Letters From the Front

Dated: March 21, 1916

Letters from the Front

The following letter was received by Chief Meeres from Billy Jackson who joined the 31st Battalion and was formerly a member of the Red Deer Fire Brigade. He was wounded and had a miraculous escape from death:

No. 3, Canadian General Hospital, Ward K2, France.

March 21, 1916

Dear Chief: -- Perhaps you will have seen before now that I am on the wounded list, but I thought I would drop you a note to let you know that I am getting along favoruably. I was hit on the 16th inst., and received shrapnel wounds in hip, thigh and knee. I have already been under the X-Ray twice, but the pictures of the knee did not disclose any foreign substance which might be shrapnel, yet the knee is my most painful wound. It is about the size of a football, and there is a gaping wound in it which proves that shrapnel did go in there, but where it is now nobody seems to know, and this particular case has been before over half a dozen physicians and knee specialists. I have just had my wounds dressed, and received the cheerful (?) information that my body would be required on the operating table this afternoon, and also that no dinner would be given to me at noon.

Well, Chief, I guess I won't see the firing-line again for three or four months to come, but I don't suppose the war will be finished then, do you?

If I come through the operation O.K. this afternoon I shall be shipped to England in two or three days time, but if I am sick at all I shall be kept for some time here. I would have been sent across three or four days ago, but the doctor would not allow me to be moved because my temperature was away up.

Well, I have been very fortunate during the six months I have been at the front, and I have had several lucky escapes, but I guess I wasn't made to be killed by the Germans. It is a wonder that I was not blown to kingdom come, on the 16th inst though, for I was only about seven feet from the spot where the grenade exploded; I sure thought my last day had come, but I soon realized that I was going to live a little longer, and I'm just as happy as ever.

Well, Chief, this is rather a tiring job - writing - as I am flat on my back and cannot move my body either way, so I beg you to excuse a short letter.

Tell Jimmy Mann, that I'm glad Art [Mann] was not on the "post" that I was on; it isn't often that Art and I have been separated, but it was lucky for Art that we were separated on my last trip to the trenches, because we would surely have both got hit.¹

Well, here's wishing you best of luck, from "One of the Old Brigade.

BILL JACKSON