Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1916 — FRED HAMILTON WRITES FROM WAR ZONE [ARTICLE]

FRED HAMILTON WRITES FROM WAR ZONE

Rensselaer Boy In Canadian Army, Now in England, Tells of Experiences—May Go to France. A letter was received here today from Fred H. Hamilton, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Hamilton, of this city. Fred is with the Canadian army in England and is —a corporal. The camp to which Hamilton belongs is situated at Surrey, England, .which is thirty-five miles out of London. The Rensselaer boy is a member of the machine gun company. The letter is postmarked Witley Camp, England, under date of Jfeptenffier 27th, and is as follows: “Dear Friend: “Well, here I am in England at last and expect to soon be on my way to France, although it is not certain as yet, as we are to undergo a rigid course of training before we get into the actual fighting done. It is the general belief that we will be in France inside of the next three months, however. I am now a corporal m the - machine gun company, and believe me, after a course as a gunner you are sure able to hit the mark. Let one of these fellows get a shot at you anil it is all over. “We are in camp with 50,600 other men, all going through a rigid course of training, and every man must be in perfect trim and a real soldier before being dispatched to the front. We live in huts, which are thirty feet long and eighteen feet wide, with thirty men to a hut. Have both hot and cold shower baths, and so you see we are living fine as compared with a U. S. soldier: I am going to London some time during the next few days - for a week, and then later expect to go to New .South-JWales witkjaJbunch of other, fellows and expect to see all the sights and country that 1 can before returning to the states. Believe the fellows on the Mexican border haven’t a thing on us when it comes to seeing new sights and encountering experiences. Please give my regards to all Rensselaer friends and tell them to write if they can spare the time. My address is, Corporal Fred H. Hamilton, ‘ No. 922378 Machine Gun Section, Witley Camp, Godaiming, Surrey, England. Your friend, FRED H. HAMILTON.