1915 Letter 18
France.
May 11th, [1915]
Dearest Mother,
Your letters have come in a wonderfully short time. The last one written April
28th arrived to-day. I am forwarding one of Eric's letters in fact
the only one I've had for some time and in it he says to cable you that he is
well. I scarcely knew what to do.
We who have brothers over here decided that the shock would be worse than
the uncertainty. So for that reason I didn't. The cable facilities here in Boulogne
are only fair but after this if you like I can cable once a week if only to
say we are well.
Eric says in his letter he met George. I was afraid the Ninth Batt. had gone
up, for I wrote him a couple of times and have had no answer.
I am so pleased about the cot at Shornecliffe Hospital. No memorial to Aunt
Iva could have been more fitting. I wonder if Aunt Lauder did it. Yes I sent
her some cards. I have certainly blessed her name thousands of times on account
of that rug.
Eric wrote that he had lost his kit - so I went into Boulogne this afternoon
and got him a lot of things. I found a place where they make awfully good "pull"
taffy and have a box for him, and will send more regularly. I also got him [potted]
meat, cigarettes, socks as he has now no reserve supply, toothbrush & paste,
handkerchiefs, note paper etc. & a cake.
So many of the men coming in have lost everything. They laid their extra equipment
down in most cases before the advance and never found it again. The men who
have been out since August say the Ypres was worse than Mons and Neuve Chapelle
put together.
This hospital is doing very good work I believe and may move farther up soon.
We are doing the work of a Clearing Hospital at present as are most of the hospitals
around Boulogne - we evacuate every day and every night we have two or three
convoys. To-night we have had two so far and another is just coming in. We are
about as near to the rail way as we are at home and can see the ambulance trains,
troop trains and stores moving up and down. A train went down about an hour
ago and shortly after the procession of ambulances appeared along the top of
the hill coming from Boulogne - their lamps like two bug eyes in the dark -
and over all the search lights. Some times they keep moving all night, as they
are tonight sweeping the entire heavens. And the funny part of it - that we
feel so absolutely at home among these surroundings. You'd think active service,
and it's very active these days, had been our lot from childhood. And it surely
is "worth while". I've done lots of things that while they were interesting
never seemed to satisfy in the way this work does. We are often tired but never
bored.
I see {blacked out by censor} name mentioned as being one of the nurses coming with the {blacked out by censor}hospital. Perhaps {blacked out by censor}won't think his influence is as great as he thought, now.
I am glad to have Alan's address and must write him tonight. I heard he had
been wounded but see another Townsend among the names so the men were probably
mistaken.
Well Mother dear, I must stop and get the new men fed. You'd love that part
of the business for they are so hungry always and enjoy whatever we give them
so much.
The Canadian casualty list is terrible but many of those listed as wounded
must be back with their units by this time as they are not serious in a great
many cases.
Good-night now and don't worry about me at all, and remember that I'll let
you know at once if I'm ever sick. At present I feel fine. Love to Papa -
Yours always,
Helen