Ravens Croft Mil. Hosp,
Seaford, Sussex
14/2/17.

Dear Dad,

Here I am at the “Y” again. I come over here nearly every night for a while, write and then get to bed about 9.30. I don’t feel like going down town at night, and this is a little change and I am out in the air for five or ten minutes. Every night here there is a lecture, concert party, or some kind of amusement. When there is a concert party they come to our hospital for about three quarters of an hour first. They were there last night, and again to-night. The partition between hall and writing room has been taken down here, so I can sit here and write and listen at the same time.

I am glad to say that my delayed mail has arrived. Mother’s of the 9^th and 18^th Nert’s of 13^th and Your’s and Floss’ of 15^th. I will answer Nert and Mother later.

That sure is some bright paper, but no doubt will sell as novelties in that line always do. Rather funny tho, that they over charged you. Was surprised to hear of Brown’s fire. They are unfortunate as the house was so nice inside.

How funny you are having so much cold weather. It is much colder here than usual tho, and I am rather glad, as it seems to have kept the blessed rain away. The less rain the better opportunity our men will have in the drive this Spring. My opinion is tho, that the war will not be ended this year, that is fought to a finish, of course either side will give in. You have no doubt read of the “Victory Loan.” This is supposed to be sufficient money to push the war to a victorious close in six months. It may be, but I doubt it. It is surprising the number of young girls and young women, who are investing in this, I only found out, by having to wait till they finished at the Post Office, before I could get waited on. Everything here points to an early closing of the war. They are raking out those who have not been to France and pushing them over. Every fit man is being sent out, I heard a draft of the poor beggars marching out this morning before I was up. There are no guards of honor nor firing parties now tho, they are just led out by a band.

The subs are certainly busy just now and right here, as a ship on the beach below shows, if the torpedo exploded tho, it did not get in a very good job, and they were able to beach the boat. I hope to get down town on Friday and will try to see it then. They have got three boats right off here and Eastbourne in a week, but I know of three of their subs, our people have got out here in the same time, so we are not asleep. We believe the Germans have put out close onto 200 subs in this campaign, but she is losing not a few.

The only way we really feel the pinch is in sugar. I suppose it is because it is a heavy and bulky cargo. There seems to be enough for cooking, but we get sugar on nothing. I really miss it, too.

Coal here is not scarce, but there is great difficulty in getting it delivered. This is about the only thing the women are not doing, or at least I have not seen them doing it. The majority of station masters even, around here, are fairly young girls, and it looks funny to us to see them in their big coats and braided caps. They say it is really wonderful, the shipbuilding, etc. that they are doing. It is what Miriam used to talk of doing, but over here, she would be conscripted to do it.

You were sure wise to get the noon papers off your hands.

I had a field postal, from Frank Darrow, so they are in France all right. I don’t know tho, how many of them made it.

Mother must not worry if my letters miss, because everything is so uncertain just now, and I am quite sure that more than one letter will find it’s way to the bottom. If there is anything wrong tho, she would know it soon enough I am particularly well just now, with little work, and lot’s of sleep. I only have one officer to look after now, and he is not very sick. We strapped his left side this morning, and it really did me good to stick that beastly adhesive on him. Outside of him I have a couple of special patients to dress and about thirty “temps,” to take at 4 P.M. no meals to look after and no dishes to wash. I even get time to read a few pages of “Optometry” each day on the ward, so I am not overworked. It will be really hard work in Eastbourne, but it is such a fine place and the work will be so interesting that we will not mind.

I don’t know just what I will get to do over there, but would like the laboratory or dispensary but will very probably be put on surgical ward work, and if I am, I will raise the deuce of a holler if they don’t put me on with Henderson. I am on with Capt Moriarty now, and he is the best M.A. I have ever been on a ward with, he appears to be clever as the deuce too. He is an Irish R.C., but most human.

I am sure sorry, you are feeling so miserable. Have you a boy in the store? He could take a good deal off you and help Miss Stover a good deal. Don’t let her do all she will do, as she cannot stand it and will be laid up. Does she wear her glasses all the time? She never mentions her eyes, but I asked her last time I wrote. With glasses, she can stand twice as much as without. Also if Miriam, would wear her glasses on duty and reading, she could stand those “feeds,” but without glasses, she is constantly being pulled down.

Had card from Miss Campbell in Thomson’s to-day. I sent her a card at Christmas.

Sure glad you landed that tender for school clocks. That beggar will get enough of ours while you have no man, anyway.

It is just about as bad as doing “C.B.” here, but not quite. They refused me a permanent midnight pass, not that I would use it often, but want have it handy. I will try for a pass for Friday afternoon and if they refuse I will give them some reason to give me real ‘C.B.” Our boys at Eastbourne are getting it right and left, and for the nearest offences.

Lovingly,
Worth.

P.S. –
You may be surprised, that I am going back to one of my old hobbies, stamp-collecting. The war has made some changes in captured states etc and I think I will pick up a few of the odd issues while here. Will register them to Nert to be put in safe.
W.W.D.