hospital

Sunday 18 November, 1917  by

France: “I do not think I am going back to the Batt yet. Something has turned up for me, but I cannot tell you yet”

BEF
18.11.17

My Dear Mother

I now take the pleasure of writing a few lines home, hoping it will find yourself and all there still in your usual good health as this leaves myself not too bad at present. I am out of hospital again and getting on alright. I am getting down to the base depot today. So I expect to be back with the Batt in a few days. I am sure you imagined all sorts of things when I did not write to you but to tell the truth I was not able. Although it was nothing more than a severe cold. But you need have no fear for me as I am getting quite alright again. I got no letters since I went into hospital, so I am uneasy [?] to know how youse all are doing.

I had rather a nice letter from Mr Torrie on the day I left the Batt. It was very nice of him to think of writing to me.

The weather is got quite nice this last while, and I do hope it may continue. We had rather wet weather just before I went into hospital and I think that was what set me up.

Well it is wearing round to Xmas again. This is my fourth Xmas from home. Who would think it was so long, but perhaps all may be over for Xmas 1918 at least I hope it may be.

Well I shall think long [until] I get back to the Batt until I get a letter from home.

I think this is all now so I will close for this time. Hoping all at home are in good health.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

I do not think I am going back to the Batt yet. Something has turned up for me, but I cannot tell you yet, so do not write again until you hear from me again.

We’re not sure what has happened here, but (from the next letter) he appears to be in No. 2 Convalescent Camp in Rouen. We know that he was gassed, so a recurrence of respiratory infection could have put him in hospital.

Mr Torrie was Rev. Edwin George Torrie, the minister of Kingsmills Presbyterian Church from 1914-1920, who served as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps from May 1916 until June 1919. Source: History of Kingsmills Presbyterian Church.

in 1917 - France / 2010 upload / France / France 1917-1918 / Letter 0 comments
Tuesday 15 October, 1918  by

Birmingham: “My leg is in splints to keep it still”

[Undated]
[possibly a fragment at the end of a letter?]

Please excuse this short note as I cannot sit up in bed long at a time. You see my leg is in splints to keep it still.

Well this is all this time so I will close for the present. Hoping to hear from you soon.

I may have the pleasure of spending Xmas at home this year.

Good bye
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / England / Letter 0 comments
Friday 18 October, 1918  by

Birmingham: “I have still my leg in splints”

[Probably in Southern General Hospital, Birmingham – see previous letter]

18th October 1918

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter which I received alright this evening. And I am glad to know that your self and all at home are still enjoying your usual good health. As for myself I am going on as well as can be expected. I thank you very much for what you sent to me. It is really too much of you.

I had a letter from Jennie a few days ago and also a parcel today, with cigarettes in it. So I have got as much as will keep me going for a good while. I am sorry to hear of Mrs McComb’s death. It must have been a shock to the boys. I suppose none of the girls are at home. Mr Rentoul [?] had also a short reign out here. But the German shells have no respect of persons. They kill and maim whatever comes in their way. But it [is] all in the fortunes of war or rather the misfortunes.

Well Dear Mother [I] am getting along first rate. I have still my leg in splints. I have still got 6 days to lie on my back before they take them off. You see it takes the artery so long to knit and heal up. But I will be running about in a few days again.

I hope Jimmy is not working too hard but I suppose the most of the work is finished. Tell him he might write me a few lines some night he has time. I suppose the Dances will soon be starting for the winter. I was telling you they were talking of sending a few of us across to Ireland when I first came in here. But as I was not able to be moved at the time I did not hear anything more about it until this evening when they came around and [took] the names of all men belonging to Ireland. So whither [sic] they are going to send me across or not I do not know.

Well I think this is about all tonight. I will now close. Thanking you again for what you sent to me tonight. I shall not forget it.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

Tell Annie I shall write to her as soon as I am able to sit up. Hoping to hear from her soon.

in 1918 - Wounded / 2010 upload / England / Letter 0 comments
Tuesday 29 October, 1918  by

Dublin: there have been a lot killed this last while

St Patrick Ward
Mater Hospital
Dublin
29.10.18

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter which I received today. And I am glad to know that yourself and all at home are still in good health, as this leaves myself going on alright. I am a good deal better. My leg is nearly healed up, but I am still in bed.

I am sorry to hear of G Halliday being killed. I wonder what Batt he was with. I did not see him for a long time. But there have been a lot killed this last while. The CO of the 9th was killed the day after I left [possibly Lt Col P Kelly – killed by a shell on 11 Oct 1918 – see war diary]. I am sending you his photo he was a good man and he thought quite a lot of me. I was sorry to hear of him being killed.

