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C. of E. Club No 5.
England
22/10/16

My Dear Mother and All,

I was feeling a little blue at neither a letter from you or Nerta, last week, but last night, just when I was ready to come off duty, in walked a boy from St. Martin’s Camp, with your parcel of September 28^th and your letter of Oct 10^th. Believe me, I was sure delighted. The parcel was in pretty good shape. There was a slight dent in the box where apparently the corner of a tin box had poked into it. But the way you had it done up is much better than tin. I see tin boxes come in, all pulled apart. The box, which I at first took to be the second one you spoke of sending because it had the pen and handkerchief in it, contained besides these two, the compass, ginger, bag, jelly milk and sugar. Everything was O.K. except the sugar, from which the cover had come off and it was all through the box, but did no harm, as everything was quite dry, I was certainly glad to receive it, and am so glad the pen arrived safely, because when you said you were sending it in the box, I was afraid I would never see it, so many boxes go astray. When I began to think about it tho, Dad said in his letter, that you had just sent a parcel, containing the things from the Leache’s, so I suppose this was the second box, and will be along later. The jelly is about half gone. The milk I will save for emergency as it is easy to carry such a small tin, and here I get all the fresh milk I want. The bag is “jake” as the soldiers say for all right, it is just dandy. The compass is just what I wanted, the pen is a great comfort and the handkerchief fine. But I did not intend you to buy these Dear, because I can do that here. It was so good to see those things from Home. O yes, I forgot to mention the honey. I have not opened it yet, but it is O.K. and tight. I will thoroughly enjoy it.

I was very much surprised on Thursday, to have a visit from that fellow Bromley, who used to play in the movies. He cannot get overseas on account of his health, so is transferring to the A.M.C. He said Walter Bernard had been wounded but was back on duty now. From what I understand Walter and Pete, have been in the Somme fighting, but I doubt, if they are now or will be again on account of the system used by the British, in this advance. I cannot tell you tho what it is in a letter. Bromley also brought the good news that Earl Parker is right near me, within five minutes in fact. He is away on pass, but will be back in a couple of days. He spends most of his time writing letters in this C of E. soldiers club, so will come here too. It is more quiet than our own, and very little further. There is also a Wesleyan Meth. Hall here and the Y.M.C.A are putting up a dandy double hut so things will be pretty comfortable for my writer evenings. There is a lot of good reading here too.

I am getting used to Moore Barracks all right now, and don’t mind it very much, but of course cant say that I like it. I am back on 5 thank goodness and on “centre” work now. I have charge of the little kitchen, two baths, two lavatories, the little boiler fire, and the office fire. In the morning, I draw porridge and bacon then I make tea, boil eggs, cut and butter bread and help the boys serve. After breakfast, they bring the dishes into the kitchen, and I wash up while a patient dries for me. Then I clean the tub basins and sweep the floors, mop up the cement floor in the hall and clean the brass, all this before 10 A.M. from that till twelve, there is nothing in particular to do, I whitewash bad spots in the wall, then generally get in my shave, which I can’t get earlier. I draw all the dinners except the bread, wash the dishes and pans they come in and the boys dry, generally done by 2.30 or earlier, and nothing in particular to do till 4.30 when we get tea. For tea they get tomatoes and beans or corn and peas, made into a kind of soup with milk. This is canned, and we only have to add milk and heat. Then make tea, fix up bread, canned salmon, or we draw cooked fish and then jam and fruit such as you shipped. We are really not supposed to, but often do eat of this fruit and jam. You see there is really no heavy work except getting coal, which I did not mention. We have to bring this down in wheelbarrows and dump it into our coal box. I did a funny stunt yesterday the other fellow got his down first and we dumped it and he took it out of the road, and when I went to put mine into position backed up too far with it and backed right over the wheel and front of his barrow and sat in it, tipping it and mine. My left hand got rather a bad squeeze but my ring saved it although I lost some skin. It hurt for a little while, but I couldn’t help laughing, it must have looked funny.

I started to write about 3.30 and it must be nearly 4.30 now but I will be here till about 9 and will have to make this a good long letter.

I am not really unhappy now, although I can’t say I enjoy it. But you remember how I wrote from Sudbury too, I suppose I always feel like that when I get into a new place. This place still remains a veritable prison tho, the only time I can get out legally, without pass, is from 6.30 till 9.30 pm. or with pass, till midnight or with pass, 2 P.M. till midnight on Saturday or Sunday. When I want really to go tho, I just go, and take a chance on getting caught. I have no right to be here now as having an afternoon off, is not allowed at any time without pass, I don’t want to go out very often, but when I do, I do. All the hospitals here are not treated this way. In some, the boys get three hours a day and an afternoon a week, and permanent passes for off duty. I have been here over a month, asked for only one pass, and been refused that.

