1 Lavistown House,
Kilkenny. Feb 23rd 1916 Dear Lady Clonbrock I am so sorry I could not answer
your letter sooner — about the wounded
soldiers — as the letter only reached me here
this morning — For the moment I think
all the men are well off — as their high
rate of pensions run for several months
yet — I am not sure but I imagine
when the govt appoints their Local Committees
of the had Relief Fund that they will be able
to give supplementary help where necessary
but you would know more of this than I do
(C Ranger) Griffin - has 25/- a week for dry months
& he reduced to 10/6 — he told me that
at present until his stump gets harder
he cannot wear the leg for long at time — 2 he wants to get employment as a groom but
I don't know if he would be able of course he
could not ride but I suppose he could groom
a horse & wash a trap alright - he used to
be a hack-car driver — he used to
drink badly but I believe has been keeping
quite steady since he came back with his leg
he has a half blind old mother dependent on
him — she is a protestant he became RC some
years ago — Burke John — Irish Guards is also back with
his leg which he some times wears wears he still
has 25/- I have never seen him drunk but I
believe he drinks a great deal of it his req
paper had been called in just before I left him
so I don't know what alteration they are making
in his case. There was a new 25/- a week book
at the post office so I suppose he will have it
for some time yet — he lives with his Father and Mother Father is a steady hard working man Murray J. C Ranger leg cut off at the hip 3 has absolutely no stump and I think it would
be quite impossible to give him an artificial
leg — he is a present drawing 37/6 for himself
wife & 5 children — — at the end of the year
from the hine that was granted to him. He
is to be reduced to 14/- for himself & wife & 1/3
for each child while under age for life —
I think that this higher rate will ruce for some months still. If it were possible to get him & perhaps
the n two more - taught to make baskets &
re-cane chairs they might supplement their
pensions - but I am afraid it will be
very difficult to get them to do anything I asked Colonel Dobbs if we could get them
taught at GG Luver minut S if we sent them
up & he said he thought it would not be
much good - as when in Codguy in Dublin
they generally went on a drunken burst it
did no good. There is another man 4 Influence CR. with a dangling useless
leg he would not let them amputate (he
had it wounded in S Africa & then he re-joined
& it got bad - digging trenches etc - down
about cork - he has wife & 3 or 4 children at
first he had 25/- then it was reduced to 16/ - I
think it is to be reduced more - they are rather
given to drink - but were better lately - if he
& Murray would take up basket work - or if
we could get Burke & he taught some kind
other work - fitting screws in something of kind
he might take to it - Caddwell C Ranger the man with the shattered
ankle - was taken into King George V
hospital & was operated on about a month ago
I saw him in hospital last month - he
said the doctors said he would be able to
move his ankle alright - his leg will
be shorter - but he can wear a thicker boot. 5 he is a most respectable man - and lives at
Derrymullen - your side of Ballinasloe Station
he says he is sure he will be able to do
farm work allright & stay in - he has
a brother serving in the Army & one working for
him Harper - unless he has joined by this
He is drawing £1 a week at present will
go on for 7 or 8 months more I think -
There is one other man with an artificial
leg named Wylie a protestant - his father
is a farmer - he has 25/- for six months
& be reduced to 10/6 at which he is turin
he used to be a drunken man & was
dismissed from the Asylum wheh where he
was an attendant - I am sure if he
chooses he will be
able to work on the farm
but I fear he won't if he can help it John Purvell the man you gave me
the order for for Newcastle was to go there 6 1916. March
Wounded
Men -
Ballinasloe yesterday so I hope he has gone -
he is being sent by the Co Galway head
Health Committee - Mr Orpen referred me
to them - holding your order over until
we saw - I must apologise for
having troubled you for a second order
& not make use of it - I will be careful
in the future - I have also discussed
that if a soldier applies within 3 months
of discharge there is practically no
difficulty in getting them sanatorium
treatment - my husband had been bad
with rheumatism & I had bad Sciatica over
Xmas - so we went to Dublin for electric
treatment & then we came here for
a few days & will be home on Saturday
& I hope to come & call after March 1st
(Roscommon Fair ) Believe me Yours very sincerely Emma Armstrong