GUARDS LIFE AT TILE DEPOT.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Forgive the great liberty I am taking in writing to you, but after reading so many articles about the Guards and their depot I feel I must write. I am an ex-Guardsman, "Coldstreamer." I left 22/4/1919, after 11 years, 201 days' colour service. (I might mention my character on leaving was exemplary.) I have read quite a lot just recently of the brutality of the Guards. Personally I have never seen it, and certainly never experienced it. I have had very rough times as well as very smooth ones. I went to the depot at Caterham in October, 1917, and I expect I was just as about green and awkward as the average recruit (much worse than some). At first I must admit I thought,, it very hard, but as time went on and I got more fit I liked it. By the time I left to join my battalion I felt very fit and well. I have been more than surprised at the very low standard of physical fitness of the men that joined us in drafts in the later part of the war. Some of these go as far as to say they belong to the better-class recruits. Quite a lot of them in pre-war days would have been passed out of the gates, " Not likely to become " on their discharge papers. It is true that some have a much worse time at Caterham than others, but I am sure a helping hand is given to all who try their best. I can assure you it is no place for headstrong people. Such people are nothing short of a nuisance to their comrades, as they cause all sorts of extra work—running to the guardroom with their meals, escort duty, and lots more far too numerous to mention here. Usually this kind of man does very little else but make trouble whilst serving, and writes all sorts of rot when he leaves. After all, obedience is the first duty of a soldier; with it we win wars, without we soon go to
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