We are still in tents and the last three nights have been pretty cold, but last night I pinched an oil heater, and it was not bad at all. We have only three in the tent at night now and one in the day time, so it is pretty fair. I hope to pinch three mattress sections before night to-night which will make it better still. The boys who are sleeping inside have some bad colds, and as yet I have none, so I think the tents are much more healthy.

I am enclosing some pictures which I think you will be very pleased to see. I would like Nert to put them in an envelope and send them to Floss and tell her to simply say (in writing me) that she received some snaps from Nerta, but to pass no comments on any of them. There are certain restrictions, so I can’t send them direct or the fellow who owns the machine might get into difficulties for even having it. He says he will send it back to Canada as soon as he finishes another pack which is in it, and have a cheaper one sent him. He will send it to his sister to use, but will tell her more about later.

I have heard they censor some letters going to Canada now but more coming back. Have any of my later ones been censored? Oh! I forgot to say that I will send prints like these for you soon, but got these only last night and have to get more printed. Will also send filings later.

I wish O so much Mother that your conviction regarding the end of the war was true, but I am nearer the works, and am sure not. Christmas 1917 perhaps but this year never, unless God sees fit to take a hand in this terrible conflict, which we all hope and pray he will do.

Please don’t do anything about the “Post” till I am more settled. I really have no time to read anyway, I write all the time. I can occasionally keep a light on at night by shading it and steal a little read.

Friday night I had been writing and was going to bed at 8.45 and met one of the Sisters. She started telling me her troubles, she was in 3 pneumonia huts with only one orderly who was not much good, so I went and got my Great Coat and helped her till 11.15 then went to bed and read till twelve. I have been lying awake at nights. To bed at 9 or 10 every night for over a month I have got “slept up” for the first time in a long time. I may even go down to a show occasionally in the coming weeks. I have really not felt like it lately tho. These pneumonia huts are about ten feet square, two beds, very large doors on one side, windows on the other, they have wheels and a kind of track, so the doors can be left open and the hut revolved so the wind does not come in. Good idea for a sleeping porch Eh?

I think I explained about Christmas, in my last letter. Better let it slide. I will send you all and Floss, something which will be a souvenir of my trip, but of course, it will not be a great deal. I don’t know yet just what I can get, but will see, I think also I will have a photo taken, just a small one, and only about six, for Mitchell, Seaforth etc. Will of course also you one.

Say Earl Parker just walked in, and he tells me Lloyd Fick is right here too. You had better phone Mrs. Parker and tell her he looks fine and is fat.

I am sorry too, that my letters all catch the same boat. I will find our if I can, exactly when they leave and try to arrange it differently. In fact, I have been trying to post for the Tuesday and for the Friday boats, I think that is when they go. I would rather write and post the letters as I do now. You do not know how I enjoy writing to you all. It does me a great deal of good. I could send a great deal of this paper for a penny. I like it and it is cheap. I forget what by the quire, but only 9½ d. (19¢) for a 5 quire package, and envelope 4d. for 25.

I can sympathize with Nert on the dish washing proposition now. Tell her that when she is washing them, to remember I am too only for about 25 patients.

No matter how hard I work, I don’t think there is much chance of promotion, but the fellow in charge of 5, one of our own corporals, is not working well enough, so I think the Sgt. will move him out and then I think I will get charge. It is not much, but will help some. There is a M.B.C.H. permanent staff on tho who should get it, and perhaps he will.

I can find Bob Inch very easily and am within a few minutes of him right now, but rather hesitate as he is a major and I only met him the once. If I get time tho, I will look him up some day. Sure I can speak to them, in a case of that kind. Far more to those of other units than our own for that matter.

Emerson tells me that the council is giving the boys $10.⁰⁰ each and that we will get them too, hope so, I really wish you could keep Emerson at the house, he would be good company, and would be someone around. Even if he only roomed there. I would like it very much.

Some of the wounded are very badly wounded, but I don’t think any we ever get, die of their wounds. Generally pneumonia and one I know of, of cancer.

For Heaven’s sake, keep bright you have nothing to worry about, I am in no danger and in the best hands if ill. I am rather surprised at this, though they would pass up our illnesses, but find they could not be more attentive. My health still remains wonderfully well. Well I will close this book, as Earl and I are going to take a look for Lloyd Fick.

Lovingly,
Worth.