FIT-14

41^st Casualty Clearing Station
B.E.F. France
18^th Dec 1916

Dear Mr Elliott,

I send this note before Christmas, carrying with it, to yourself and the staff, my best wishes for a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and peace bringing New Year. I hope you received my last letter written after we arrived here about two months ago.

We are very busy here at present and I am doing night duty as Nursing Orderly in Charge of the Serious Surgical Ward (commonly known to the boys as the "Chamber of Horrors"). I have a large ward full of serious cases to look after, nearly all the patients have an arm or a leg amputated and I may add death here is no stranger but visits us once or twice almost every night. The work of our surgeons is marvellous nevertheless, and many are the seemingly hopeless cases who are made whole again. One soon becomes inured to these sights and after a time even the most awful sight makes no impression on you, only pity for the poor unfortunate fellow. We are under orders to leave this place and expect to go about New Year. I sincerely hope sir, that your health is keeping good for myself I am keeping in my usual good form. Best wishes to yourself and staff.

Very sincerely yours
Joe Fitzsimons