No. 73.
France,
17/5/18.

My Dear Mater,

Just a few lines now while I have the time and I will try to finish to-night. I am enjoying a real American band, which has come up to the grounds to play for us to day.

It has been terrible lately and to day is the first I have been able to write. Believe me, you have to hand it to one O.C. He personally directed the removal of wounded and injured from ruins, under heavy fire, walked into the operating theatre, worked the balance of the night at the table and when I came on after six he was making rounds with the French authorities, I know that he was on the job continuously till noon, after which he may have had some sleep. Under these circumstances, hours seem like weeks and I don’t see how he stands it. However last night, we had a nights sleep, and we are all here, thro another miracle. Fully twenty-five of the staff are in hospital, sick. I don’t know just what is the matter. It makes it very hard for the boys who are carrying on. – The band boys are supplying solos now to soft band music – it is fine of them. Have to get to work now, more later.

Just after 8 PM and still have a few minutes work, but I must finish this tonight. O! how I wish that I was at home, if just for a day. You get so beastly fed up and to-day has been awful. Will tell you all about it some day I hope. I am glad glad glad tho, days when I haven’t time to think.

We’ll go to another page. Forget this is so thin.

Cable arrived OK. a couple of days late, but believe me, nevertheless, appreciated. Do you remember how I felt when I landed in Sudbury? I feel just that way to-night. How good a lonely rock forty miles from there would look to me.

My many promised parcels have not arrived yet, but I am not worrying, as more are coming in. There is a tie-up some place and the tonnage is needed. Had a nice letter from Aunt Mart, she kindly enclosed a draft, says they are refusing parcels there altogether.

Have three of your April letters, which I will answer now, and O.! say, I have two little boxes, made from imitation shell cases, which I am going to send home for the girls, they will make good hairpin boxes or for cigaretts, if they are smoking yet.

No definite word in anyone’s letters re the Huntley Co. yet. Do hope they rebuild, as it will likely mean a good deal to the town in later years and these concerns usually attract more.

Frank Waller likely kept them so busy keeping track of him in England, that they would not put him thro for the R.A.F.

I have not the slightest idea, how many pairs of white sox came thro, but I feel quite sure that nothing has been lost; and everything arrived O.K. as to condition.

Don’t get much earlier than you – six o’clock, but as you say, our rest is disturbed rather too often. Never have a touch of hay-fever now, thank goodness, as I have enough to worry me, as it is.

I am mighty glad you were able to get to Hamilton and Toronto. Think what a time we could all have had to-gether. It’s too bad that Jack is being called up. He will hardly make a soldier owing to his size, but his ability should be useful for office work etc.

I’ll bet Nert’s indigestion would leave in hurry if she put on her plus correction, even if just for studying. Her correction is a fairly heavy one. She will find less indigestion in eating such plain food than in the meals she had at home.

I am terribly sorry you did not get up to see [?], as I know she would have been glad to see you.

You surely had some visit at Mabell’s, a regular re-union.

Well my Dear, it is bed time so I must finish and away.

Lovingly,
Worth.