1.ix.17 Dear Birkett, Our dear Laddie has been taken! We felt all along that it was to be our fate. I felt certain that escape was impossible. I have had so much & no knocks to speak of! We have to thank you for your kind care of him. War was not his job. I dare say [END PAGE ONE] [BEGIN PAGE TWO] he is glad to be out of the Hell & at peace. He only went into it for our sake. The whole business was loathesome [sic] to him. He had been much happier of late & had learned to take a great interest in his men, who had won his esteem. I hope you are better. Do come to us when you are in England. Greetings to all. Yours sincerely Wm Osler