Transcription

1st Battalion. Canadians

Oct 31st 18.

My Darling Minnie.¹

I've got tired of reading so I thought I'd write you a few lines, as I know you will be longing to see how your soldier boy is getting on. Well dear, my leg is getting on fine, altho I'll have to stay in bed for a while yet, as the flesh is bruised where the bullet came out, but it doesn't cause me very much pain, and I generally sleep fairly good. 

We are having fairly good weather, but it is rather chilly by the sea, so I generally keep under the sheets, and only sit up once in a while. Wouldn't it be lovely if I was in Toronto, so that you could come and see me, but I'm living in high hopes of getting home before long, as the news in the papers has been good lately, and every one is talking of peace, which must come some day, and I sincerely hope soon, as I'm longing more than ever to get back to the dearest girl in the world, and the only girl I ever could love.

I often think of you darling when I'm laying here in bed, and think of the good times we used to have, and how we enjoyed each other’s company, and I really think God intended us to be parted for a while, just to see wether[sic] we would trust each other, and I'm sure I trust you more than ever, as I know you do trust me. I have your picture on my small stand table beside my bed, and all the nurses admire it, one of them said "what a lovely girl, I hope you have been true to her, of course I told her I had been true to you and that I intended to, and she said it isn't every soldier that can say that, as so many seem to forget their wives and sweethearts as soon as they are away from them. But I would never be able to look you in the face again, if I were to carry on like some of the fellows do, with wives in England, but I won't say more about that subject, will I dear. I'm expecting my cousin Joe from Brighton to come and see me tonight; as [?] wrote and told me he would be over either last night or tonight, so I'll be glad to see him, as I don't remember seeing him before. Well Minnie dear, I'm afraid there isn't more to say this time, tell Bertha I'll be writing her soon, and that I'm thinking of her, although I haven't written her. I'll have to close now darling, as it's getting nearly tea time, so bye, bye, lots of love and kisses, ever your loving and truest soldier lover 

Dudley. xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

¹  *Archivist note:* Printed letterhead — British Red Cross Society and Order of St John, Urmston Hospital, Eastbourne; Commandant Mrs. Burke, O.B.E., V.A.D. Sussex 2.