut, everyone very orderly & gay.

                        Tomorrow we begin to draw equipment, it’s a long job they say, we’re still in civvies.

                        Now for you. All my best wishes for your birthday, of course. I hope you got the present & liked it. I can’t get a badge as I shan’t be in town till Sunday & then the shops are closed.

                        Oh, there is a very nice NAAFI, clean & with gay curtains, tea   . Also a games room & a reading room. I hope to have quiet hours there, with any luck.

                        Bless you all, Candy & your Mother, Gwen & Dorothy, & Jane & all & all.