16.8.14
My dear Mother
I suppose you will be travelling home again today so will address this to Badsey. I got here on Thursday, and at present am in lodgings in Rochester. We are to go abroad in a few days to set up a Base hospital for the expeditionary force now in Belgium. Where we shall sail from and where be posted is not known to us, but probably some Belgian town. If it should be Brussels, is Uncle Fred likely to be there? I don’t know his address.
I find several men I know in this and other general hospitals, at present we have nothing to do but hang about in uniform as we are mobilised, and Chatham is not a thrilling town. However it keeps fine and one can buy newspapers, and twice a day we present ourselves at the Fort.
Once we leave here I may not be able to write to anyone except on an official postcard but the Colonel thinks that probably letters will be delivered fairly regularly, and I suppose papers too.
We were lucky to let the flat so quickly. I hope the people will treat it kindly, we had the advantage of meeting them, and Mrs McGugan asked Mary to call when she is in London later.
We civil surgeons are not likely to get up very near the front. The regular members of the RAMC who are more conversant with field work will be doing that. There is a fairly large staff of nurses attached to No 9 and equipment seems very complete. I am glad to think Mary is getting away from London tomorrow for a bit, she wants a change both of air and scene I’m sure. I shall hope to get news from home though correspondence may have to be one-sided. No 9 General Hospital, Expeditionary Force will be my address, but till Tuesday you might post to No 9/GH Chatham.
Goodbye, Mother dear, keep up a stout heart in all these troubles and we’ll hope for a speedy end to the war.
My love to all at home.
From your son
Arthur
