April 1916:

A photograph of Louis (in the bow tie) with a friend or relative unknown. Date also not certain. Possibly  a planting friend in Ceylon between 1912 and 1914, or in Scotland.

Louis on the right in the photo above . Sometime in Ceylon likely shortly after the end of the  war.

7 April 1916:

Louis ventures outside- the first time in a fortnight.

5 April 1916:

Louis writes to McMullin and Cox 're SG money'. SG must be a reference to Scots Guards, and the fact when Louis left the Scots Guards he had noted that he was still waiting for a true up of his accounts.

3 April 1916:

Walter leaves on 3 April- Louis still in bed on the following day.

1 April 1916:

While Louis was convalescing, Walter arrives back in Broughty Ferry for 4 days leave. By this time Walter was serving with the Honourable Artillery Company Regiment Number 3798.

31 March 1916:

Again, manages to get up in afternoon. Letter to Huntley.

29 March 1916:

Slight respite on 29 March - getting up in the afternoon. MO certificate sent to adjutant.
Back in bed on 30th. 

27 March 1916:

Two more days in bed.

26 March 1916:

Letter to a Dr Edgecombe.

A search for Dr Edgecombe in 1916 reveals the following from the biographies of the RCP. Note the Harrogate connection which suggests this is the Dr Edgecombe Louis was writing to.

Wilfrid Edgecombe

b.2 Mar 1871 d.1 Apr 1963
MB Lond(1893) MD Lond(1896) FRCS(1896) MRCP(1907) FRCP(1926)

Wilfrid Edgecombe, perhaps the last of the spa physicians, was born at Huyton, near Liverpool, the fifth son of George Edgecombe, of the Uplands, Blundellsands, and his wife, Fanny Marrin Hughman. He was educated at Liverpool University and University College, London, and was house physician, house surgeon, surgical registrar, and tutor at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary before settling in Harrogate in 1894. Contact with Dr George Oliver, who was interested in physiological research, turned his interests from surgery to medicine, and after he served for a short time in 1916 with the heart unit set up by Lewis at Colchester he devoted himself entirely to consultant practice.

From 1905 he had been on the staff of the Harrogate Infirmary, and it was due to his memorandum to its governors in 1919 that the Harrogate and District General Hospital was opened in 1932. For thirteen years he was chairman of its medical staff and so a fitting deputy-president for H.R.H. the Princess Royal, and an experienced and wise member when the Management Committee took over control on the appointed day in 1948.

Shortly after World War I he lectured in many medical schools on medical hydrology and spa treatment, and although he had a growing practice, founded on a brilliant clinical sense, he found time to serve on the Harrogate Town Council. His hobbies were many: golf, skating, gardening, and the writing of delightful Christmas poems, but his greatest love was curling at which he won many individual and team prizes.

Edgecombe was twice married; by his marriage to Jane Swinburne, of Workington, Cumberland, in 1898, he had two daughters and two sons, one of whom was killed in World War I, and the other joined the Royal Naval Medical Service. His first wife died in 1939, and in 1945 he married Gabrielle, daughter of Hugh Myddleton Butler, of Kirkstall, Yorkshire.

24 March 1916:

Sees a Dr Coleman, but otherwise remains in bed.

The Broughty Ferry GP practice at Grove Health Centre carries a short history on its website and this includes the following reference to Dr Coleman.

 'The earliest Doctor known was Dr Gowan, who practised at the turn of the Century, and is best remembered for his daily trips to Barry Golf Club by coach to play with the other Broughty Ferry GP Dr Coleman.'

22 March 1916:

On 22 March sick leave is granted and Louis leaves on the last train and stays at Harrogate. Arrives home in Broughty Ferry the following day. 

20 March 1916:

Still in bed.

19 March 1916:

Still in bed. Another letter to Raymond, and either a letter to Sunday School or more likely attendance at some Sunday School.

18 March 1916:

Louis receives a report from the dentist- but not clear whether this is in any way connected with what has laid him up.

17 March 1916:

Louis still confined to his bed.

16 March 1916:

A long period of sickness commences on 16 April .

9 March 1916:

Letters to Raymond and Beath.