Training Camp: James Stevenson Balfour
Dear Ma,
I mentioned being out shooting. We shot at a small target at a distance of 30 yds. It is to qualify us to shoot on the long ranges. I made a very good score in deed. It is group shooting. You try to get your shots all close together. Nine out of 10 of my shots were on the bull and just one a little off,- pretty good eh! If I can keep that up on the long ranges I'll know that my experience at the ranges in Regina has done me some good. There were only a few possibles (10/10) made and I did better than most of our fellows.
There is a Y.M.C.A. at the camp and they have organized baseball & foot-ball leagues. Our platoon, 15, played platoon 16 and beat them. That was our first game. We play again to-night I think. I play short stop. We play indoor ball. The foot-ball hasn't started yet. I don't think I'm good enough to catch a place on the team. I never played much of it.
All we own now is carried in our kit bags which when fasten to our backs when we march. We have had three or four marches with all our goods on. We carry a kit bag which when we have all our clothing etc. in. weighs about 50 or 60 lbs., our great coats, haversacks, grub tin, water bottle, & gun. We are getting used to the little load and soon we will be able to go forty or fifty miles a day quite easily(Perhaps). The longest we have carried them is about 7 miles. But that was only for 2 or 3 hrs. in the afternoon. I suppose before we leave here we will have an all day's march.
Tues. we were on the long ranges. I did pretty good at 100 yds but not so well at 200 yds. My gun was sight at 500 yds and I only made 18 out of 35. I think I could do much better next time we go out. Wed. we had some skirmishing and practiced field manoeuvres. We took up a position on A knoll and the Toronto O.T.C. bunch were the attacking party. It was a sham battle without blank ammunition. We won on points. In the afternoon we were skirmishing and the Barracks was the attacking point. Skirmishing consists in keeping out of sight of the enemy. We run a few paces and then fall flat. On Thursday the Duke of Connaught reviewed us and we marched past better than in the morning. It was rather a hard day, very monotonous standing up so long.
To-day, Friday, we had a real sham battle, and we marched about 12 miles. The McGill O.T.C. fellows took up a position and the Toronto bunch & ourselves were the attacking forces. Our Capt. Thought out a clever scheme by which we could close them off. But we had to do some very fast marching to do so. McGill was in a difficult position to get at. The only way was over a bridge on each side. We had to march away around behind them and Toronto advanced before them. The main body of our company didn't fire any shells. It was our position that gave our side the day.I must close now. I got the slippers and thought at first sight they were new ones. You got them fixed up. I'm glad you sent me the little book "Daily Food", and will read it. I got a letter from Howy to-day and he told me that Dan Mac. was all right. We are complimented by all officers on our good company.
Love to all
Your son
Jim
