"over Here"
Sept 24/1918.
My Dear Mother:
I wrote a short note this morning as I was afraid another day would probably mean a weeks delay at home and you would be wondering what was the matter with me.
As I said this morning this has been one of the busiest weeks I have ever had since I joined the army. To go into detail would be impossible However I can tell you roughly what has happened.
Where I last wrote I think I was very comfortably settled in charge of a detachment in an old farm house. Just as we were settling down for a few easy days an order came along for me to move to another area. So we all packed up again and marched to our new billets only to find they were full up. At this time I met another officer I knew quite well so he kindly told me to come along with him This we did. I put up on the floor in his room and my men brorracked with his.
Next day we were off again and finally I rejoined the unit where we are now. At that time one of the majors and I were the only two here so we hardly knew what to do first there was so much to be done. We were kept continually on the go until yesterday the Colonel returned off leave and a new officer was sent to help us. Within the next few days we expect a couple more of our officers to come back from leave so we will soon be on the other extreme. - nothing to do.
This is a most comfortable place. In fact it is a hospital. We have large frame huts full of real hospital beds and all appliances for real medical work. - Certainly too good to be true for a field Ambulance. But now, of course, we are doing the "Rest Station" work so we do not expect to be roughing it like we were when ‘in the line' last time.
I have quite a comfortable large room which I am sharing with the new officer who arrived yesterday.
As well as looking after incidental sick parades in the area, admitting and discharging the ambulance sick I have had about 150 patients to look after myself during the last few days now though things will be shared up more and more each day as the other men return.
Talk about packing and unpacking kit. I beat all records for the seven days before arriving here. Inside of one week I had slept in six different places which meant I moved an equal number of times and packed & unpacked my kit on each occasion. My servant certainly has the art of packing down to a science now.
Yesterday a notice came from headquarters asking where they could find me when I go on leave. This sounds very much like my leave coming around fairly soon. I think I will put in some place in N. Wales as they will make out my railway ticket for there and I can probably spend a few days in those parts after I have seen Vance and Jim. It may be that Stewart and I will be going over about the same time. I hope so anyway.
So you people went to Cookstown for the remainder of the holidays. Not much of a holiday for father to work harder than ever but still I suppose he enjoyed the change quite well. - Am glad to know the harvest has been so good again.
By now probably Harry Goodwin is a real airman. It is hard to think those boys are now of military age. They certainly will be popular in what-ever unit they join. of course they will both take out commisions I hope.
Gloss's certainly have had a time fixing up the old house. Labour must be hard to find. When they are finished with it they will certainly have made a wonderful improvement.
Well, I think I have told you most of the exitement of the last week. I will hope to write again in a few days. as it will soon be the week-end again and I always try to write on Saturdays or Sunday.
Lovingly
Charlie
