‘A Short Life in the Sky’: the story of a WWI pilot
Hospitalised in Basra, June 1916 
(NRS reference: GD486/110)

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 [in] 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