The Goldings
Hertford
July 3, '17

My dear Lulu

I have had a very fine and eventful day. I heard that king & queen & all the great royalty & government were attending the fiftieth celebration of Dominion Day at Westminster Abbey, so while the nurse was busy massaging my arm I asked if I might go to London & to my surprise she said "yes".

Well three of us - two Canadians & one Australian - set out for London and went to the historic 'Abbey'. To our bitter disappointment we were refused admission - "Ticket holders only", the policemen on duty said. We tried every way, even to visiting the Canadian Commissioner, but it was no use. We went to Westminster Hospital then, & in despair sat on the steps waiting to see the Royal party go by. Then Providence in the form of a fine old lady intervened. Attracted by our hospital clothes as well as by our long faces the fairy god-mother came to us & asked if we should like to go into the Abbey. You can imagine our answer, & you should have seen us flock behind her & seen one policeman after another give way before her smile. It really was amazing. Only the last guarding ogre refused, until she brought a very important looking personage dressed in crimson before him, then he capitulated & we walked through the beautiful cloisters into the noble Abbey itself. I cannot describe with this slow left hand of mine wonderful building, so ancient, with its beautiful Gothic windows & thousand arches, especially at that moment when the thousands of Canadian soldiers were standing at attention in the dimmed sunlight especially momentarily the arrival of the king & queen.

We were in a splendid position to hear see everything, quite close to the chancel, & we watched choir a church dignitaries, & then the king, queen, queen Alexandra, & princes & princesses march slowly past. How I longed to have you with me to listen to the great organ, the military band, & perhaps the most famous choir in the world! It was all very impressive, but I loved best "O Canada!" & the "Recessional" to the tune "Eternal Father".

After it was all over our fairy took us over the Abbey & we saw the tombs of the kings of England from Saxon times downwards & those of England's great poets, orators & statesmen. She brought forth keys for locked doors, & showed a perfect knowledge of ever detail about which we so eagerly questioned her. Again & again I wondered who our guide & patroness might be.

After our tour was over we said good-bye to the dear old lady, & only next morning when we received by post a guide to the Abbey of which she was the authoress, did we find that she was a Mrs Murray Smith, daughter of the late dean of Westminster Abbey. And I forgot to mention that after the service our kindly patroness gave us an introduction to the present aged dean, who shook hands with us. I am sending you all these trifles as souvenirs of of our great day, since you could not be with us.

After we had had dinner we secured a ticket for the House of Commons, & sat in the Strangers' Gallery listening to a debate, in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer took part. We visited the National Gallery after that & then went home, tired out. It was a glorious day.

Now, Lulu dear, a few more things I must tell you. Whilst under chloroform, the doctor was able to find out, the nurse told me that the two bones of my arm have grown together & that I shall not be able to turn my hand over (i.e. palm upwards). What they will do with me I don't yet know even yet. The major (my head Dr. at Napsbury) was here today inspecting us all and I thought I would surely find out today. But no he watched me go through my gymnastics; then he screwed his mouth-up, looked wise & muttered something about it taking a long time yet. Then when the nurse asked him whether she should continue the treatment he half shook his head & said "You are a Canadian, ain't you?" And that was all, so I am no wiser than before. However if I am sent to Canada you may be sure I shall do everything I can to get to you. If I am sent to the place where I enlisted I shall get a leave right away & come back East. Then we shall see each other again. Then I am afraid you will be disappointed in me. I am no here at all & hospital has left marks on my face & hair as well as as on my arm. However, I want to be with you once again, & we shall have a very happy time together, Lulu, I hope, we will sit & talk for hours; & we shall have music & fun. My, how I long to be back instead of being disappointed because that my arm keeps me from France!

Well, dear Lulu I got some letters from you from France, & some you had sent to Napsbury. It would be safer to send through my father, for I may be moved, & he always sends them promptly.

I have had several nice letters from Mr Fullerton but have not seen him yet. I am glad that Carmen has got here safely & I shall try to see him. Cheer up about him Lulu he will be a long time in England.

Your with best love

Tom