Mason War
East Suffolk hos.
Epswich
Aug 5th 17.

Dear Mother.

Sunday again and still in my bed but I think that another Sunday will see me up either on a crutch a wheel chair I sure am sick of the bed and even a chair would beat this. Nine weeks today since I was wounded & I thought by this time when I had first got hit that I would be ready for France again, but I soon learned that I was doomed for longer & for a better country, Canada. Not this! for say I do detest this country. It is full of immorality & even in the hospital here its about all the most of the men can talk & think of. There is an awful rotten bunch in here. Talk about the Colonial troops they are gentlemen beside them. This town has the name of being one of the worst & they seem proud of the fact. They can't send me back to good old Canada which at her worst is better than this at her best, ("I don't wonder at the war") one bit to soon. If they don't send me there then they can send me to France as soon as I can get on my feet, but that is out of question for though my knee & ankle may get workable again, "as I think they will", I will never be able to stand very much heavy work on it again such as marching etc. They may keep me at some job at the base either here or in England but I don't think so far it will be some time before I can walk & they don't keep anyone to long here when they are of no use to them. The trouble is I am the picture of health in every other way & they imagine there is nothing much wrong. I'd sure hate to be in this hospital with any thing serious the matter with me for I have only seen a Dr. about three times & he has never taken the trouble to look at my wounds at all. He looks to darned lazy & stupid for anything & I am rather glad he does not bother me, for Id hate to have him meddle with the leg when it is doing so well.

I am glad they kept me in France until I was well on the way to recovery. It does take a long while to heal these little wounds. Im sure they would heal in half the time at home However it will all be forgotten in ten years time except when the scars remind us but thank goodness I have none on any place where they will show except a slight scratch on the left temple which will disappear before long & one on the back of my hand.

Here this won't do, I have just been looking back & see that this
is a decidedly blue letter. I feel a bit homesick today I think which accounts for it. I think it is the first since I was wounded that has been blue but the bunch here are mostly a poor lot & it isn't near so cheery as the one I was in in France. Then this cursed country gets on my nerves. It is lovely to look at but it is a case of man looketh on the outward appearance & the heart is so poorly hidden that he can also see the heart of it which in this case spoils the outward appearance. Fancy a country constantly quibbling over the price of beer when they have a war on their hands to look after.

Well how is everything at home I hope to be back in it again before long but one never knows in the army what they will do with you, I hope the hot weather does not trouble you to much.

Oh say I got that money order cashed O.K. a few days ago after about a month of negotiations. I also wrote to the Pay office for some but do not expect any results.

Well it is almost tea time so I guess I will have to quit for this time. Im sorry but I can't seem to write today at all. Its the first fit of blues Ive had but they will soon wear off. Love to All.

Lovingly

Rae