COU-19

16^th R.I. Rifles (Pioneers)
Seaford Camp
Sussex
5^th July 1915

Dear Mr Elliott,

I am snatching a few minutes to let you know my whereabouts & how we are getting on. We arrived here on Friday morning after 24 hours weary journeying by train, boat & on foot. & since that time not a moment has been wasted. Seaford lies between Eastbourne & Brighton, just about 4 miles west of Beachy Head. It is on the coast with miles of downs stretching away behind. Quite an ideal spot for a camp. Our lines too are quite the best situation in the whole camp. When I first came here I was just able to walk about & no more, an hour's parade left me on the verge of collapse. Now after less than a week of this fine air I have gone through the hardest work I have yet done & feel in splendid condition.

By the way I met one of our old staff on Saturday. I have forgotten the boy's name but he was a sergeant in the 8^th. One gets fearfully confused with faces & it was some time before I recognised him. There must have been some attack about 20 miles away from here last night & yesterday morning. We could hear very heavy firing & the ships of war in the channel showed extraordinary activity & so did the aircraft.

The C.O. sent me out yesterday to make some sketches of the neighbourhood for manoeuvring & I took advantage of my time by making some lightning sketches (which I afterwards worked up) and spending the rest of the day in a series of mad gallops over the downs. I used up three horses & I think I could supply information for a careful reconnaissance for the whole division over a distance within a two mile radius East of Seaford. It may interest you to know that my C.O. sent some of my sketches of the country to the General Officer Commanding & I got a very fine letter of praise from the old gentleman & he has also given me a great "boost" about my musketry work. This is very gratifying for it is very difficult to hold a position in this battalion. You see we are divisional troops always attached to the general & under his eye & consequently an inefficient man is very quickly moved to another battalion. As I wish to enter a plea for my poor correspondence I will give you an idea of my work today & you can keep it as a permanent memorial in case any of the staff complain of hard work. Remember in addition the whole day's work was under a boiling sun & my position as second in command of the fourth company means I march (or ride) at the very end of the battalion & get all their dust. 6.30-8.0 am Adjutants parade ("extended order" this morning which meant half the time I was running full lick) 8.0-9.0 Breakfast 9.0-1.0 Musketry. 1.0-2.0 Lunch 2.0-3.10 C.O.'s orderly room 3.15-5.30 Route march (in shirt sleeves & I marched all the time, giving tired men a lift on my pony) 6.0-7.0 Bayonet exercises (in a lather of perspiration) 7.0-7.30 Bathing parade. 8.0-9.0 Dinner.

Now in the meal gaps I have to attend to the feeding, clothing etc. & organization of 294 men. Some work, isn't it? But never a word of complaint from either officers or men. Even though we see other battalions ceasing work at 4.0 o'clock!

Best of good wishes to you all

Sincerely Yours,

T. Coulson
Capt

P.S. I am in a wooden hut & I had no idea there were as many beetles, moths, earwigs & so forth in existence. My floor & table are alive with them.