HEATH:  The following letter was written by Ashley Hampton to Greta Heath, who was a school teacher at Severn Bridge, Ontario. Greta was a sister to Roland Heath, who is mentioned in an earlier blog. Ashley was Gladys (Hampton) Heath’s brother. As this letter reveals, Ashley had a crush on Greta – although nothing ever came of it. In his letter, Ashley mentions meeting with Roland at Warrington in Cheshire, England. However, by the time Ashley wrote to Greta, Roland had been killed at Passchendaele in Belgium on 6 November 1917.  The young lady in the corner of the snapshot is Greta Heath.

Minor corrections have been made to the letter, which was written at Woodcote Park, Hut 15, Division H, Epsom, England on 11 November 1917.

Dear Greta; –

Received your most welcome letter yesterday dated 29^th Aug[ust. [I]sn’t that awful to just receive it[?] I have often wondered why I didn’t receive any letter from you. I thought you had surely forgotten me, but still it isn’t your fault, is it Kid? I am getting along fine [and] have been having massage since this week, and it is doing my leg & foot good. I guess I will have to tell you my experience. I was wounded on the 17^th Aug[ust] at Loos. I was going with our platoon up the front line when old Fritz sent a shell right amongst us, killing two and wounding about 15 of us. I got it in the left thigh and right leg; it went clean through my leg near the hip [leaving] about 2” of a hole. I thought I was gone, however I was taken in a dugout, stayed there three nights all through the time Fritz was counter-attacking and shelling the dug out. I was taken out on a stretcher, left in a bombardment, a shell landed close covering me up with dirt. I got up and jumped on a fellow’s back & hopped along on one foot. [M]y clothes were all tore off me, so you see what it was like. [W]ell, I was taken down to the hospital in France [and] stayed there ten days, then went on down to Boulogne & from there to Blighty, over to Dover and [then] went to the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington Lane. I was there eight weeks. [I]t took six weeks for my wounds to heal up. I use[d] to suffer quite a bit and use[d] to be awake half the night. [S]ister use[d] to come out and say “Hampton, my, I love your music, but you had better get to sleep.” [W]e had good sisters and nurses. [I]t is an Imperial Hospital and the largest in Eng[land]. I got good means too, but down here the grub is poor. I am going to Canada so that is good news to you. I expect you down to see me and have that ride in a car this time. [T]he folks are going to get one. I am marked 179, yet that’s for discharge although I will be in the hospital in Canada. [M]aybe I will get home for Xmas. I will have my leave [the] first ten days, and I guess I will go to Scotland. [T]hey say we can have a fine time. I hope I receive that snap[shot]. It [doesn’t] matter if you are in a working uniform or in your best as long as I get one of you, to look at your beautiful face, for Greta you know I always thought a lot of you anyway. I write to some girls in Eng[land], but I am waiting for some nice girl in Canada. I don’t think any girl would look down upon a return[ed] soldier. Do you think so? [Y]es, I received a letter from home and they are all well. [D]id you know that Grace was going to Business College now[?] So, you are getting fat living on eggs and cream, eh? Well I’m sure you enjoyed your holidays at [Wardsville] vs Detroit. [Y]es, mother was up there and it would be a surprise to meet each other. So, [Orburn] & [Gladys Heath] have got a Chevrolet car. [T]hey are getting to be some [noodles], eh[?] sporting around in their car. Well, Greta, it will be some time before I can around on my foot again, probably never be the same again. I get about on crutches, but I am going to use a cane and try to walk on my foot a little. I heard from [Roland Heath] when at Warrington & he said to remember him to all. I remember when I [saw] him last. [H]e was down to Bully Grenay, France, and I inquired where he was, went up in his billets and had a good talk with him. [H]e had a parcel from home. So, I said I would see him again tomorrow, but that was the last as I went in the line that night. Well, Greta, I hope you have a good school and are getting along fine. I guess I will ring off as I am thinking of going downtown. Write soon, Greta, and let me know all the news and how you are hoping to be home for Xmas, I remain

Yours sincerely, Ashley [Hampton].