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Seaford
28/3/17

Dear Mother,

Well I have heaps of letters from you, having received the one of 1/3/17 with order No 1628 and one of 8/3/17, as well also one from Emerson 10/3/17. There was a big A.P.A. mail came to town to-night, so I will likely have more to-morrow. Even when addressed Seaford, some come thro A.P.A. I do not think I have lost any letters, altho it is possible.

Before I answer these, I will tell about the past few days. Yesterday (Tues.) there were ten T.B. patients from my floor to go to Hastings, but Monday, just after I came on duty, one of them died, then about 3 A.M., another patient died on the top floor. That’s going some Eh?

Well Tues A.M. when I came off duty, I dressed up and left at 10.30 as escort with the other nine patients. Capt. Turner (St Thomas) came along too, as a couple of them were not very well. I asked to go, as I wanted a change and wanted to see some of the 8^th boys who are staffing the Hastings hospitals. I had a good visit with them, saw all the business portion of the town, a play all but the last act, and left at 9.30 getting home about 11.30. I had dinner and as it was 30 hours since I had any sleep, I sat down in a chair and slept till 4 A.M., as no one was very sick, then got busy again. This made only 4 hours of sleep in the 37, which is hardly enough, but I enjoyed my outing. I slept all day tho except for an hour, when I had to get up for a [?] parade. It was worth while tho, as I am getting one pair of shoes and two kaki shirts now and a new tunic in about a month.

I am enclosing some clippings which are good and I think authentic. You had better keep them, and I will try to send the entire series. Perhaps [?] Law, would like to use them.

The women munition workers here now number practically 200,000. Of course, they do any kind of work that comes under that department, not only factory work. There are also two battalions of women ready for France as cooks stenographers etc, and more (up to 20 Batns.) will be sent over, some for construction work. I will not be surprised to see them in the front line next.

I got a “Times” and “Press” O.K., but have had no “Observers” for a month. They may come now tho.

Eggs and butter are very much down here now. Butter only 1/10 or 44¢. I believe potatoes are about half your price, but very hard to get. The Govt, sets a maximum price for such things. We get potatoes every other day.

Better not do anything about the prayer book, as I wont be able to carry very much soon.

Yes, the girls over here are regular devils. They smoke, drink and swear and I have met one or two who even eat chocolates, I said “darn” in front of Postie the other day and she nearly threw a fit. She is a Mic. too, but we should worry. I am going to try and get a good one in Brighton so I will have a home there, when I go down.

The hospitals Sam spoke of are the V.A.D’s and are British, these girls give “voluntary aid,” getting no remuneration, and most of our boys, prefer them to Canadian hospitals.

Never hear of Theo Coleman.

You had better eat rice instead of potatoes too, so you will have plenty for seed, then when you do plant them, plant mostly eyes and not the whole potato. You could get a couple of meals of mashed ones and plenty of seed this way. I think food will be scarce before it is more plentiful. Of course it will not likely bother you over there.

I heard that Hollier was not going back, had something here, but know they are getting rid of all the officers they can, to cut down expenses. Can’t blame them either. Saw Alex Lovgood for a minute on Saturday and he expected to go to France this week.

Very much surprised that Ontario women are getting votes as I did not think there was anything like that on. They will certainly have to give them votes here after the war tho.

I have a little cold and had a sore throat for a while yesterday. It doesn’t amount to much tho and I keep right after it. My temp does not go up at all so guess it is pretty nearly better.

Lovingly,
Worth.