We Shall Not Forget to Pray for Him: News reaches home in Paisley, Ontario regarding the condition of Private Blue

On June 29th, 1916 in the Dickenbusch sector of the Belgium front Private A.E. Blue was wounded in the chest by a sniper’s bullet. The family was informed by telegraph on July 4th of the nature of his wounds and the service records indicates he was “dangerously ill” on June 30th with that status being upgrade to “improving” July 3rd. Thus, the first notice received by the Blue family in Paisley, Ontario must have been a shock and of grave concern to them as to the status of their family member.

Eventually the condition of Private Blue was updated and the Paisley Advocate published an article updating the condition of Private Blue.

Undated news articles from the Paisley Advocate, Paisley, Ontario regarding the condition of Private A.E. Blue after his wounding in the chest by a sniper bullet.

PTE. ALEX BLUE

Of Paisley, who was dangerously wounded in the chest, and has been in hospital at Boulogne, France. He is reported to be improving. Alex enlisted in the 18^th Batt., went overseas in April, 1915, and had been at the front since November.

Pte. Alex Blue was Wounded in the Chest

Two letters received by Mr. Alex Blue[i] [father] on Monday set to rest any doubts as to what happened to his son at the front. It will be remembered that a telegraphic advice received in on July 4^th[ii] stated that Pte. Blue was dangerously ill, but no information could be given as to the nature of the disease. A few days ago his name appeared among the list of casualties as wounded. By the letters it is learned that Alex received a serious wound in the chest, from which he is recovering well as can be expected. The letters are as follows:

DEAR MR. BLUE:

Your son Alex [sic] came into this field hospital, wounded in the chest. I am glad to say he is going on as well as can be expected, but is, I am afraid, seriously ill. I can promise you he will receive every care here from the doctors and nurses, and we shall not forget to pray for him. Alec [sic] sends his best love, and says, “Don’t worry.” God bless you in your anxiety.

Your sincerely,

A.B. Fisher[iii] (Chaplain)
17 C.C.S. BEF[iv] , France

 

DEAR MR. BLUE:

I am pleased to be able to tell you that your son, Pte. Blue 54004, has improved, and to-day has been sent to a base hospital. His wound was a chest wound, which is always dangerous, but I hope that now he will continue to improve, and that you will soon have a favourable report of him from the hospital to which he has been sent. I do not know his new address, or I would send it to you.

Yours truly,

Sister M. Hopkins[v]
Sister in charge, No. 17 C.C.S.
2-7-16

[i] Alexander Hamilton Blue, born 1853. Native of Colonsay, Scotland.

[ii] Private A.E. Blue was wounded by a sniper’s bullet on June 29^th, 1916. The Battalion was in reserve at Dickebusch, Belgium, south-west of Ypres.

[iii] No record of this chaplain has yet be found.

[iv] The text of the original document is difficult to discern whether this is CEF or BEF.

[v] No record of Sister M. Hopkins has been found yet.

These two letters must of been some comfort to the family, but as yet, the serious nature of the wounds and the lack of information must have been very frustrating. Private Blue was not at this time able to write himself as he suffered paralysis in his right arm for a time after the injury.