2/Lt A. Scott Daniell R.E.
1021 Docks Operating Coy.  Detachment
Kilbride Camp
Inverary
Argyle
Scotland.

Tuesday 3/11/42

Dearest Heart.

Here I am, in the joint RE, RAF & RE mess, at 9.30.  I arrived with my 70 men & found the advance party of six here.  So all is well.  They have fed, have fires in their huts, & are happy.  Now they’re at the Naafi, singing lustily.  They being happy makes me happy, and you happy.  I had an Officers conference at 5.30 – 6.30.  Then I went round the lines, & dined at 7.o/c.  From 8 to now I’ve been in a huddle with my W.O.2 arranging tomorrow’s work, & at 10 a day parade for Orders.  Reveille is at 6.00 breakfast at 6.40 & Parade at 7.30 !

The 2/I/C here is — Major Kempton ! ! !  Good to see him again –  The camp moved this afternoon.  The above address will find me, & I imagine I’ll stay here until the weekend anyhow.  We are supposed to stay until the 11th But more urgent affairs may recall us before.  Letters would be sent on, however.

Our journey was wonderfully picturesque, 4 hours on the old Highland Railway, with mountains & lochs on either side, & an hour in a truck. All the afternoon of the sun shone brilliantly & the scene was heart-catching, every shade, brilliantly blessed, from a deep sober green through the greens & browns to shiny gold.  And snow tipped peaks & the layers of blue of the distant hills & mountains.

Here there is this lovely brook & the square four turreted, pointed, castle of the Duke of Argyll.  Its Campbell country.  The castle dominates Inverary & the Duke still lives there.  We have camps all round, & the navy is present in the loch.  Training facilities are amazingly adequate.  The organisation seems to be brilliant.

This is necessarily short, but it is a full day. A better letter tomorrow – as promised yesterday !