Sgt. Hazzard is in Aldershot, the base camp for the Canadian military in England. He describes training exercises and awaiting the arrival of Queen Mary, the ceremonial Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's Own Rifles.

Aldershot, England, Saturday Aug. 16, 1941

Dear Sweetheart,

On Tuesday, the Colonel and Major Barnard went to London, and had tea with Queen Mary. She is going to come to Aldershot shortly to inspect us, so as soon as all leaves are over, I imagine we'll be doing a bit of extra drill and so on, in preparation.

Tommy Chivers and I didn't get away to our umpiring job until Thursday as the dates of the scheme were changed, one day. We went by truck to a point about forty miles away and saw a good bit of England's country lanes on the way.

We were dropped off at a bridge and given instructions as to what supposed damage had been done to it. Then we were also given an estimate of the time it would take to repair it. Our job was to see that none of the troops taking part in the scheme used the bridge until they had brought up sufficient men and waited the required time for repairing the imaginary damage. We wore a white band on each arm to signify that we were umpires.

At the spot we were at, there was a private hotel on one side, and a fairly big dairy farm on the other. We had rations with us for three days and were supposed to cook our own meals. We had blankets, groundsheets and so on for sleeping out. As neither of us fancied cooking, I asked a Sergeant of the Home Guard, who was waiting to act as a guide to the attacking side, if he could suggest a place where we could get our meals cooked. He spoke to the people in the hotel, and we went there for our first meal. They really looked after us very well, and supplemented our rations slightly.

Our bridge was repaired, supposedly, fairly early on Thursday night. The Home Guard Sgt said that if we were still around when he came back, he'd take us in for a spot of coffee. So instead of hunting up a spot to sleep, we put on our greatcoats and lay down alongside the bridge. He came back early in the morning, about 1:30 and we went into his place. It was a real home. The kind you see along Mississauga Road.

When we left there, it was starting to rain so we want into the handiest barn on the dairy farm, where we were at least dry. We slept on top of a bunch of coke, and it wasn't much harder than our regular beds. During the morning, the farmer's daughter invited us in and gave us a cup of tea. [She] was the kind you read about. I told Tommy that it was a good spot for him, as he's single …

The fact of being in uniform seems to be a passport for hospitality of the best type. I asked one of the farm hands for the peoples' name so I could write and say thank you.

When I came back last night, your airmail letter had just come in. It took fifteen days. You should have received my cable shortly after you sent [it]. We knew that a report had gone home saying that our convoy was sunk, and I knew you would be worrying.

Tommy and I will be leaving tomorrow for our five-day leave.

There is only one thing needed to make the next week perfect, and that is to have you with me. We are certainly coming here for a holiday trip after the war. So looking forward to that day, and sending all my love to you, Anne, Karen and Nanny,

I am always yours,

David K

P.S. I love you.

The first and second divisions must have been an awful gang of hoodlums

Friday Aug. 8, 1941

Dear Sweetheart,

We had a fair gang out with lacrosse sticks tonight although a lot of the boys had never played before. The only drawback or maybe it wasn't a drawback, depending on how one looks at it, was as follows: The A.T.S. girls barracks is not far from ours and our playing field is on the corner of two main roads through the camp. So while the girls were going by someone was everlastingly throwing wild passes that would “accidentally” go out into the road. Then everyone would shout “ball please” and wait to see if the young ladies would oblige. They usually did, even Sgts. And C.S.M's.

The first and second divisions must have been an awful gang of hoodlums as people here seem quite surprised that any girl over the age of three can now walk down the street in safety and be free from extremely rude remarks and catcalls. Apparently that was what they had been led to expect from any soldier wearing “Canada” on his shoulders. So far the Third division men have had a very cool reception but the people are gradually learning that most of our boys know how to, and do, act as though they had some respect for themselves, their uniforms and the good name of Canadians in general.

I think probably the reason is that all the bums and out of works that had been hanging around street corners for years, were recruited into the first and most of the second divisions. On the other hand the bulk of the Third is made up of units like ours where most of the men left fairly decent jobs to go with these regiments. Even our wild neighbours from Sussex, The Chaudieres, are making a good impression. So maybe we can redeem the name of Canada. At any rate most of the boys are trying.

Now to tell you the most important thing in my life. I love you and say goodnight as I'm very shortly off to bed. With all my love to you, Anne, Karen and Nanny

I am always yours,

David K.P.S. I love you

Our beds are not bad. But the mattresses are horrible

Tuesday Aug. 5, 1941

Dear Sweetheart,

Today has been one that I suppose is typically English. It has rained and been sunny alternately at almost five minute intervals and it had rained quite heavily all night. Our barracks are dry as they are solid brick buildings, two storey…Our beds are not bad. But the mattresses are horrible. I understand they are made by prisoners, whether military or civil, I'm not sure, out of coconut fibres. It must have taken years of experimentation to produce anything as hard, unyielding and uncomfortable to sleep on. It is a little improvement over sleeping on the floor…

Cheerio for now! With all my love, I am as always

Your David K

P.S. I love you