c/o Y.M.C.A. Hut

Woodcote Park

Epsom

23/1/16

My dear Mr Walters,

            Again I take up my pen to write to you trusting that you will not think me at all impertinent.   However, I plead the same excuse, that I consider myself in your congregation.  I was, as perhaps you noticed, at home about five weeks ago, and attended morning and evening services at Whitwick.  I might say that out of the whole week-end those three or four hours were the happiest I spent, and I look forward with great pleasure to the time I shall be able to come again.

I have been removed from the place at which I was when I wrote my last letter and am now at Woodcote Park Convalescent Camp, and about two miles out of the town of Epsom.  The men here are made up individuals of nearly every regiment in the British Army – Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Britishers.  On the whole, they are an exceedingly nice lot of men, and they look upon our hut as a great boon.  It is worked by an excellent staff of ladies, and they endeavour to provide the best of food for the convalescents, at the least possible price, as well as to make the building as comfortable and homely as is possible.

In the camp, the recreation of the men is amply provided for, and a large recreation hall has been erected, capable of holding about 1000 or 1500 men, and excellent concerts are arranged.  Last week Madam Ada Crossley came down and brought her concert party and such people as Miss Carrie Tubb and M^r Ben Davies come to give their concerts, which they do absolutely free of charge, I believe.

The men maintain very good spirits, and I think this very remarkable.  They have endured every hardship, been wounded – almost done to death some of them, and the majority are now far from well, but they are quite jolly, and are as ready to enjoy themselves as are the soldiers in training.

It is most interesting to hear the men relate their experiences at the different theatres of war, and in this way, one learns more in a half hour than a month of news-paper reading could teach.  One incident interested me considerably.  A sergeant was telling me of a night on which very severe fighting took place.  He went into the trenches with his men, and one of them was, in the sergeants own words “A religious sort of chap”, who knelt down to pray when he entered the trench.  As he was praying an enemy shell fell in the trench and did not explode.  He explained that this was an extremely rare occurrence, and added that he should, all his life, believe that “the lad’s prayer had been answered and that God had stopped that shell from bursting”.  Had the shell burst, it would have been responsible for the deaths of many men.  You will form your own opinion, but personally I agree with the sergeant, and believe it is another proof of the Divine Presence with those who are fighting for us.  Another thing which struck me forcibly was the fact that one never sees a crucifix shattered even in the most bullet swept districts.  One particular case was related to me which will probably interest you.  In a certain village there was a crucifix; on each side of it was a house and beside it a pile of stones.  Violent firing took place.  The houses were completely shattered and the stones scattered in every direction.  The crucifix, on examination was found to be practically untouched.  Bullets has passed through the wooden standard, but the figure was as it was before the first shot was fired.

I am quite well, and enjoying the work immensely.  I trust you are in the best of health and that the Church is progressing as well as ever.  I read with great interest the events which take place and are reported by the local papers.

I should esteem it a great favour if you would forward me a copy of the Parish Magazine and I enclose 1½ in payment for same.

Trusting I have not wearied you by the long letter.

Believe me

Sincerely and respectfully yours

Cecil Brown

(Coalville)

In YMCA envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, Whitwick, Lester.

Letter postmarked EPSOM 26 JAN 1916.9.15 AM