John Wheeler
No. 643035
Section C co
Batt. 125

Mar 25th 1917

My dear brother and sister

Your very welcome letter of March 5th to hand today I had been rather anxious about the people in Canada as did not get any mail for them for over three weeks but I have made it up this week as yours is the 7th letter this week from Canada they seem to think that some of our mail went down in the Saxonia but I believe I have every letter sent from Canada  Well we are in a great hustle and excitement to day as we are leaving Witley Camp as yet we dont know whether we are going to France or to some other camp in England but we have been having our overseas equipment inspected and there has been clothing inspection and kit inspections all day they have also paid us today I got ten shillings.  I am sorry to hear about Old Jim Wilson and [?] remember me to Jim McDonald and the misses and Frank Wilson Jim Sawyers and Mrs Sawyers as soon as I know for sure where we are going I will write you again  I am writing to Bessie Todman and will ask her if she got your letter I was up to see Ted Baker at Epsom last Sunday he is married and has three smart children  Both himself and the Missus made me welcome and I spent a good time there he has been working in an Asylum for the last 17 years he has a job as head of one of the wards he has 6 assistants and has 1500 patients.  Ted took me up to see the famous Derby race course but they have not been racing there since the war started.  I was also down to see George and Emily about five weeks ago and had a good visit  George’s girls took me all over the [?] in the morning and in another direction in the afternoon and Emily took me to the station the next morning she has grown into a big woman but she is alright George seems to be comfortable he is all the time asking about you I told him you were doing fairly well he seemed interested about the brickyard and the 300 acres made him open his eyes  Well I hope Lizzie and you are all well George and [?] tell him to write to Hastings and soon as he lands in England now I will close with love to all I remain your loving brother

Pte J Wheeler No 643035
C. Co. 125 Batt
Army P.O.
London England

Teds address
8 East street
Epsom
Surrey
England

Content note:
The following postscript was added to the bottom of the first page

I have not seen Casey for sometime I think he must be in quarantine the last time I saw him he was well

Editor note:
The year of the letter, although not clear, would be 1917.  The content of the letter follows with the contents of the February 11, 1917 letter describing equipment and preparations for France.

The writer refers to the sinking of the Saxonia, but it was not sunk during the First World War.