The War Is Over and Ray Is Home. Now What?

The  war is over and Ray is home. During the time he was away he wrote to his girlfriend from Teeswater, Norma Skilling, and carried her photograph in his breast pocket. Unfortunately none of these letters survived, except a small scrap of paper with a few Valentine's Day verses sent to him by Norma.

Norma Skilling
c. 1916

Letters pertaining to Ray's re-establishment into civilian life will be posted as well as a short biography of what happened to him after the war. 

April 4, 1919 Woodcote Park, Epsom

Still frustrated by the delays, Ray writes his mother about how he is filling his time.

January 24, 1919 East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich

Ray writes to his older brother Bert about his eagerness to get back to Canada, "the dear old land of the Maple".

January 19, 1919 East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich

Ray writes to his mother about the Spanish Flu epidemic, his new doctor, his upcoming operation and his need for a dentist.

Thank-you letters to The Teeswater Patriotic League

Several of Ray's friends from Teeswater write thank-you letters to Mrs. Gillies, Secretary of the Teeswater Patriotic League for sending boxes of goodies to the soldiers.

October 30, 1918 East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich

Ray writes a second letter to his mother telling her how he was wounded. M.G. stands for machine gun and S.B. stands for stretcher bearer.

October 26, 1918 East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich

Ray writes his first letter home since being wounded.

September 7, 1918 Mason Ward, East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich

A volunteer writes to Ray's mother from the East Suffolk Hospital in Ipswich, England where he was transferred on the 6th of September 1918.

A water-damaged photo of
Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital
1918

July 23, 1918 Somewhere in France

Ray writes to his mother about a box with honey and cake he has received from Mrs. McLaughlin.

July 18, 1918 somewhere in France

Ray writes to his younger brother Jud. Only the first page survived.

May 20, 1918 Somewhere in France

Ray writes to one of his cousins about the likelihood that his older brother Bert will be called up for service now.

March 19, 1918 Somewhere in France

Ray writes to his grandmother about the weather, the French countryside and some Teeswater news..