1st CMMGB: Pte RW Mercer - Letters from the Great War

1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Pte. Richard William Mercer
Personal Letters from the Great War: 1915 - 1919

Previous Letter Post Card 47:

2nd Lieut. Dennis Emery to William and Georgina Mercer - December 18, 1918
Grand Hotel du Cap Martin, France

Grand Hotel du Cap Martin, France^[277]
18/12/18

My Dear Auntie & Uncle^[278]

This is my present home an absolute bon place in the South of France. I expect you have heard I have been in hospital for the last 7 wks with Trench Fever^[279]. Am feeling very much better now.

I am very glad to think Rich^[280] has been kept out during this horrible campaign^[281]. I understand he visited Watford^[282] whilst on leave recently. Am awfully glad things are practically at a finish there has …

2nd Lieut. D. H. Emery
Essex Regt.

Footnotes
^[277] This post card shows a luxury hotel-hospital somewhere in the south of France. This hospital is probably reserved for British officers. The geographic location has not yet been determined.
^[278] The post card is addressed to his Aunt Georgina and Uncle William Mercer. The post card is signed, but not completed as the space is used up. Also, there is no area to address this post card, therefore, this picture post card must have been mailed within another envelope.
^[279] “Trench Fever” was common on the Western Front and was caused from the excretions of body lice (Rickettsia quintana) and transmitted through biting. Symptoms included headaches, skin rashes, inflamed eyes and leg pains. The condition was not normally serious, with patients recovering in less than a week although prolonged hospitalization of several weeks was common. 2nd Lieut. Emery appeared to have problems with weakness in the legs.
^[280] "Rich" is reference to his cousin, Pte. Richard Mercer.
^[281] The "horrible campaign" is the Last One Hundred Days.
^[282] "Watford" is 115 Estcourt Rd, Watford, Hertshire in England. It is the home of Georgina Mercer's sister Nellie Emery and her husband Leonard. Nellie is the mother of 2/Lieut. Denis Emery and aunt to Pte. Richard Mercer.

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