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The TALES you probably never heard about

FRANK BEST HAS MANY WOUNDS

One is Right Between the Eyes, Others on Arms and Chest

His Sight is Affected But That is Thought to be Only Temporary

[Welland Telegraph, 14 November 1916]

              In a letter received yesterday from C.J. Bradshaw, formerly of 12 Randolph Street, Welland, now of Leicester, England, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Best were informed of the very serious injuries sustained by their son Frank in the engagement in which he was wounded.

             Mr. Bradshaw says:

             I’m writing you tonight to let you know how Frank is getting along, for I have had the pleasure of visiting him in the Leicester hospital, which is within six miles of my home.             I’m very pleased to tell you that Frank is progressing well and as far as they can see he will be walking around in another two weeks.  All his wounds are flesh wounds but they are very painful at times. He got a bullet through the right arm just above the wrist and the flesh blown away above the elbow on the left arm, a cut on the chest and also one on the right arm and one on the nose right between the eyes, and the sight of the right eye is affected, in fact, he cannot see light from dark, but he thinks that he may regain his eye sight, for the eye is not damaged, and when he can get up he will go and see the eye specialist.

             You will wonder why he cannot get up, but you must understand he could not get back to the trenches after being wounded and the exposure and loss of blood weakened him so that he is only just beginning to pick up, and his temperature went high at times.

             The way I got to see Frank was through Dr. Colbeck. He found out some way that I was at Leicester and he wired me to go and see him and wire back Frank’s conditions, but unfortunately the wire came to my Leicester address on Saturday afternoon and I had left and gone to the country and did not get the message until late Sunday night.

             Frank cannot do much writing himself yet, for his fingers are very stiff, but he is doing all he can to get them limbered up so in time you will see some of his own writing again.

             One thing Frank asked for was a Welland paper, but unfortuately I could not supply him with one. Frank is quite cheerful and is making himself at home amongst the others, and says he is being looked after very well by all.

             I will write you another letter next week and tell you how he is getting along.

 Your truly,

C.J. Bradshaw

12 Randolph Street, Welland

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