WITH OUR WOUNDED IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 8

WITH OUR WOUNDED IN ENGLAND

A WELLINGTON SOLDIER'S LETTER, Private W. Hamilton, of the Welling, tou Infantry, who was wounded at the Dardanelles, and is now in a lied Cross Hospital in Worcester, writes as follows :— "Since writing to you last I have boen shifted to' another place. This is tho residence of a wealthy seed merchant in Worcestershire. It is a lovely, place, 'midst spacious grounds, including grape houses, tennis* lawns, a. bowling green, and a fine lake. It is quite close to the town of Stourbridge, about 14 miles from Birmingham. We motored up, and the run was Al. ' The roads are all that can be desired) while tho countryside is at its best. "There are about 50 of us here, and tho hospital is under the supervision of Lady Grey, a very wealthy lady. She and lier daughter aro qualified Red Cross nurses, and tho rest of the nurses here are also 'gentlemen's daughters.' Tho tucker is lipping, such things as fruit salad, poultry, etc., appearing on our menu. Cigarettes and tobacco are liberally dealt out, also fruit and sweets. Tho house is one of those old English courts, and n&rly all of the outside is covered in ivy. Owners of motor-cars come up noarly every day and take those who are able to get up out for a drive. I have been for one, and though I do not want to run down old New Zealand, I must say, so far as motoring is concerned, give me England every time. We went through Kidderminster, where the famous carpets are made. Inns are very plentiful in this district, and, my word, some of them are ancient, and the names!— 'Tlie Plough and Harrow,' 'Hare and Hounds,' otc., all having the thing they are named after painted oil the door. '■ "The fields are full of haymakers, old men, young men, boys, girls, young women, old women, all taking their turn. Of course labour is scarce hora now, and women are doing all kinds of work, ticket collectors, porters, etc. Tho country in Ennrland to my njind is like a big park. 1 Even-thing' seems to be well looked after. There are hardly any wire fences, low heclces separata the paddocks. Of course, this would not do in N<y*#ea]and, because the cattle and horses would jump them and cet , all over the place, but the beasts here are very docile and tame. '

"Nearly every night we have a concert, well-lcnown singers and players, some from as far as London, to entertain us. Tlien we cot invited to the local theatres and picture shows every week. I had my ears thoroughly examined, and the doctors said that hoth of j them were out of order, and would havo to he carefully treated, so you see I suppose my stay here will last some time. Some of tho fellows here have been here.for six months."'