FIT-11

41^st Casualty Clearing Station
B.E.F. France
25^th July 1916

Dear Mr Elliott,

Please accept my sincere apology for not writing sooner, but since returning from leave I have been kept very busy owing to this great Allied Offensive. This afternoon I am off duty so intend devoting my time in writing to my friends. When the first blows of the great offensive were struck our station was almost submerged with British and German casualties but the work was carried on night and day for the first few days. Great order prevailed the whole time and the work was carried out very methodically. Practically all the wounded we received had been attended to at the advanced dressing stations, so our work was to re-dress the wounds and make them as comfortable as possible for the journey by Hospital Train to the base. The bravery, fortitude, and good humour exhibited by our wounded Tommys was a revelation to all. Caked in mud and blood from head to foot and in most cases with their faces half hidden in bandages they joked and laughed whilst their wounds were being dressed or begged the orderly to give them a cigarette. I have had several Ulster Division lads on my ward during the first days of the rush. One lad named Rainey¹⁶⁴ whose parents live on Royal Avenue opposite Tele offices lay in an adjoining ward. His right arm was missing and several fingers of his left hand also. I had a long conversation with him and he was looking forward to going back to "old Belfast". The next evening he died very peacefully. His death was due to shock. On the whole I think it was happy for him as he was very cruelly crippled. Of the great numbers that passed through our hands we had a remarkably small percentage of deaths. Gen. Sir D. Haig specially commended the Medical Service in his despatch, and I think they deserved it too. I believe before very long we shall have the Germans suing for peace, if guns and men are any encouragement. I hope sir, your health is keeping good, also all the staff and that Capt. Simpson¹⁶⁵ and Warren are again fit and well. I enclose the photo as promised.

Sincerely Yours
Joe Fitzsimons