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Source 4: Hospitalised in Basra, June 1916

Douglas took seriously ill on duty and ended up in hospital. This brought an end to his flying career abroad.

You can print the image and transcript below as a Word document (Rich Text Format, 1.27MB, new window).

View the timeline for an outline of John Douglas Hume's life.

Letter from John Douglas Hume in hospital at Basra, 22 June 1916. National Records of Scotland reference: GD486/110

Transcript

British General Hospital
Basra
22 June 1916

Dear Mother

Sorry I missed the last mail but was feeling too seedy. Have now
been 9 days in Hospital & go to Bombay by the next H.S.
[Hospital Ship] which should
leave in 2 or 3 days. I shouldn’t be long in B.
[Bombay] before getting a passage
home & expect to arrive England at end of July. Sorry you didn’t put
off Aulich
[a village in Perthshire] till August or I might have been with you there some of the
time there.

This is a weird business this Jaundice. It’s 12 days since I started
colouring & now I’m the colour of scrambled eggs all over - eyes & all.
It’s not at all troublesome. One feels a bit weak & has no appetite
but sleeps well & is quite comfortable. It is prophesied that the
change of air to Bombay will put me all right. Then I shall come
home & get leave to fatten up. I was 10 st
[ones] 12 [pounds] when I left
Devonport & I know I fattened up on the voyage. Now I am
8 st
[ones] 9 [pounds]. So Mesopot[amia] has got a good supply of me. It can’t
be said either that I’ve wasted my substance in riotous living.
I sent Gieve Matthews & Seashark a cheque for £50 a
fortnight ago. I was not sure about sending so
large a cheque so far. I wrote the bank at the same time
to warn them.

I don’t think I can say much more at present. It’s rather
hot & ice isn’t too plentiful.

Much love to all
Douglas


(National Records of Scotland reference GD486/110)

 

 

 
 
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