Well I think this is all now hoping to hear from you soon again. I shall be glad to get those cigarettes which you have for me.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / 2010 upload / Ireland / Letter 1 comments
Wednesday 30 October, 1918  by

Dublin: “I am going on alright and will soon be able to walk about again”

St Patrick’s Ward
Mater Hospital
Dublin
30.10.18

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter of today. Am I am glad to know that all at home are still in good health. I am going on alright and will soon be able to walk about again. I am very sorry indeed to hear of young [Lew’s?] death. It must have been very sudden.

Well Mother dear I thank you very much for your parcel. The apples are very nice. And tell Jimmy I also thank him for the cigarettes which he sent.

I shall write to Annie as soon as I am able to move about which will not be long. I hope I said in my last letter I was finding you Col Kelly’s photo, but I forgot to put it in. I am sending it this time.

No more at present. Thanking you again for your parcel.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Friday 15 November, 1918  by

Dublin: “They are sending all North Men down to Belfast”

15.11.18
St Patrick’s Ward
Mater Hospital
Dublin

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines n answer to your ever welcome letter which I received alright this morning and I am glad to know that all at home are still in good health. I hope Annie has got alright again. I am sorry I have been so long in writing but we have been waiting this last week for to go to Belfast. And as I was expecting to go every day I did not write. They are sending all North Men down to Belfast. We go on Monday. So you need hardly write again until I send you my address in Belfast. I shall write to you as soon as I get there. I am going on alright. I shall soon be well enough to leave hospital.

I am sure you were glad to hear the news of an armistice being signed. It has caused some little disturbances in Dublin, but I do not think it will come to anything.

I think this is all now.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Monday 18 November, 1918  by

Belfast: “Tell Jimmy if he thinks of buying a new pair of boots I shall buy those that he has”

[undated – probably 18.11.18 – see letter 15.11.18]
Ward 7
Royal Victoria Hospital
Belfast

My Dear Mother

Just a line tonight to say I have arrived safe in Belfast. We left Dublin today at 1 o’clock and got here about 5.30. I am still going on alright and I hope so are you and all at home. I hope Annie has got alright again and that Jimmy is still keeping well.

I am glad to be in Belfast once more. The weather is lovely at present and I do hope it may continue as it is most pleasant. Tell Jimmy if he thinks of buying a new pair of boots I shall buy those that he has. I do not like paying so much money for a new pair for 7 or 8 days at home. But I do not like going about in those heavy ones. Tell him to write and tell me if he will sell them to me. And if he does he can send them to me while I am in hospital.

Well this is only a line tonight to let you know where I am. Hoping to hear from you soon.

I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Wednesday 20 November, 1918  by

Belfast: “I am still able to walk about”

20.11.18
Ward 7
Royal Victoria Hospital
Belfast

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter of today. And I am glad to know that all at home are still enjoying their usual good health as this leaves myself going on alright at present. I am still able to walk about and we are allowed out here from 2pm to 7pm every day. The weather is lovely at present.

Well Mother I thank you very much for what you sent to me. It was very good of you. I shall get along alright without the boots until I get home. I [do] not know how long I may be here, but I shall do my best to be home for Xmas.

I hope Annie is still keeping better and that Jimmy is going on alright.

Well I think this is all now. So I will now close thanking you again for the money.

Goodbye
I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

in 1918 - Wounded / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Tuesday 14 January, 1919  by

Belfast: “I wonder if Jimmy intends to go to that Dance”

Royal Victoria Hosp
Belfast
14.01.19

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your every welcome letter of today. And I am glad to know that yourself and all at home are still enjoying your usual good health, as this leaves me in the same at present.

The weather here keep[s] very nice. It has been like summer this last two days. We had none of that snow you speak of. Or at least very little. It stayed no time here.

I had no word from Jennie since I saw her but I am sure she is quite alright. I did not see Tommy since I came back. I may go over to see him before I go home but I do not know yet.

I wonder if Jimmy intends to go to that Dance at [Killeavy] Castle. Tell him I shall do my best to be home for it. But tell him I got an invite from another quarter. He will know who I mean. I hope it may be a much drier night than the last. Tell him to get the Patton’s for to drive up again.

Well I am glad that all at home are well. Well I think this is about all I can say now. So I will close with best love.

I remain
Your loving son
Johnnie

Hoping to hear from you soon again.

Note: Killeavy Castle is at the base of Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh

in 1918 - Wounded / Ireland / Letter 0 comments