Letter to Mother from No 5 Canadian General Hospital, Liverpool, England

Ward M.J. 
No 5 Canadian General Hospital
Kirkdale  Liverpool
 Eng.
3-11-18

Dear Mother:– 

I took in the tea and entertainment that was given last evening by the munition girls at St Catherines Hall. we had a good time the tea was very good Sandwiches lettice, tomatoes, sliced and lots of different kinds of botten cakes and tea, then the young ladies passed the cigarettes around several times, and we had about two hours of concert Just there home talent but it was very good the wemon about eight I think played stringed instruments and the old lady played the piano. girls sang recited and danced some were very good and some I did not enjoy but still every was certainly deasent, but some love songs I have heard till I am sick of them just about 3 went slow.

I wonder if you can picture sixteen of us going down these old metal street as narrow as they are and catching the tram car going about two mile thru subburbs that do not appeal to me in any sence of the word,

Then finding the Hall and meeting the young women and we were not introduced at all just be sociable to everyone and I was the only boy that did not smoke, they don't know what to make of a boy who don't smoke, the one young woman said you are just one out of a thousand that does not smoke I have no doubt but that she at home occasionaly or maby each day. I find that a large percent of the women over here smoke on occasions especially in social clubs and etc.

I have been afraid that I might for the time have hurt Mr Andersons feelings in Edinburgh he never smoked at home unless some man was there that smoked but he would always say that if man had a right to smoke so had woman, I granted him that but said "I thought that it was wrong for either,"

My hand is heald up entirely now so I do not have a bandage on it at all. I am starting to use the second finger on the pencil to now it is get more use in its self all the time. I do every thing with right hand I can open doors brush my hair feed my self, wash my self shave and etc. I am going to make it learn to work again as soon as I can.

I am reading the Talisman by Sir Walter Scott the first of his books I have got interested in. I tried Waverly novels but did not like it and besides there was a lot of big words I did not get.

I can wear my kid gloves now and no one would notice unless some drew there attention direct to my hand that there was any thing wrong with it when I put my glove on.

Well good bye Mother dear I am going down to see if there is not a service on in our Hall I saw a minister here yesterday that I have heard in France I hope he speaks I think he must have been a Congregational minister.

as ever your loving son
Laurie

[in margin] I got a letter from Bob Banks today he was O.K. on 24-10-18 He missed the Cambré scrap on a coarse wasn't that lucky.