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Date: February 16th 1916
Letter

Abbotts Barton Hospital
Canterbury. Kent
Feby 16/16

Dear John

Received your valentine cable OK and was delighted. I can never repay all your thoughtfulness on my behalf. Major Gillies also came to see me. He was very cordial and is looking fine. I had another letter from Mr Junkin asking me to stay at "Ravenswold" when I get convalescent and get leave. Am not allowed out of bed yet, but am able to prowl around the bedroom when the nurses make the bed. The doctors are now considering putting my left forearm and hand in plaster of paris for six months or so to see how that will work. Had a gramophone by my bed yesterday and managed to work it with one paw. A fellow can learn to do a lot with one wing. I see by this mornings paper that the Huns took some part of a trench near Ypres. Its too Darn close to our bunch to be pleasant. I hope Jack is OK. He has been a good pal to me. If you hear anything of him being hit or anything please let me know, I sent him my address but have'nt heard from him. How is every one in Toronto. I got a letter of Teds yesterday that is just two months old. It chased me all over France, Belgium & England. The Canadian Records office in London finally sent it here. I guess its just as good for me to be in hospital in Blighty with a bum wing at present than holding the line on the Ypres salient, the way things are humming there now. The chap in the next bed heard this morning that a party (of which he would have been one had he not got wounded) started to bomb some Hun trenches and only four got back unwounded out of 50. He believes in Providence now. So do I. Am feeling better but fed up with lying in bed. Am very comfortable here. Love to all. Please tell them not to mind if I don't write often, its tiring. Affectionately Douglas

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