Letter from Florence Whitty to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 1916

[*PR 8218*]
Globe Hotel

Ruthven St

Toowoomba

Queensland

16-2-16

To

The Editor

Sydney Morning Herald

Dear Sir,

The enclosed letter

from my brother was sent

to my husband. C.D. Whitty

"Dewhurst" Mosman by the

last mail and John sent the

letter on to me.  I am at present

on a health trip with one of

my boys.  I send this letter

from my brother Lieut F. G. Aarons

who was attached to the 6^th Battery

A.F.A. and who was recently

seriously wounded at Gallipoli.

He left Sydney with the First

Contingent.  His cheerful letter

 

despite his injuries may be

an incentive to those who

have not yet enlisted to

do so.

Lieut F.G. Aarons was a well

known footballer in Sydney

and N. Zealand, where he 

played Rugby with Rep. Interstate

I will not be leaving

Toowoomba until 27^th Feb.

for my home at Mosman

so will be glad if you

will return letter to me here

before that date or to my

 husband at Custom House

Sydney.  In thanking you

Believe me

Yours truly

Florence E. Whitty

 

Whitty

Whitty

Letter

from front

 

19 General Hospital

Alexandria

Egypt

16/12/15

My dear Charley,

I am writing you first hand information

about the nature of my wounds and I feel sure

that you will see Why I have done this:-

I was hit, with several other officers, in the artillery

observation post at a place called Russell's Top

where I had gone, that morning to carry out some

observation work.  With the exception of

one officer who was killed the others were

'Infantry"  The shell which won the argument

came from a flank and burst inside the post.

At first, I did not think I was hit but

imagined my right eye was closed with

dirt and I suffered no pain.  I made

my way through the debris towards my

telephonist a little further along the

trench when I was grabbed by the

Stretcher Bearers and rushed off to the

Dressing Station - meantime under fire -

Safely arrived there.  I was at once attended

 

to - my wounds dressed, and my eye cleaned

and at 6 o'clock I was on board the Hospital

Ship bound for Alexandria - 2½ hours after I

was hit -:  My wounds consist of one wound

on right breast & two on the right shoulder

right collar bone broken, slight sight of right

eye gone - the eye has since been removed,

a few scratches, here and there, from the blast.

For the apparent knocking about I got I have

suffered comparatively no pain.  I received

no shock and my nerves are in perfect

order -:  Indeed I have made such marked

progress, that, I move about the ward alone

and eat my meals unaided -:  Regarding

my eye, as far I can judge, I have not yet

missed it. so that by comparison with the

other fellows I am not prepared to kick

otherwise there is absolutely nothing wrong

with my health.  I am in capable medical

hands and the officer who operated on

my eye did everything in his power

to try and "make the eye see" but it was

a pro German: - This officer is xxx recognised

as being one of the foremost specialists in

England and I don't think I will ever

 

forget either his kindness or his skill in treating

me.  I daresay after a few weeks I shall

be either off to England or Australia - tho

I would prefer a trip to the old country

before returning to Australia-:  I

really think I could finish the campaign

without any inconvenience but I

daresay the authorities will send

me back to Australia where I 

hope to be able to help things along in

the Instructional Staff -:

Well (old man) theres nothing so bad that

it might not be worse and I consider

that I have been both fortunate and 

honoured - I will close now, wishing

You, (Flo, & the Boys) and all the family

every happiness in the coming Year.

Your affectionate Brother

Fred

P.S.  I am fortunate in having at my bedside

a very old pal of mine, who visits me often

and who has penned these lines.

FW