Lord Derby War Hospital
Warrington Lane
England
(Ward 2 up E)
June 11th 1917
Dearest Ethel
Your letters have at last come back from France, those written up to the end of April [? line illegible]
You will read the enclosed letter which leave no doubt that poor old Jack was killed on April 28th. When I went to his Battalion Headquarters tho’ they had no news of his death. Some of the men in his platoon said that they had hear that he had died. I refused to accept that unless they were sure of it but they could not say for certain.
What a blow this will be to you all especially your parents. I will write them. I wish so much that I had seen him again after they reached the Arras front. I took a day off [?] to Arras which was then their Area but they were in the line but I blame myself now for not making a more determined effort to find him. It is very sad when the boys go down whose homes are in Canada, so far away from their friends and country. The fighting and shelling is frightfully heavy during these offensives. So many of our boys are killed or wounded.
This is the last of my pad and as we are in quarantine for Diptheria dont know when I should get some more. As regards myself I hope the period of your anxiety is at an end for by now you should be getting some letters from me. There are all anxious that I should not get better too quick but there is no fear of that as it will take months for these wounds to heal up. I am making satisfactory progress and my hope is that I shall make Canada some time this year, to [?] [?] or not.
Nats eldest girl Madge and her fiancé were here to see me yesterday. They are a nice couple. He is a traveller in what we would call Gents Furnishings.
This hospital is a most delightful place, meaning, largely the grounds. The Nurses are very kind and obliging food is good and plentiful and there are no restrictions like in most places of this kind.
I really dont know what to do about your troubles. I may write to the Pat. Fund people but what the good if you are going on the farm
Dont forget to leave [remainder of letter missing]
[Editor note: The Jack referred to in the letter was his wife’s brother John McCallum LeRoy, Stigant’s brother in law, killed on April 28th.]
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