1918 Letter 8
[1918]
Dear Papa
By this time you will have my cable about Don. I sent it this morning as soon as I heard as I did not know whether you would be notified by now.
It was a very great shock to me, but the letter looked strange and in a way it prepared me a little. I have not heard from Don for about three weeks and have been uneasy all the time – never felt it quite so much before – couldn’t settle to anything and found myself watching so anxiously for the mail. Have felt very depressed we who are Scotch do have presentiments I think.
I opened the letter and it seemed as if the world was ended. I had lots of work to do and it kept me busy till noon, and I was glad for I couldn’t even think. The letter is so definite that I feel we have a very great deal to be thankful for. "Missing" is so very much worse, and one’s feelings are so wrought up over possibilities of their being wounded and lying out there or in those vile German prisons, that I feel we have been spared the greatest sorrow this war can cause.
I have written Sgt. McAlister and hope you will too, and send him some tobacco or something. I will send [whenever] I can. His writing was an act of great kindness for they see so much of death that it is hard for them to write to everyone concerned. I am hoping to get across to France soon and will go up and see Don’s grave if I can possibly manage it. Now that we are advancing I think it ought to be fairly easy, as they will be shoving hospitals up all through there, and I have a very good friend in Miss Ridley.
I have sent a notice to the Times and to "Canada" – the chief papers read by Canadians over here, and will see after anything else you want done.
I have written Sgt. McAlister asking him or any of the men to come and see me if they are over on leave so may be able to find out more.
I am so glad he was here for his leave – he was happier than I had ever seen him in the army and was hoping to transfer to the Air Force. I think he enjoyed it here – I have just sent Mother some snaps of the 3 of us, and am so thankful we have them.
I have wired Eric to come up if he can. A friend of his came in yesterday and told me Eric was taken off the draft and was still at Seaford. I expect he thought he had told me but I did not know, as the last word from him was a wire saying he was on the draft. Mr. Mabb says he thinks they will keep him at Seaford as he is a valuable man. I hope he will be kept in England now. I am waiting for an answer to my wire – it ought to come soon.
I can only think of Mother and you, and would give my soul to be with you. This is a terrible blow to you. Don was such a steady reliable boy that we all depended on him so. Poor Mother will be broken hearted and if you want me to go home please tell me.
I will try to write again to-morrow but want to write to Mother and catch this post.
Oh Papa – I wish this could have been otherwise. I know what Don was to you, and all he would have been in the future, but it was a glorious way for him to go and we must be thankful for that.
Yours always
Helen.
Can. Officers Hosp.
Matlock Bath.
Oct. 22