Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1882

22^{nd February 1882}

Gerard Moore Heath becomes a Lieutenant in the Army.

PB130135

Letter to Posy from her one of her sisters at the Isaacs place, Boughton Park, Worcester.

After 1882 if Amelia Isaac has five children.

Boughton

Friday

Dearest Posy,

It poured with rain all day yesterday except for about an hour when it ceased so that the crowds who accompanied the carriage from St.Johns Church when they took out the horses and dragged Amy and her son in triumph to the Hall door did not get soaked with rain. All the family went to [Shrub?] Hall to meet him. He arrived there with his brothers from Southampton by 4.30, and was utterly unprepared for such an ovation and was quite upset by it. Said it was more alarming than the Boers. In fact he did not like it at all! He got through his little speech at the Hall door very nicely all the same. And though it was so very disagreeable at the time I think he must have felt gratified by this proof of affection and good will. He is universally beloved and popular. Quite the favourite of the whole family. The were two handsome arches one at the Lodge gate and the other at the house gate, put up by Amys people and there was another arch over the road put up by the St. Johns people. Ross was immensely excited and [fested?] the people with cake and wine. John [John Swinton Isaac?] looks well and not a bit changed and is so simple and delightful and recounts his wonderful escapes and adventures in the most natural way in the world and indeed it is quite marvelous how he escaped with his life. He gave his mother the bullet which had been taken out of his back. How any one can live for 5 minutes with such a thing in them as a modern rifle bullet would pass belief if one did not see the thing and the man. His wound in the head was so dangerous that the doctor told the soldier who was selected for his attendant that he would not live 2 days. And John says he supposes he is the only man who has seen his own brains! It was lovely to see his dear mothers happy proud beaming face as she sat by him at dinner and she did look so gay and pretty. We were a larger party, Amy [Amelia A. Isaac 1849-1925] and her 5 children, Edie, Nele and May, Lucy, myself and Mr Banner, a great friend of Johns who is staying here. John is very conversational and has told us a great deal, most interesting. I miss a good deal because he speaks very fast, like the rest of the family and at dinner there was quite a roar of conversation. John cannot use one of his hands very well at present. His face is not at all spoilt by the scar on his cheek, and the wound on the head is just a white mark about the size of a dollar piece. The other wounds are, of course, under his clothes. I was so glad to hear that Fred [Frederick Heath-Calwell] had left Hoopstadt and happy he will not have to go back, as the war may be over before his leave. I wish Gerard [Heath] was a safe. Also, I am very very glad to hear all is comfortable at St.Saviour and that Mr Davies has found after May Day the Bread he caste on the waters for indeed he did a very good deed at a considerable sacrifice and it must make him feel happy that all was not wasted. I do so like hearing about all your friends near L.Wd [Linley Wood] and I shall be very glad my dearest sister to come back again but I do not think it will be just yet.