All Saints Hosp.
Eastbourne, Sussex.
21/1/17.

Dear Mother and All,

Well you have no idea how happy and contented we all are to-night. I will try to give you an idea of our travels during the past few days.

Wednesday eve, orders for our move, came thro and I had to work all night. Thursday morning, I went down and got my kit in shape to carry and the box to send you. Then went to sleep just as I was. Had to be up on parade at one o’clock noon, so did not have much sleep, after parade, I had to go down to get snaps etc and coming back had tea and went right on duty. As it was out in orders that we were to leave in the morning, I had a little sleep thro the night, but very little. Came off duty at 7 A.M. got my kit up the hill and paraded full kit at 9 A.M., leaving for the station about ten o’clock. We had to carry every thing and march about one and a half miles. It was hard work as we had not marched for so long. We had a long train ride, three changes and stops. Our papers were all made out for Seaford, but at the Eastbourne station an officer, told us we were to get off, that an officer was there for us. We could find no one, so stayed right on the train. When we arrived at Seaford, it was pitch dark, and no one to meet us. We started out to march again, enquiring our way as we went. We finally found the hospital. They were not expecting us, as we should have left the train at Eastbourne. However, they put us up for the night and in the morning, piling our equipment on the ambulance, we started out to march from Seaford to Eastbourne, a distance of nine miles, arriving here about 1.30 noon yesterday. We did not do much all afternoon and went down to a movie at night.

To-day, I have been, here there and all over, setting up wards, making beds, and doing whatever I could. About thirty-five patients came in to-day, our first, and they will have a fine time for a few days. We have no sisters here as yet.

I cannot really describe this place, the town is beautiful our buildings are on the top of a high cliff again and formerly were used as a hospital by an order of Church of England nursing sisters, since 1850. It is like an old monastry, all stone arches inside, dark passages, gothic doors and leaded windows. A truly wonderful place and the finest Canadian hospital in the British Isles. Of course it will take months to get things in shape and we have three or four hospitals in Seaford, which we will have to run for some time. Our staff will have to be enlarged and when running full capacity, we should have here nearly nine hundred beds for Overseas casualties. We are the only Canadian’s here and there will not likely be a Canadian Camp established at this point.

When we have been in an upset condition before we have fared badly for sleeping accommodation etc., but not so here. I have on a level with a ward floor a dressing room, with hot and cold water, then I go up a winding stair, thro a tiny tower to my bed room, have bed, mattress and pillow, four blankets as before, to sleep in. Another boy has a mattress on the floor beside me. They are very small, but O! so cosy and comfortable. You see the ward is terribly high ceiling and these rooms are at the end like the office and little attic at the store, but both are as big and high as the office. Of course I will not always keep this room, but will as long as I can. ‘

Our headquarters will still be at Seaford and all my mail had better go there, as I will likely be over there part of the time. They move us back and forth a good deal and things will be most unsettled for some time to come. I may be too busy to write, but will do so as often as possible. We are in tho for some very hard work till we are settled. I am fully as well as before my cold got me.

I sent a parcel to Nert, containing Camera, book of mine, one of Lester Jackson’s to be given to his people and a pair of sox to be [?], underware to be kept at home.

At Seaford, a good bunch of mail awaited me, yours of Dec 28^th, Nert’s of 27^th and one from Dad, which I will answer later, also a letter from Mir. I am sorry tho, that my parcel has not arrived as yet. As soon as it does, I will take pictures to give you some idea of this place, altho it is a very hard building to photograph. Why the chapel is as large as the old Methodist Church at home, but a notice on the passage to it says. “By special permission of the war office, this Chapel remains closed” I believe that the order had to leave against their wishes.

Nert, explain to L.R. Short, if he asks for duty, that the camera was purchased from Spencer and duty had been paid on the parts by Canadian Kodak Co.

Yes I had the Hughes, Wilson clippings and many others, thanks for them. I thought I got all letters O.K. but did not get one about rubber stamp. I don’t see why it would rot, there is a “Paid” stamp like it, been around the store since 1909 and in perfect condition yet. I just want
            534709 W.W. DAVIS
            10^th Can. Stat Hosp.
            ARMY P.O. LONDON
in small plain type pocket stamp. Nothing had better be done just not tho, as I would not be surprised if we were changed to a Can General Hosp. This is only surmise tho.

Jonas Sinden is O.K. now, very fat, I saw him just before I left. That young M.A. was Allen Graves, related to both Graves and Sinden.

We burnt lights only because our windows were blocked with rubber sheets and blinds, not to the exclusion of the air however.

Now Nert, I am enclosing snaps for Floss (1,2,3), the rest for Aileen to whom you had better explain why you are sending them.

I put the cards in the pins and sealed the envelopes, before I thought, then just took a chance on which was which. Hope they arrived in good condition I thought they would be good souvenirs, after this is all over.

I did not see Wilfred. Perhaps he was busy as I.

I am sure glad the Christmas trade turned out so well.

You had better hold any sox for a while, as I have plenty. I can’t wear a hole in even those first two pairs of white ones from Seaforth. Handknit, surely last some time.

Sorry I forgot Audrey at Christmas, Believe I forgot Dolly Rodgers and several others, but sure got most of them.

Say the other day when I came out of the billet for noon parade, Geo Hollier was standing just across the street, I had a talk with him and Wed night Cap Weston was orderly officer and I went over to see him.

Gee Kid I have a lot to be thankful for after all. I am so comfortable, and the unit to-gether, while the others are so split up.

Must write Floss a note.

Lovingly,
Worth.