Pte BERTIE HIBBETT, 1/5th South Staffords. British Red Cross Hospital, The Cenacle, New Brighton, Birkenhead: PICTURE POSTCARD to ALL at 95, Foden Rd Walsall.
Written with the left hand in tiny writing with his new address given by a nurses’ hand. Posted in plain envelope.
7.7.16.
Dear All,
They wouldn’t let me come Home till I was wounded. But never mind Dearies. I feel proud to have been in the ‘Big Push’. I stayed at this Hotel (see picture) (what oh!) 2 days before crossing.
‘Grande Reception’ at B’ham Stn. 7 pm. Reception De Luxe on arrival at Birkenhead about 9.0 pm.
Private cars drove us to this H(e)aven of Rest.
Best Love to all. Bertie.
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On leaving Gommecourt Battlefield on 1st July, it took 2 days for Pte Bertie Hibbett to travel by Motor Ambulance & Train to a Hospital set up in the expensive-looking Trianon Hotel, on the cliffs at Le Treport. There he spent another two days before crossing the Channel from Le Havre to Southampton arriving on Thursday 6th July.
By 7th July he was in The Cenacle, New Brighton, Birkenhead – owned by nuns – now a Red Cross Hospital.
NEXT POST: 9th July, 1916. NB. Back on track now after return from remarkable visit to Fonquevillers & Gommecourt. Almost over-looked 7th July Postcard !
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