No 32.
14th Can. Gen. Hosp.
22/10/17.
Dear Dad,
I have a couple of your letters now, as well as one from Mother & one from Miriam. The underwear will likely be in on the next mail.
No. 10., is no more, so in future my address will be just, no, name etc, and Canadian Army Medical Corps, Army P.O., but for the present put 14th Canadian Gen. Hosp.
Eastbourne,
I don’t know what they will do with us, nor how long we will be here, but we have started our gas. course. I think it probable that we will be here for some time yet.
When sending me parcels, please send sugar, each time but do not mark it on the declaration. They would likely take it out, but if the parcel is sewn up, I don’t think they will open it, unless sugar is declared. Sugar is scarce here, and there is every likelihood of us being reduced to half our present ration, which runs about one pound per man, for all purposes. Outside of sugar tho we still have plenty of everything.
That was sure a fine hit the French made, bringing down those Zeps, but Fritz rather put one over on that convoy of ours in the North Sea.
We have eleven V.A.D. cooks here now, and I believe more coming. They are signing up thousands of women here, for all branches. A great many of them are acting as motor transport drivers, both here and in France. If the war does not look like an early ending, in another six months, I believe there will be at least ten battallions of girls signed up in Canada, for service in England, and possibly France. It is surprising the work women are doing, and right up behind the lines too. They are certainly doing their share in this war. Millions of the girls signing up here, have never done a day’s work, outside their own homes, as the working girls have been on areoplanes, munitions, etc, for a long time.
Too bad you had coil trouble, but likely it is short circuited. They can be rewound, but don’t know how they charge, and what the results are.
Sims goods and silver have certainly gone up some, but they just have to pay for it. Believe me. There is plenty of money flowing around this country. If a fellow could get discharged in this country, and go into the armature finishing, he could, with two or three good girls, make some cash, believe me.
No I did not hurt myself when I fell down the stairs. They are cement and of course I was bruised, but I just let everything go, and saved myself as well as I could. I don’t have any of that work to do now, and very little book work either. I do the thinking now, and let someone else do the work and worrying. I did it long enough, I don’t know how long it will last tho. I have about 2 hours book work a day, except at the end of the month. I am always helping someone else tho, or doing a round of the wards, helping the sisters get their dieting straightened out, etc.
That new three cent stamp with the confederation picture on, is a good one. You had better buy me fifty (unused) and have them put in the safe in waxed paper. Also have all the used ones clipped & saved. Are there any other stamps in the set, or just the one?
About McKin. applying for exemption, he is a darn fool if he does not. I think that dispensers, will be exempt anyway. The game now is to keep out of this thing by anyway possible, not to get into it. Tell Kim to send me a suspensory every other month.
I think it would be absolutely foolish to take either Frank or Tindall, they will both be called up inside of three or six months anyway. It would be poor policy to take Tindall back, and I think with Frank & Olive it would be trouble all the time. Besides you could not afford to pay them, what he should get. Of course this is a matter that you alone, have to decide. What is Frank doing now? And how is he getting on? Personally, I don’t think he will be “heavy” any place but a bank, as it is the only line upon which has developed, and it is hard to change all that.
It is now 3 P.M. I slept from 12.30 to 2.15, and am now done for the day. I started this letter before dinner but did not get time to finish it.
Sure am glad about Wilfred McGuire, and hope he lives to benefit by it.
Love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Worth.
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