tion in Switzerland.—I am, Sir, &c., IL S.
" DEAR FATHER AND Marnint,—I am pleased to inform you I have been one of the fortunate prisoners of war to be exchanged in Switzerland. I left the Schillerschule on the 24th of July for Constance, which is the exchange station. On arrival there we were inspected by the doctors, Swiss and German. Several were rejected. To our disappointment we were sent back to Germany to a camp named Mannheim, where we stayed until August 12th. By jove, we were pleased when that time came. We arrived in Constance about 4.30 p.m. same date. The whistle blows, train starts, hundred yards from station across frontier; Swiss people all lined up, cheered us until they could not speak. The recep- tion was great. At the stations where we stopped every Tommy was decorated with flowers, flags, &c. Cigarettes, chocolates, writing-books, and all kinds of expensive articles were given to us. ' God Save the King' was played at all the big stations where we had the pleasure of staying for half an hour or so. I have never seen such a reception in all my life, and never will do
again. Long live England !' came from everybody's mouth ; people were waiting day and night to welcome us. I was escorted to the hotels, where we had an excellent breakfast; everybody welcomed us. At Montreux, which was our journey's end, we had breakfast again at the Grand Hotel. It was handsome; the place was decorated so nice; it must have taken weeks to prepare it. The English. and Swiss flags were flying—was inscribed all over the place, ' Welcome to our British Wounded Toramies.' Every- body welcomes us. I had the pleasure of meeting an English fellow, and we had a chat, and had our photos taken together. He comes from Word. About 8.30 a.m. we were put on an electric car. Well, I tell you we had two hours riding up the mountains, which was handsome. On arrival here we had Boy Scouts with their bugles, bands were playing, and more refreshments were given us. We could not eat much on account of the food we had had already. I see the lads are doing all right at the front. Good luck to them! Stick to it, my boys! How nice to read an English paper after two years of misery! You are at liberty to mention what you like about the war now. We are in the good and safe hands of the Switzerland people, who respect the British Tommy. Cheer up, my dear mother and father, also my brothers and dear sister. Your son's in the best of health, only a cripple; but I don't mind being crippled for my King and country. Would not mind another smack at the 'square heads.' I have just received a letter. which you addressed to me in Germany, inform. ing me of the photo of me that is hung up in Mr. --'s school. Why and how did he get it? Did you give it to him? I should like to know how a fellow called -- of my regiment is going on. We had the order to retire, but seeing the Germans we could not go until we had a go at them. We were the last in the trenches. When they were nearly on us we ran for it The Germans shouted at us to stop, but we would not, so they fired and caught me; but I believe — got away. Hoping he is well at present. Dear father, I must close. Hoping you receive this letter quite safely, believe me to remain your loving son, Cluster."
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