Letters From the Front

Dated:

A Letter from Sergt. F. Parker
           At Sea, H.M.S. Saxonia
                   Nov. 30, 1915.
Dear Parkers:
     This will have to be a family letter as it takes quite a while to write everything that has happened since last time I wrote.
     We have been on the water seven days last night and have sighted land this morning for the first.  We left Halifax about 5.30 p.m., Nov. 22.  There were quite a few at the dock when we left, throwing oranges, apples, tobacco, gum, etc.  This old vessel was loading in New York for four days before coming to Halifax.  They say she is loaded with ammunition.  We took on new Ross rifles and a lot more ammunition at the same point as we came aboard.
     The Sergeants had second class passage and good accommodation too.  We have our meals in the saloon “aft.”  I’ll send you some of the menu cards and you can judge our style.
     The sea has been pretty calm all the way over and a fair wind most of the time.  I haven’t seen one wave break over the deck although we rolled around considerably.  Whales kept their distance most of the time but I saw a couple pretty close one day.  The porpoise were the one to watch.  They would swim right along side then a whole lot of them would jump right out of the water.
     We played at officers’ mess a couple of time, also at a concert in aid of the Seamen’s Orphanage at which the collection came to 35 pounds.
     We have had an armed guard on deck these last few days, but don’t know what they would do with a submarine.  Have just heard that some submarines were laying wait for us last night but missed us because we sailed without a mast, starboard, port or stern light, and not a port hole open.  They got another vessel, though, it is believed.  The last our ship heard of her last night was about 12 mid night and she was being pursued then.  However we are safe now with an escort of two torpedo boat destroyers close alongside and land in sight on our port side.
     Here we are in Plymouth “Arbor,” anchored for the night.  This is one of the grandest sights I ever saw, coming in here from the Channel.  High cliffs and forts, big cannons all along, and fields on one side of us, nice and green, this the 30^th of Nov, the last day of the month.  The first day of this month we arrived in Toronto from Niagara Falls.
     There are submarines and destroyers, lots of them, and three of the old time war ships anchored end to end with a bridge attaching them.  These are used for training the Navy boys on.  Just alongside of us here, are two of a later type, armoured war ships anchored the same way, and for the same purpose.  To-morrow morning we go ashore and take the train to our destination, the name of which I’ll have to find out.
     It sure looks good to look out and see all the lights instead of water, water, water.
     The sister ship to this, was sunk last night, it is believed, by a sub which was laying for us, and mistook that ship and pursued and caught her.
     Now I think this is all for this time so will ring off till I get settled over “ome.”
          Your loving Son and Bro.,

                        Frank.