Cecil Slack's letters: Volume 23

The body of each letter is as transcribed by Lady Joan Slack. In each case the name or initial of the writer is followed by the recipient, the date (where known) and the address from which the letter was sent. For convenience, these have been presented in a common format. CMS is, of course, Cecil Moorhouse Slack.

Dora to CMS. Sat. 26.5.'17

My Darling,

I am wondering if you are anywhere near the German attacks that are in the papers now - round about Arras. We have not heard any more about Pater moving but I expect it will most probably be next week also we think it is going to be somewhere on the Humber Defence but not sure. I wish the move would be soon then we can get it all settled up before Ma comes from Brighton - The new maid is a great success so far - quite clean and cheery and polishes things up beautifully - different from the old misery we had. We're awfully early birds now-a-days - I get up at 6.45 every morning and have breakfast at 7.30 to the tick so that Pater can be at the camp by 8am. - its lovely in the garden so early. What time do you roll out of your little nest?

I had a letter from the matron of Waltham Abbey hoppy yesterday - a most pressing invitation to go back and scratch for them as they are so busy - she said even if I went for two months it would be a great help to them. It seems so funny for her to write in this pressing manner when she nearly snapped Hartley's and my head right off the first few days we were there. I have written to say I can't go back again as Mother isn't better yet and besides I wouldn't for anything now that Hartley has left. Two could put up with the disadvantages of the place and get some sport out of it AND the people, and we did, but to be alone is wretched.

There absolutely isn't an atom of news in this lousie spot - altho' it is lovely just now - the trees and the woods and bluebells in them.

I had a letter from your Mother just after my birthday - wishing me many happy returns - I can't think how she got to know of it - also she sent me a tray cloth for my "bottom drawer" - it really was awfully good of her to send me anything at all - I never dreamt of a "bottom drawer" till your Mother mentioned it! I had a nice letter from William too - he's a nice old sort - I believe he's toddled down to Brighton for this week-end - its Whitsun - you know - it doesn't seem a bit like it to me.

Bye bye my sweetheart

Yours with love

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 27.5.17

My Darling,

I'm awfully pleased your Father may be getting a better job. It must be frightfully monotonous at present with so few men. It will be ripping if you do get to the Dukeries for the summer.

Yes, please do send some of your salad dressing. We get plenty of green stuff whilst we are behind the lines but do get very short of dressing.

I think I got your other letters written to me at St. Pol. I got none at the hospital, but they came afterwards.

We put up an aeroplane man a night or two ago, who'd had a forced landing just outside our village. He'd been on a raiding expedition and something had gone wrong with his engine. We couldn't get a joy-ride because it was only a single-seater. The country's lovely just now. The red may is coming out just outside the window.

We've got a tremendous lot of officers lately. One of them is from Reckitt's, and another is a fellow called Anderson, who used to live in Westcott St.

The colonel's on leave in Paris at present, and I bet he's having a giddy time. He was mentioned in dispatches recently, and I expect it will mean something else. Four of our N.C.Os. and men were mentioned, but no other officers.

I note that Emma is marrying a widower. I suppose it's all right but I don't think I should want to if I were a girl, would you?

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS Wed; 30.5.'17; 6pm

My Darling,

Yesterday morning Pater came in and said that moving was all a wash-out and only little subs were required for the coast defence - consequently we both felt rotten wash-outs ourselves and fed up with life in general - however we made up our minds to it this morning - I staked up peas and planted out about fifty little blinking lettuces - this afternoon Pater came in at 3.30 and said he has to report at the C.R.E. office or H.Qs. in Hull to-morrow Thurs. - so we are frightfully busy packing up - we have accumulated a TREMENDOUS lot of things and Pater is getting packing cases to put them in and then get them off by "Goods" - we want to get as much done as possible to-night because I shall have to do all the rest by myself with no help except this domestic and there seem to be heaps of things. I am going to H'field for Emma's wedding on Friday (Sat. the wedding - 12 noon) and will return Sunday or Monday then leaving here on Tuesday for Beech Croft - hope to take this new maid with me then with a charwoman, etc.

I want to get the house ready for Mother to come to the following Friday - t'will be rather a sweat to get it all straight after being shut up for 18 months. Please write to Beech Croft next time - I'm not a bit excited about your leave - not a bit! - Swish!!! I would have loved to have gone some walks with you round here - the country is simply lovely - but we'll have to come again someday in the years to come.

Had another letter from the Matron at Waltham Abbey asking me again - to go back to them - she says they've got an X-ray apparatus and hopes that will attract me! Pater says I shall be a conscript if I don't go nursing again soon - there seems to be a talk about calling up all V.A.Ds. in the papers - Am awfully busy - up to my blinking nose in it in fact - so too-to-loo old boy.

