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Date: January 31st 1917
To
Father – (Edwin Davis)
From
Worth Davis
Letter

Canadian Military Hospital,
Eastbourne Sussex
31st/1/17.

Dear Father,

Here it is Wednesday again, and my afternoon. the stores are all closed, so there is no use going out to-day, it is also cold and the ground is white with snow, just white tho, that is all. You have no doubt seen that we are having the coldest weather in years. Of course here on the Channel, it is not as cold as further inland, but cool enough. It has not reached zero here but feels much colder.

When I was in the hospital at Moore Barracks, I missed my pay, and they have not been able to get a pay master to pay us here, so I ran short and had to get £1 from Begg. We will get paid to‑morrow tho, and I asked for £3 and one of the boys, ows me £1/10, so I will be O.K. When Nert’s next order comes, I will buy a pair of breeches to wear when out, and will start wearing my good puttees, which I have not used yet. The old ones are pretty bad tho. There is so much to do here, that it will get away with a good deal of money, but when we get busy, we will not feel so much like going out, perhaps, I am down town at least once nearly every day now, and sometimes twice.

I got your two letters on the same day, but have had none from Nerta, since leaving Moore B., neither has my parcel turned up as yet.

You say business for Dec. [3?]00.00 behind, I can hardly think that it is the B-N-mark but think you meant the P-C-mark, that is bad enough. The other would be fierce.

Too bad the gas is so low, that always seems to be the trouble with gas. Yes, things are getting different here, I believe half the train service has been cut off. But they had a tremendous number of trains, and then outside of the troop trains, there must be far less people to travel, so many have gone away.

I have broken my watch glass and can only get hunters. I break these so easily, and can’t seem to get even one of these here. I have no glass at all, on at present but will try again. If you have my other watch fixed up, you might register it to me, as I can’t get along without one and will have to leave this to get a glass.

I think I told you that Sinden was quite all right, but I would not be surprised to see him sent back to Canada. I don’t think he will ever see France anyway. I hear Hugh Mac Farlane is a Sgt. but unless he is an exceptional case, or comes with a unit, he will have to revert to the rank of private over here. The A.M.C. all do.

They are having some kind of a registration of women here much like the registration of men over there. I understand also that they are raising twenty battallions of women to go to France. Particularly for Carpenters etc, and all kinds of construction work. It is surprising the work the women are doing here. They will surely have to give them a vote after it is over.

It was another Davis, who had written Mrs Sinden. I was going to write, but Capt. Graves had written full particulars, just a day or two before.

Mc Guire will likely have some time transferring now, as it has come out in orders that before you can be transferred, you have to show, that it is for the good of the cause.

Last time I saw Geo Hollier, he did not know what he was going to do. There is a big re-orginization of the Canadian forces, and those for whom no billet can be found in France, will surely have to go home. But they should worry. Bob Wilson, as far as I know, went over as a Major for instruction. He will likely keep his rank.

Your affectionate son,
Worth.

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