大象传媒

No. 2622507 L/Cpl William Entwistle served in WW2 in the Grenadier Guards, and sustained a shrapnel wound from a mortar bomb at Monte Camino. Bill has kindly provided us at the 大象传媒 Lancashire Open Centre with the telegram recieved by his family, informing them of the incident - of course, everyone dreaded the knock of the telegram messenger as it was rarely good news. Bill has also lent a copy of the letter written on his behalf by one of the nurses - or "angels", as he refers to them - when he was too sick to write home. It was commonplace for nurses to jot a few lines to reassure families, although how they found time to do this under the extreme pressure they faced is hard to imagine.

We present both in their entirety; just imagine the emotions felt by Bill's familiy as they read the following words.....

23rd November 1943, from the Regimental Headquarters of the First or Grenadier Guards, Birdcage Walk S.W. 1

Dear Mr Entwistle,

It is with regret that I have to inform you that information has been recieved from overseas that your son, No. 2622507 L/Cpl. W. Entwistle is dangerously ill in No. 14 mobile Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from a shell wound in the chest penetrating abdomen.

Please be assured that immediately any further news is recieved I will let you know.

Yours truly......

The family recieved this letter some days later.

Dear Mr Entwistle

No doubt you have been informed officially that your son is dangerously ill in this clearing station, and you will be waiting anxiously for further news of him.

I do understand how hard it is for you to wait from day to day, and to feel that you cannot see him or be near him. But I hope it will comfort you a little to know that he is having every possible care and that all of us surgeons, nursing sisters and orderlies are doing all we can to make him comfortable and hasten his recovery.

He has been badly wounded in the side and his liver is injured, and we cannot tell how he is going to do. He has had blood transfusions and the best of surgical skill, and he is such a good boy. Your lad never grumbles but tries to help himself to get better, and everyone is very fond of him. He does not suffer much pain, and is very drowsy with the drugs he is having: indeed I do not think that he knows where he is or what has happened to him.

If his condition improves, he will be moved to a larger hospital where there will be more comfort. but at present his condition is too weak for the journey.

I will not tell you not to worry because it is natural that you should, but we are hoping that your son's courage and patience will pull him through this dangerous illness. Be sure that he will not be allowed to suufer unduly and that we are doing all we can for him.

I shall write again if he remains in our care.

Yours Sincerely

S Waddell

Happily, Bill did recover - although his convalescence was long and difficult - and in January 1944 Nurse Waddell was able to write the following letter in reply to one from Bill's family.

Dear Mr Entwistle

I feel I must write a line to thank you for the beautiful letter you wrote to me on January 2nd. I have passed it on to all those who helped to look after your lad while he was here; the surgeon, sisters and nursing orderlies, and to all of us it is an inspiration in our work.

The wounded come to us straight from battle and many of them are transferred before we can do much for them, but the very ill ones stay here until they are fit for another stage of the journey and we feel we cannot do enough for them. Fortunately, we are very well equipped and have good supplies of "comforts" and it is a real joy to see them improve.

Your Billy was a great favourite with all of us because he was such an excellent patient - so good, brave and quiet that he helped his own recovery. His wound was a very severe one, and his life was in the balance for many days, but he won all our hearts by his magnificent courage and uncomplaining acceptance of all treatment.

We are all delighted to hear that he is now well on the road to health and we hope he may have the good fortune to spend part of hs convalescence with you.

May I just say that a letter like yours makes us want to do even more: we never forget that it is even worse for the mothers and wives than it is even for the wounded, and your courage in great anxiety and confidence in our work inspires us to do our best.

With best wishes for an early reunion with your son,

Yours sincerely

S Waddell.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.