Yours with love

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 2.6.17

My Darling,

I am writing this before breakfast. I meant to write last night, but it will catch the same mail. It's a glorious morning.

I'm sorry Waltham Abbey's off, especially at this time of the year. Anyway it'll be a change to get a move somewhere.

By the time this letter reaches you it will be just a year since I told you I loved you, in the woods behind your house. I was in a frightful funk, but I'm awfully glad I did it, old girl. So poor old Emma's going off today. I hope she's just beginning as happy a time as we're going to have. Where are they going for their honeymoon.

I had a ripping dream about you a few nights ago. I was just getting out of the train at Paragon Station, on leave, and you were there to meet me, and I kissed you and it seemed absolutely real. I was awfully fed about waking up.

We got news the other day from Cox and Co. that three of our officers, missing on April 23rd. are prisoners in Germany. One of them is Hillyard, whom I think you know by sight. They have all written cheques since the date of their casualty. I expect the cheques got back here through Switzerland. Of course this means that a lot of men may be prisoners too, and some more officers. I nearly got another joy ride in an aeroplane yesterday. There were six of them doing a practice stunt with our Brigade. The C.O. went up. I think I shall get up next time we have them.

We had some Transport sports a few days ago. We came out top again.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Sunday. 3.6.'17

My Darling,

I am just writing a little note to you now - the wedding is over and went off splendidly and they left for their honeymoon at 1.45 and motored to Sheffield where they caught the train there. Emma looked awfully sweet in her bridal things and awfully happy and so did the bridegroom too - they have been awfully anxious about Emma cause she has had a bad throat and thought once that it would have to be postponed - however - they 'phoned up from London this mg. and said Emma was heaps better. I felt very envious of them when I saw them drive away together.

I got your letter on Friday mg. saying the C.O. had gone on leave to Paris - I'm sure your leave is coming off soon but you don't mentiom it - you silly goat - now aren't you? 'Cause I feel sure you are but you won't tell me but you MUST. Am going to Beech Croft on Tuesday and will be fearfully busy for about a week getting things in order. The Blamires are motoring me back to Silkstone this evening - taking Jessie and Willie Hallitt to Wakefield to catch the train for Peterboro' and Flamboro'. Have quite enjoyed the weekend very much indeed - still I can't imagine Emma married! she'll make a jolly good wife but I think Jim Raffan knows he's pretty lucky. Have got some snapshots of them at C. Bay. Will show you when you come over also some I took at the wedding.

Shall be packing up to the nose to-morrow so goodbye my darling

Yours with love

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 6.6.17

My Darling,

I'm glad the change has come off after all, although I should have liked to see you at Silkstone when I came home on leave, and have had a few walks in the woods.

I had a joy ride last Monday. A large party of us went back to the Somme battlefield to see the ground over which we had fought. It was most awfully interesting, but very disappointing from a sight-seer's point of view, as the trenches are crumbling in and the whole place is covered with mustard plant and long grass. I visited the remains of the trench from where the Bosche pinched my British warm and field glasses, and went down the dug-out I had there. There is a lot of battle rubbish lying about still, and a dead body or two that have been missed by the burial parties. We had our lunch sitting down in a place where a shell burst every five minutes the last time we were there. We had a look at the country from the top of the Butte de Warlencourt, and paid a short visit to Bapaume. Bapaume Town Hall, as you know, was blown up by a time mine after the Bosche retirement. There's just a hole there now, full of bricks and stones.

We had a frightfully dusty journey in buses, and I haven't got the dust out of my eyes and nose yet. I get hay-fever a bit at this time of the year and the dust has aggravated it. I was rather a fool to go really, but I didn't think it would affect me as badly. Poor old Capt Seed of Hessle gets hay-fever a bit too, and he went on the same trip, but he's got a Military Cross today so he's got his tail up. He came out with the Battalion, over two years ago, and hasn't been touched, and has done a tremendous lot of work, more front line work than anyone in the battalion.

Thanks very much for the cake and the lemon curds which I got today. The cake had suffered a bit from the voyage and the weather, but it was quite alright. I feel rather bucked with myself today because I've got a new pair of boots and a pair of saucy leggings from blighty. Please, I'm brushing my hair a new way. The transport officer likes it better the new way. I don't think I told you I've been going about without a moustache lately. I took it off when I had a boil on my lip, and when I started to let it grow again a few days ago I got the wind up horribly because it wouldn't do anything where the boil had been. But it's bucking up a bit now, and I think it will be quite a nice moustache soon.

I've been getting up as early as you in the mornings lately. This morning I was up at 6.0 and was on the range before breakfast, putting new officers through it.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Thurs. 7.6.'17. Beech Croft, Newland Park, Hull.

