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Date: January 4th 1917
To
Mother & All – (Mary Davis & family)
From
Worth Davis
Letter

[annotation at top of page: “answered”]

Bed 16. Ward 5
M.B.C.H.,
4/1/17.

My Dear Mother and All,

I will kill three birds with one stone to-day, and answer two letters from you, and one from Nert.

The reason, I have missed writing ten of my regular letters, is that as you see by the heading, I am admitted to hospital. My cold was much better, untill last Saturday, when it became worse. I doped up well at night, and went to bed early. Sunday morning, I was ready to carry on all right but it being my afternoon off, I decided to go to bed on the ward – we have quite a few empty beds now – and get rid of the cold for good. I took 20 grs. quinine, shot [lemmade?] and a mustard plaster on my chest. By Monday morning my cold was gone, but I had my old sore throat. Our M.O. was away as was Sister Charlton, but the supply M.O., gave me 24 hrs. from duty and sent a dip. culture up to the lab. Thank goodness it came back negative. Fortunately the supply sister, was Sister King, a No 10 girl from Kincardine who knows the Rev Wright very well. She did everything she could for me, and this morning I feel pretty well, ate dinner and tea yesterday, and Lester Jackson spent the evening with me yesterday. Fortunately, I had only eaten a couple of those shreded biscuits and with bovril, they kept me going from Sunday noon, till yesterday (Wed) noon. That was all I felt I wanted and they sure came in fine.

Had a letter yesterday from Regg at Seaford, and he says it is absolutely official, that we are to take over a new 450 bed hospital at Eastbourne, about eight miles from Seaford, and that the unit will all be to-gether, inside of two weeks. This sounds fine, and is very encouraging to us, but so many things can happen to upset such plans, that we don’t pay any attention to them any more, till we get orders to move.

I hope to be up to-morrow, but wont get up, till I am fit to go right on duty, as I don’t want to monkey around here, it is too tiresome.

I had about a twelve page letter from Ivy Olds in Simcoe on Saturday, and it was a most interesting letter too. I don’t suppose you remember when she went to High School about ten years ago, but you may remember the name.

Surprised to see by your note with the clippings, that you are having such mild weather. We also have it that way, very seldom having frost.

Frank came down to see me Saturday night but I was down in the Y. or my billet and he did not see me. Very sorry too as he is perhaps in France by now. I hear he is to go any minute, but only one other from “C.” Co., another sgt.

No, Sandgate is just at the foot of the hill we are on. The main part of the business street is probably three or four minutes walk, but houses extend all along below, the hill, there is practically only one street, as the space between the foot of the hill and the beach is very narrow. The hotel we are in is just at the foot of the hill, and it is a good seven minutes climb when dry. When wet you have to climb it about twice, before you get up.

The eight of us who were in the basement room, included No 8 and No 10 Stn. Hosp. and one Co. office man, then two or three others have joined us since. I believe tho that since I have been sick, our original abode has been condemned, and the occupants of the other flats, have all taken up rooms in the hotel we are in.

O! Say, Nert please send me two prints off each of those films I sent you. I want to send some more still.

The day I went to Sandling, I met Happy, Jack (Ault) and McBain, on the way Hythe. They were to return early, and see me again, but the 168th was so scattered, and it got dark so early, that I did not see them again. I did not see Wilfred McGuire, Dr Weston, nor several others as had so much difficulty finding them. Saw tho, Frank Coaller, Holland, Fisher, Crossett and most of the QM. Staff and some of the Pay staff. They were in the Q.M. Tent, where I found the officers. All seemed pretty busy.

No further parcels as yet, but I am living in Hopes, as everything is so late.

Glad Mir. is accepted, and sure hope she is successful, as the unsuccessful ones are a curse to the patients. Our sister King is a peach, very thorough.

I have your letter next from Exeter, Nov 30 and glad to know you had such a good time. There is really nothing tho to answer.

Lovingly,
Worth. 

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