1 End of February 1918 No. 16 Casualty Clearing Station Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. My dear Fr Provincial, P.C. I hope you got my last note announcing change
of address. My journey up the river took the full two weeks
and as a second officer invaded my corner after the first couple
of days, I was only able to say mass four times and even at
the best, it would have been a rather make shift mass. The last
day, for example, I could only keep a light going, and then only one
candle, during the actual consecration, owing to the wind, from which
there was no shelter. It was not bad when I began, but afterwards
had to invert the pattern over the Host to save it from being
blown away. Of course there was no one present - not even a crewman. On
our way up we had a barge attached to us with Indian troops on board.
Small-pox developed amongst them, with the result that all ours are
now in a segregation camp for sixteen days. There are about twenty
long mud huts, on the river bank, and in one of these, with a box for an
altar, I saw Mass. From what the priest I am replacing tells me, I
judge I shall have to say Mass ever morning in a tent which I shall
share with the C.of E. chaplain, with a screen between. That's what he used
to do. I hope the Lord does not mind - personally the 'make-shift'
Mass, is the one thing I can't get reconciled to. I enclose at note - no - it will be letter to send it separately for Fr Farley.
I could only give him 10 masses during February. I shall try
to make the number up afterwards. I passed through Amara on
my way; but at night; and so was unable to see Fr Hartigan's grave.
I hope the Province is thriving; and that all our chaplains are still to
the fore. Fr Walton S.J. (Eng. Prov.) is in Baghdad; but I have not
seen him yet. I recommend myself to your Reverence's prayers. I want them badly. Francis M. Shaw S.J. no. 16 Casualty Clearing Station M.E.F.