Joseph Ferris
3rdLanarkshire Yeomanry
12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
d. 13 January 1916
Letters from Rev D Somerville (Presbyterian Chaplain) and hospital staff
1 General Hospital
25 Dec 1916
Dear Mrs Ferris
Your son Joseph was admitted here early this morning suffering from a very severe form of trench feet. I very much regret to tell you that it is absolutely necessary to amputate one foot, & we are hoping against hope to save the second from amputation also, but you will know that if it is done, it will have been found imperative so as to save your son’s life. I shall know again how he is going on, & hope to have some better news for you then.
Yrs faithfully
Asst. Matron
Postcard dated 28 Dec
Your son’s condition is much the same but he is holding his own.
Matron
Etretat
France
31 December 1916
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter of enquiry regarding the condition of No. 43457 Pte. J. Ferris, 12th Highland Light Infantry, I beg to inform you that this Soldier is at present in this Hospital suffering from Trench Feet. He is dangerously ill, and owing to gangrene having developed it may be necessary to amputate the feet.
The Medical Officer in charge of his case considers the prognosis as to life is good, and I will communicate with you again in a few days with regard to how he progresses.
Pte. Ferris’s condition at present is certainly quite as good as can be expected under the circumstances.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature – indecipherable]
Lieut. Colonel R.A.M.C.
Commanding No. 1 General Hospital
BEF
Postcard dated 01 January 1917
Son’s condition satisfactory. Sensation returning somewhat in feet.
Matron
Postcard dated 2 January
Dear Mrs Ferris
In reply to your letter of 29th Dec, your son is going on as well as can be expected & fortunately amputation has not been necessary. Sensation is returning, which is however a very painful thing. He would be glad of a letter. Ward 3 Casino
6th January 1917
Dear Mrs Ferris,
I am sorry to have to tell you that it became necessary to amputate both your son’s feet. Everything possible was done in order to try to save them, but it had to be to save his life. He is as yet not as well in his general condition as we should like, his vitality being lowered, but we hope to see improvement soon. It would probably do him a world of good if you were to visit him. He is naturally depressed poor boy, & you could cheer him no doubt. If you do not get a pass in the next few days, you might again wire to matron here asking for permission to visit & if it can be had, she will get it for you. In the meantime, write him to cheer him up. I hope I shall have better news for you tomorrow.
His ward is Casino 3.
Yrs faithfully
Asst. Matron
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
5/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
Your son has come through his operation wonderfully well and in the meantime his doctor is thoroughly pleased with his condition. He got some sleep last night, and though complaining of pain this morning he is very bright. He is a brave boy of whom you may well be proud. He has a Scotch doctor and a Scotch nurse and a Scotch minister, so you see that he is in good hands! I will write again in a day or two.
Yours sincerely
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
6/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
I have just been seeing your boy. He told me that he had a fair night and wasn’t feeling much pain. I didn’t think he was looking so well as yesterday, so I asked Sister about him. She says that his legs are doing splendidly, but that his general condition is not good: he is suffering from the shock of the operation. I hope to have better news for you tomorrow but you must remember that his condition is very serious. You will need to be as brave as he is.
Yours sincerely
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
Sunday, 7thJan .
Dear Mrs Ferris
Your boy had his legs dressed when I saw him this morning. I thought him looking better and brighter. He is hoping to hear from you: probably there will be a letter from you in a day or two. The doctors are pleased with his progress.
Yours sincerely
David Somerville
______
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
Tuesday 9/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
I have just been seeing your boy. I didn’t think he looked so well tonight, and sister tells me his high temperature is causing considerable anxiety, although his legs continue to do splendidly. I had prayers with him and wished him goodnight: I hope that he may be better in the morning. He is a brave boy.
Yours sincerely
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
10/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris,
Your boy had rather a bad night, but is quieter this morning. He is making a brave fight for it, and I hope and pray that he may win through. He will get every chance, for he has good doctors and nurses.
Yours sincerely,
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
11/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
I am very sorry to say that your son is very poorly this morning. I have just seen him. He had two letters, one from you and one from his sister’s fiancé. He asked me to read them but only now and then did he understand what I read. His mind was wandering very much and I am afraid that he is very low. I left your letter in his hand and he knew quite well it was from his mother. Unless there is a big change, I am afraid that you will need to prepare yourselves for the worst. Everything is being done for him but the poison from his feet seems to have got right through him. I will write again.
Yours in sympathy
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
11/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
Your wire asking permission to visit came today and matron submitted it to the officer commanding the answer to which you have already had.
It is much to be regretted that you cannot visit , but the doctors think that your son is now too ill to be visited for the present. His condition yesterday and today is not so good as though the stumps are apparently doing very well, he has very high fever with delirium and heart trouble which makes his case very anxious.
In view of this the colonel desires me to say that a visit would not be of benefit to him at present. It is unlikely that he can remain in this condition for more than 24 hours or 48 at the most. Let us hope for the best that his strength will keep up till the fever passes. Everything possible for his well-being will be done.
Yrs faithfully
Asst. Matron
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
12/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
Your boy is much the same this morning. The doctor says that he is just holding his own. He still hopes that he may pull him round. He knew me quite well this morning and said that he had had a fairly good night. He takes his food well, and his legs continue to do beautifully: but his general condition is still very low. We remember you all in prayer every night.
Yours sincerely,
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
13/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
My letters of the last two or three days must have prepared you for the sad news that I have to give you now. Your dear laddie died at 3 o’clock this morning. I saw him about 7 o’clock last night, and he was very far through then. He knew me, and I had a prayer with him, and said good night. I was pretty sure I would not see him alive this morning, and so it has turned out. He just slipped away: he had no pain or struggle at the end.
Your heart will be sore this day, but you mustn’t mourn too much for him. He died for his country, and for a great cause, and in the years to come you and all his friends will be proud of his memory. He was a brave boy, and everybody loved him. We hoped that the operation would save his life, but it was not to be. God has called him home: may he in his great mercy help you to bear this blow. He will be buried today: I will write to you after the funeral. Meanwhile, believe me, yours in sincere sympathy
David Somerville
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
13/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
I very much regret to have to tell you your son passed away early this morning. It is well to think his sufferings did not last any longer. He passed from his delirium into a much quieter state and died very peacefully at 3.20 am this morning.
He will be buried with military honours in the military cemetery here.
We of the nursing staff who came in contact with your son here will send a wreath as a small mark of our respect for your brave son’s memory.
With sincere sympathy from Matron and myself
Yrs faithfully
Asst. Matron
No 1 General Hospital B.E.F.
31/1/17
Dear Mrs Ferris
It was exceedingly kind of you to send the chocolates for the staff and myself and the books for the men. Thank you very much indeed for your kind thought. It was much appreciated you may be sure. I have asked Sister of Casino 3 to write to you. She is such a splendid soul and very good to your poor boy.
Yrs sincerely
A.P. Wilson
Asst Matron