My Darling Mother,

Just in case you are still worrying regarding my condition, I will drop you a few lines to let you know I am recovering rapidly. The operation was in all ways successful and the abscess is clearing up very fast. I had it dressed this morning and the doctor was very pleased with the way I was doing. Believe me they have some of the finest surgeons in the world here at the hospital and the doctor who operated on me was one of the head surgeons at Edinburgh Hospital. He has never had a case returned to him here yet.

I can tell you now that through all the agony I suffered also the treatment for rheumatics and sciatica—I never had it all. It was just that infernal abscess forming on the nerves of the hip and how I ever hit myself hard enough to cause same beats me. However I am glad it was not rheumatics for if it had been my stay in the army would have been short as they are discharging all such cases as they are useless to the army.

My old sister comes every day to see me and we had a great laugh the morning about her patiently stirring the baby food for me. It was not her fault such a mistake was made as she goes by the doctors’ orders and in the first place it was very hard to think of anything else than sciatica as there was no swelling at all. But they should have found out before nine weeks had passed away.

I am living like a lord here. Chicken and fish for supper and dinner; bacon and eggs for breakfast and two pints of stout a day, one at dinner and one at bedtime. I am not up yet but nickels to doughnuts will be up in another week’s time. The nerves have quit jumping now and the only pain I have is when they dress it as the tubes hurt being taken out and put back.

All that is left of the 44th now are the officers, machine gunners, signals and pioneers. I sure am thankful Jim is still here as I believe yet I will get away with them. That is if I get my strength back quickly which I hope I will.

Well I suppose by now you will be enjoying lovely weather in dear old Manitoba again.

Love to all,

Cliff