Ward 27

No16 Can. Gen. Hosp.

Orpington 7.11.18

Dear Cath:

I can’t think of any news worth mentioning, so you needn’t expect much of a letter today. This outfit really is the limit – absolutely nothing to see or do, much less write about. I was fed up with the place within 24 hours after my arrival so you can imagine how I love it now after ten days. The hosp. itself consists of some 45 or 50 huts containing 46 beds each & is situated in a nice quiet (and really very pretty) part of the country a mile or so from the village. As for the village itself, my impression of it is – half a dozen stores, the “White Hart” Inn, a small church which sports a so-called soldiers’ club, and a policeman.  I took a trip down there on two different occasions – the first time to give the town the once over and the second time because I had to do a little shopping. Outside those two journeys, I have been at home ever since I blew in here. We are allowed out within a radius of 3 miles every day from 1 – 730 P.M. but I prefer to stay in and enjoy myself (?) There are two consolations: we are allowed an all-day pass to London once a week and I expect to take a run over there on Saturday. The other consolation is that I don’t expect to be here long. The M.O. said my arm was O.K. and I’m not taking treatment of any kind so things are looking up.

I think I told you about being invited out for tea just before leaving London. Well I went “according to plan” and had quite a fine time. There were about a dozen guests all told and the “tea” was in reality a young dinner, followed by music + a little dance. I don’t know what time the party broke up for I had to leave shortly after six in order to get back to the hosp. by seven, but proceedings seemed to be in full swing then. Was sorry I had to leave so early. 

Say, I’ve been trying to puzzle out those latest sentences you send me but on my word I can’t make head nor tail of them. A lot of good my latin lessons have done me – I’ve forgotten everything I ever knew about the crazy stuff. 

And what do you think of the war news now? Germany thrown over by her allies and her envoys supposed to be on the way to meet Foch with the white flag! It sounds almost too good to be true, yet it’s quite possible + not at all improbable that hostilities may have ceased before you get this letter. What now?  The only question that worries me now is that of trans – Atlantic transportation. How long will it take to get the troops back home again?  Who will go first – the troops at the front or the walking cases (such as yours truly) now in hosp. However, we’ll all get there some day that’s certain, but it’s going to take more than one rowboat to do the trick. Kind regards to all.      ~Les.