Ward G.
Canadian Milit Hospital,
Kirkdale, Liverpool.
Dec. 28., '17.
My dear Lulu
You will be surprised to read the above address and date; just as surprised as I am myself. The second day after Xmas day - yesterday - I received a telegram from Melvin advising me to return at once. Of course consternation reigned in the gathering as I hurriedly downed my blues and hurried away to the railway station & to Liverpool. There I found that another boat was about to leave & that a list of passengers was prepared. But when I sought my own name amongst the elect, mine was missing. Then I set to work to try to "get it on". And I think I have succeeded. But I dare not telegraph yet, for fear that it is not true.
And I wonder whether it can be true, my dear Lulu! It does not seem possible. But if it is true, I may be with you before this letter reaches you.
Melvin & Capt. Burns have both tried to get me on the list and it seems probable that it is true. If it is, I shall do my very best to get leave before going West and hurry over to Digby. If I cannot do that I shall try for leave as soon as I get West & hurry back East. You see I want to get to my Convalescent Home at the Parsonage & to get under the care of my 'Nurse'.
Tonight is a wild night at this hospital. Hundreds of the men has forced their way out of the gates in spite of the C.B.. There are wild shouts even now. To pacify them they have permitted the lady friends of the patients to come into the grounds. It is almost laughable.
It was too bad to see the faces of my people when I read the telegram yesterday. Surprise, consternation & sorrow. They looked at me, said little, and then one - my sister Ellen said quietly, "He wants to go." And I had to agree. Of course I too felt badly, for I didn't know whether I should ever see them all again, & it was hard to part. I did the best I could however, made a little joke and left them all with a smile. But my heart ached.
But we all agreed that it had been a very happy time we had had together during the past eight days. God had been very, very good to us, & possibly we had never had such a family reunion as this year & we had enjoyed it to the full. Most of the children I had no chance to say good-bye to even, for we were on our way to another place when it came. They will always remember this Xmas, if only for its almost dramatic close.
The probability is that we shall board the hospital ship tomorrow sometime, and will sail sometime after that. If all goes well we should land at Halifax about Jan 7., or 8...
I am bringing over a whole lot of pictures belonging to Capt. Melvin. He wants me to take them to his wife in Winnipeg. They are a little heavy but I do not anticipate any serious difficulty with them. I shall have a kit bag too so I shall be well loaded for a one & a half handed man.
If it turns out to be true that I am really going, and if I possibly can do it, I shall send you a cable. But what is the use of my writing that , for you will have the cable long before you read this, if I send it. And if I dont send it, you will read this & only be disappointed. Never mind, dear Lulu, we can perhaps explain better when we get together. If I should not go on this boat, dont be too disappointed, for another will likely go in another three weeks, & I really believe they could not leave me out of that too.
The last few letters to you have been written in the midst of excitement of one kind or another & this is no exception. We are preparing to go to bed. Perhaps for the last time on English soil. I love this land; it seems full of beauty & "homes". Its people have treated me royally. I hope they have not entirely spoiled me.
I am afraid I shall not get any word from you until I get to Canada. Even then it must take sometime before I can get you word of any settled address & get an answer. And all the time I do not even know of your safety, for I have heard nothing since the Halifax disaster.
Well, my Lulu, I must close "roll in". May God protect & bless you, & keep us both until we meet again.
With very best love,
Yours as ever
Tom.
