Transcript
British General Hospital
Basra
22 June 1916
Dear Mother
Sorry I missed the last mail but was feeling too seedy. Have now
been 9 days in Hospital & go to Bombay by the next H.S. [Hospital Ship] which should
leave in 2 or 3 days. I shouldn’t be long in B. [Bombay] before getting a passage
home & expect to arrive England at end of July. Sorry you didn’t put
off Aulich [a village in Perthshire] till August or I might have been with you there some of the
time there.
This is a weird business this Jaundice. It’s 12 days since I started
colouring & now I’m the colour of scrambled eggs all over - eyes & all.
It’s not at all troublesome. One feels a bit weak & has no appetite
but sleeps well & is quite comfortable. It is prophesied that the
change of air to Bombay will put me all right. Then I shall come
home & get leave to fatten up. I was 10 st[ones] 12 [pounds] when I left
Devonport & I know I fattened up on the voyage. Now I am
8 st[ones] 9 [pounds]. So Mesopot[amia] has got a good supply of me. It can’t
be said either that I’ve wasted my substance in riotous living.
I sent Gieve Matthews & Seashark a cheque for £50 a
fortnight ago. I was not sure about sending so
large a cheque so far. I wrote the bank at the same time
to warn them.
I don’t think I can say much more at present. It’s rather
hot & ice isn’t too plentiful.
Much love to all
Douglas
(National Records of Scotland reference GD486/110)
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