Photostat copy of letters from Percy Wellesley Chapman to his mother, 5 April 1915 to 1 February 1917 - Part 6

My backs [[?]]wound just a big bruise

caused by a shrapnel after I left hospital

I had a fortnights leave and stayed at

Regents Palace.  I am very sorry I did

not get to see any relations but

there were so many things to see in 

London, I intended going to Scotland

but did not do so. Next time I

go over there I will visit everybody.

I am sure to be over again.  We get leave

occasionally you know.  Well Mammon

there is not very much to write about.

I have not received any Xmas letters

so far as parcels, but they will turn up

soon I suppose.  I wrote to the base

about mail etc. the other day.

I received a lovely letter from Nell

the other day written from Nina & Murray's

place.  I will answer it soon.

Well good buy Mammon.  My love to all

at home  Your loving son,

Bob

 

 

France

1/10/17
My dear Mamman

I have just received

three letters one from you and [[?]] one

from Nina and one from Peg.

Needless to say I was very pleased with

my new years gift.  You mentioned getting

a letter from me sent from a school in

France.  Mammon you must not imagine

that I am so well informed in military

matters that I do not need a brushing

up occasionally.  In fact there is a great

deal I don't know.  There are dozens of

schools behind the firing line at which

officers and men are always attending.

These not only help to refresh their memories

about military matters which more of less

have to be dropped in the trenches, as

trench warfare only represents one phase

of fighting you  know, but also you meet officers

from all parts of the Army.  English, Scotch,Irish

Canadians etc, which enables men from

all the corners of the Empire to understand

 

 

each other.  Then again the training one receives

is better than any convalescent home.

They are wonderful institutions so Mammon

please don't think that I try to prevaricate

the truth.  I'm afraid my letters don't

carry very much news but what is

there is true.  Last night we ushered the

old year out and the new in by singing old Lang

Sian while a piper piped outside the window.

Are all in billets at present, can you imagine

us, Colonel Maconaghy at the head of the

table while all around sat the officers

feasting on roast turkey, goose, asparagus

etc while orderlies hovered round the

back of our chairs pouring the precious

nectar "champagne" into our glasses. Doesn't

sound as if we had a very hard time

does it, and as a matter of fact when in 

billets we have a very good time.  Well

Mammon, tea is just about ready so I 

must go.  Good night.  Love to all

Your loving son,   Bob