Lord Derby War Hospital
Ward 2 up E
Warrington
June 14

My Dearest Ethel,

You poor dear girl, how sorry I am to hear of your sickness, and soon after writing you will hear that I am wounded.  Thank God not fatally.

You should have got my card addressed in my own hand, saying that I was going to the base which should have assured you that I was not too bad.  Now two more of your letters have arrived from [?] France and I see that you have heard the sad news of Jacks death.  He was in my mind all the time during the advance and following day I came home from the ridge across the 1st Division area and examined the dead who still lay on the field in search of him and was relieved at not finding him.  Your latest letter (10th May) tells me you are up again and I can assure you I thank God that you had such good friends to help you.  I hope you will lose no time in getting out home and try to take care of yourself and get better.  There is no doubt I can get my discharge for I

(DONT READ THIS OUT LOUD)

shall not be fit for the front any more.

In addition to the wound in my thigh (groin) and leg near the knee there is damage to my “private machine”.

When the Dr came out and gave first aid we joked about it.  “You’ve lost one of your nuts but you’ll be a man still” he said and we laughed and the ambulance attendant gave me a cigarette and I got along fine.  But the front line and support lines fighting is terrible and I am so sorry for all our troops who are in it.  Friends here dont realize that it is the best of luck to get a wound like mine to be candid.  To get out of it, away from Death, screaming shells, the dirt, the lice, away to dear old Blighty that is the nearest approach the soldier can conceive of Paradise.

See the enclosed.  Never mind your parcels dear, we have so much to be thankful for and they will cheer those who are left.

[remainder of letter missing]