Frederick Joseph Bird No. 401306, 1st. Batt. Canadians
“I was buried in the trenches, and you may be sure I thought my last moment had come. My chum next to me was killed – instantly killed…” Fred Bird, England 15 Sept. 1916
Hut 11, Frensham Military Hosp.,
Nr. Farnham, Surrey,
England
September 15, 1916
Dear Lallie:-
You will see by the above address that I am back again in England and in
hospital. But am thankful to say I have no open wounds. Just a severely
sprained back and my nerves are badly shaken up. I was buried in the
trenches, and you may be sure I thought my last moment had come. My chum
next to me was killed – instantly killed. Something seemed to tell me
the day before that I was going to get it.
I have been in the
hospital two weeks now, counting the time I was in the Australian
Hospital before I came to England. Yesterday was the first time I was
out of bed for an hour or two. I am to shaky to walk yet, but am getting
along nicely. On Wednesday who should visit me but Johnnie. I was so
pleased to see him. He is near us at Whitley. We are 31 miles past
London-rather a long way from home. I told dear Ettie not to come so
far, as I may soon be moved to a Canadian hospital.
The doctor
in France also saw my toe, and he said I should not have been passed.
One overlaps the other, the same as Johnnie got his discharge for. The
doctor there was going to operate on them, but they won’t allow him to.
So I do not think I will have to go back to France. We were in the same
place as Harold got his arm off. It was awful. Perhaps you read the
report in the paper-the bombardment of Sunday the 3rd. I thank God he
spared me to dear Ettie.
This morning I had a letter from
Harold, also one from Johnnie. Harold writes very good indeed with his
left hand, and he is getting along fine, waiting for his new arm. Now
Lallie, I hope you are quite well, and I think you had better come back
to England and be with us all here. You know there is always a home
waiting here for you with dear Ettie and I. Well, I have no news. When
you write to me send it to Ettie and she will forward it on to me,
unless I am home by then. Remember me to Mrs. Booty, also, Mrs.
Northgraves when you see them. Take every care of your dear self. Heaps
of love. God bless you.
Your Loving Brother
Fred
In a letter to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Little of Woodstock, formerly of St. Marys, which has been forwarded to a friend __ St. Marys, Fred Bird, a St. Marys man, tells of his thrilling escape and asks to be remembered to St. Marys friends.