THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

from
P^te. R.V. Williams
2/4^th London Field Ambulance
RAMC
Saffron Walden
Essex

Aug 8th 1915

Dear Carey
You were wise not to join this crowd.  I hear you have been out a long time now – and here am I still in England.
I suppose there is no chance of my being able to transfer to a unit like yours – there seems so little change of our ever doing anything – have you ever heard any rumours as to our chances of our coming across the water – how are we looked upon – as a hopeless lot never to be made use of?  If you know anything tell me as with this new act I might be able to transfer.
I shall be so glad to have general news of you – the last I heard of you was from Steuart who said you had dislocated a finger – is this true – I do envy you doing something real in this affair.
I must tell you that I was sent up from Layton to Guys¹ for a month to try me ‘prentice hand on the uncomplaining poor – the attendance at the surgery fell off eventually, but I learnt a lot in the way of bandages, stitches, fomentations, operations, dissections & the rest.  I address you at Beaufort Mansions as I am not sure how to send this,
Yrs very sincerely
R. Vaughan Williams
(address & name as above)

1. Guy’s Hospital in London. VW was in the medical corps in the army during the first world war.