No 9 General Hospital
Rouen
23/9/15
My dear Father
I have your letter of 15th still to answer. I daresay by now the matter of getting the War Loan in my name, and sending it to Lloyds Cheapside, is arranged.
We are having hot days and cool nights just now, but with signs of breaking up. We are quite short-handed now, and I believe that is general. A good many officers have gone out at the end of their contract. Nearly all my friends here have gone up the line recently to ambulances or regiments.
The Zeppelin attacks are difficult to get knowledge of, but from various second hand accounts I gather the damage, though great, has been exaggerated in accounts which have got about.
I am now taking a course of instruction at the riding school, the authorities encourage us to do so, and although I get along quite well on a horse, there are faults which should be eliminated: we go twice a week to a French barracks, and have a regular course from a sergeant-major.
I am busy now with over 100 beds in my charge.
The Budget is interesting, and seems to tap nearly everyone – I hope the estimates will work out all right; McKenna seems to have found his billet at last.
Mary gives good account of herself and Baby, I think they will try and come to Badsey before long.
The fruit crops work out well, I expect apples are rather too plentiful though.
I see that my friend Richard Norton has been given the Croix de Guerre by the French Government. His Anglo American motor ambulance has I believe been doing much good work in the firing zone ever since the autumn.
I don’t like the look of things in Bulgaria, and fancy the great Eastern successes of the Germans have about turned the scale in the Balkan states.
I hope Jack is better again, he was looking very washed out when I saw him at home and in town.
With love to all at home.
Your affectionate son
Arthur
