Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

Three letters have suddenly
arrived, two the day before yesterday and one
today, dated 20 & 29 July & 21 Jan'y January respectively.
Am very glad to kow you are all well and
flourishing.

Before I go any further and
answer them you may as well know that I had
a small operation a few days ago on my leg
and it is a little too early yet to know whether
it will be alright or whether another will be
necessary. The whole thing is a very ridiculous
affair, but it means that unless these little
things are done there is always a liability for
the scar to break down under strenuous exertion.
I will try and explain:- when a wound heals
there remains for a time hard scar tissue, in my
case this tissue has been adhering to the band, and
consquently when I moved caused a drag on the
flesh which set up irritaion and broke the scar
down. What has been done is this: a knife was
inserted between the scar tissue & the band, separating

one from the other. Now if this can be made to
heal without joining up again all will be well,
and it is that I am waiting for now, if it doesn't,
another form of operation will be necessary. The
other alternative is time. Time for the scar tissue
to soften in the natural way, which, as the scar
is fairly large would take a considerable time,
hence this little operation to endeavor to assist
nature. Hope this is all clear to you. By the way,
I am told I did not give away any details of my
"hideous past" when under the aneasthetic!

So much for myself, and now to answer your
letters.

With regard to my relations with your family-
the breach with your mother is I believe healed. I
took the initiative in this and I think rightly
so, at your request, she is a woman, and it was
up to me to make the first advances. I also wrote
to Duncan when I heard from you of Jean 's death
but so far he has not troubled to acknowledge my
note written last October. I don't judge, perhaps
he never received it. With regard to the other
members of your family, I think, that quoting your
letter, now that your mother has of her own accord
cleared up misrepresentations, it is up to them

to make advances, more especially as none of
the misunderstandings that have arisen have
been of my seeking. If they really wished to start
a fresh page, they have never had a better opport-
unity than when I was wounded. Graham
particularly will understand how impossible it
is for me ever to make any advances where he
is concerned. I want you to understand that
I harbour no resentment towards any one, and
that I ask for nothing better than a complete
understanding, more especially because I know
what pain all this gives you, and how earnestly
and sincerely you desire to promote amicable
relations, please remember I have made the first
move, and before any further steps are taken, I
think every opportunity should be given to the other
side to make the second. You must not worry
about things, because I am quite sure all will
be well, it is possible I look upon these things now
in an entirely different light, the result of nearly
3 years war and the realisation of the futility of
most human misunderstandings. In any case
when I return I have not the faintest intention
of living in a state of continuous preparedness
for war with sundry skirmishes, I shall return with an open mind, and it will be a great
matter for regret with me should things remain
so unpleasant that the seeking of fresh fields
should become a necessity. Just one other
point while I am now on this subject. Please do
not endeavour to fit me, either in your own
eyes, or those of your family, with any form of
halo or hero worship. I judge by some of your
remarks that you are inclined to do so. I
have done no more and in many instances a
good deal less than any of those in my
immediate entourage. In any case no one
have done more than their duty and it is a
good standard of morality that requires praise
for that.

I enjoyed your two yams from Ada ,
we never get any here, send some more if you
can dig them up.

Notice you are dropping back into that
habit of underlining words again! 'Nuff enough said.

I am sorry to hear about Taylor . I
think you were right to give him a helping
hand, but it is a little rough on the army isn't
it.

Don't quite know what to say about Marian
living with you. It might work alright, but
I am rather inclined to think your methods
of housekeeping are a little too slapdash for
her methodical mind. You can try it provided
she is willing of course. I should imagine
you would have to get a new domestic.

I wouldn't buy too much furniture if I
were you, not beyond what is actually necessary
and then get good stuff.

Yes, dearest, sores were the reason of
my bandaged wrist. Not very bad, they started
last october and I expect the scars will
remain for many moons.

Easter Sunday morning I went over
with the matron & assitant matron of the
hospital to the Port Said cemetary to put
some flowers on the graves of soldiers who are
buried there, enclosed a couple of snaps taken by
assistant matron.

I don't know whether I told you
that the buildings in which the hospital are
housed belong to the Suez Canal Co, and were
built for their machinery, and engineering staff.
They make ideal wards, built on stone and
painted while inside with tiled floors. The

hospital has over 1,000 beds, which naturally
employ a large staff.

It was kind of people to make so many
enquires after me, I do hope you carefully
replied to all of them.

Had a long letter from Webb yesterday
hardly any news, his writing is very difficult
to read. His letter was mostly abuse of the
Germans. Things seem very dead everywhere just
now.

Am very pleased to hear how nice Helen
is growing, I do hope that with everything her
ways etc. are quite natural.

Fare you well my dear just now, this
old war is a stupid thing after all. Send
J.G out as my servant. I'd larn him.

Take every care of yourself, kiss Helen for
me with heaps of love.
Roy .