Monday 27/3/16

Dear Sir,

            I am writing these few lines to you to let you know I have got to England at last after just over twelve months in France.  Well I wrote you a long letter while I was in France and I expect you have wrote one in answer to it but I have not had it and I expect it is somewhere in France.  Well sir when I wrote to you then I never expected being in England so soon after and I think I have been very lucky to go through twelve months of fighting without a scratch as I am in Hospital with Abscess Groin and I was operated out in France before I came to England or as we term it Blighty.  Well sir it is just like being in Heaven to be in here to what it is out there.  I hope this letter finds you all in the best of health as it leaves me getting on very well and I am able to get about now as it is quite healed up where I was operated on.  This is a very fine place and before the war it was an Asylum.  There is one thing I am thankful for and that is the Church that is in the grounds and I went yesterday morning and at night as well.  We get out of bed just after six every morning and we have breakfast at 7 o’clock and dinner at twelve and tea at five and then we have supper about seven so we get plenty to eat and everyone is so nice to you and wait on you hand and foot as they say.  Well I must say I have thanked the Lord many times since I have been in this place and I never miss a night but what I thank him for bringing me back safe and I think of these poor lads who are doing there sentry go in the trenches while I am lying between nice clean sheets and I ask the Lord to look over them.  Well I cannot say how long I shall be in here as I am having my teeth seen too as well while I am here as I have got several going rotten.  Well I shall be pleased when I can come to the Church once more but I don’t think it will be for a month or more.  Well I shall have to close now as I have told you all the news this time.

I am your sinner friend

Pte. Cooke.

Pte W.H. Cooke 2559

5^th Batt Leic Regt

Ward B 6 No 2 War Hospital

Northfield

Birmingham

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked NORTHFIELD rest unreadable