One sheet of notepaper with Y.M.C.A. with His Majesty's Fleet heading. March 16th 1916 Dear Mother, Just a few lines hoping you are all well. I got to Portsmouth alright on Wednesday night at quarter to nine. I stopped all night at the Sailors Rest, after I had been at the Hippodrome. When I got in Barracks this morning we all had to report ourselves to the drafting corporal. My place of abode for a few days is at Haslar Camp. There is plenty of water and mud up to the boot tops, and we have to sleep in tents. Shall send you my photo next time I write. I rode from Lincoln to King's Cross with a nice young lady, who had been living at Cannick Hall. We started talking, and I think we both fell in love. She has invited me to spend part of my next leave at her home in Suffolk. I expect we are waiting here for a ship, but I don't want to stay here long because it is a bit too rough. I think we get extra money for sleeping rough in tents, they lend us two blankets. Shall get a bit of digging here, digging gravel for the roads. Several of my mates were adrift this morning. Well I hope you will not fret about me too much, because God will look after me in my perils. I hope Dad will not go drinking so much, and look after you all better for my sake. Must close, with best love to you all, I remain, Your Loving Son, Joe XXXXXXXXX Joseph. W. Smith Stk II 8.C. Tent 4, C Mess, Naval Camp. Haslar, Gosport.