My Darling,

I arrived here on Tues. afternoon with dozens of packages and trunks but managed to be pretty lucky in getting porters and hadn't to pay any excess altho' I'm positive I had more than 100 lbs with me. Tues was the 5th. and I thought about you and last year at this time - I felt awfully sorry for you, you know, but yet I felt I couldn't truthfully say "yes" then by any means - like I know now. But its all over now so I don't mind - I do want to see you, darling - ever so badly and I'll meet you at Paragon Station and your dream will be real old boy - send me a wire as soon as you land or if you can't then - when you get to London. You ARE coming on leave soon I'm sure but you don't mention a word about it in your leave this mg. - letter - I mean - I have quite got "leave" on the brain.

Beech Croft is in a fearful mess - everything mouldy - down to kid gloves even - it is a job - simply awful - have got charwomen in and I hope to get it fairly presentable for a week to-morrow when I think Mother is coming home. I do hope you don't pop home for another fortnight yet - 'cause we're in such an awful mess and it will be nice and clean by then. William has just come in and will post this letter to you in town when he goes to his blinking G.R. Pater is in Grimsby for a month on Coastal Defence but will be in Hull after that I think - he came in to see me for half an hour last night but had to hurry off to catch the boat back again.

It will be six months on Monday - to the day too - so I shall think of you about 5 pm. then. Bye-bye - I must seal this little blinking note up for William to take.

Yours with love

Dora.

I rang your Mummy up but she's away and will be back to-morrow - at Welbren I think.

Hilda to CMS; June 9th

Dear Cecil,

It's about time I wrote to you, I think the last time you had a letter from me was two years ago; but you haven't missed much; besides you haven't written to me for about ten years more or less; I've looked in vain for your letters every morning they must have been mislaid or Ma was suspicious and bagged them.

Are you aware that I am going for matric the day after tomorrow? Well I am - there are three of us taking it; we are going to Bangor on Monday morning and coming back on Thursday; Ma has arranged for us to stay at the University we shall jolly well enjoy ourselves when we aren't taking exams; we have six hours maths on Tuesday. I shall come out the shadow of myself at the end of it, on Wednesday we have three hours Latin in the morning and then the rest of the day off; so we'll do something absolutely insane then, just to keep our spirits up.

I don't know what to say to you; what on earth will interest you, you are such a queer being. Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing this afternoon; I'm going to put on a six and elevenpenny pink hat, which I bought in town and a yellow jersey, a plaid skirt, you know a variegated Scotch thing; pink stockings and heliotrope shoes with blue laces, then I'm going to rouge and powder, take a sunshade and depart. (None of that is true, except the pink hat part). Now this is all true; we are going to have some ices, do some shopping, eat some buns, and chocolate and go and lie down on the shore. We haven't enough energy to go for a walk, it's far too hot.

Bathing began last Tuesday; I haven't had the courage to put my head under the water yet; I always feel as though the world has come to an end when I get a mouthful of salt water; you see I always swim with my mouth wide open, so anything can swim in it.

You missed a sight here the other day; the spirit moved Ma to play tennis, so she came out in an old white dress with a train at the back, and a sort of old curtain round her middle. She began to play tennis but found that the skirt was too long, so another mistress took a piece of string and tied it round Ma's waist and then hitched the dress over it, so that the bottom reached to just between her knees, she did look a wreck.

When does your next leave come off? It's a long time since you were home. It ought to be this term and then perhaps we could come home; you wouldn't be able to waste a day and a half coming to see us, unless you brought Dora with you.

Saturday evening 9.30 pm. I am in bed and very angry. I've forgotten to bring my book over to read and I've nothing to do but write to you; not that I don't like doing that but I don't love doing it sitting up in bed. And dash it all, when I wake up in the morning I shall have nothing to read; it's most heart-rending.

I went out this afternoon and had spent a most profitable three or four hours; we lay on the sands for two hours and ate pork pies, buns, chocolate, throat pastilles and then went and had an ice ; I felt rather upset inside by that time, but managed to drag myself to school and then collapsed; I'm a hopeless wreck now, you would never recognise me.

Miss Clayton, ROSIE THE BUG, she, her, that being has been ill in bed!!! She went to bed on Sunday and stayed there until Wednesday morning; she had a bad throat; and then she was worse again yesterday and has gone back to bed. The world must be ending. She stopped a girl from bathing the other day, just because she said "Buck up"; why, it's a most lady-like expression; I expect she uses it herself. Good gracious me, if she heard some of the language used here she would elope or do something mad.

Did you know Rob Ferens had gone to Rydal Mount? He smiles most sweetly at me as I come out of chapel, and of course I return the smile in a most sentimental way and feel very happy for the rest of the day! There are about 100 boys at Rydal now, it's growing awfully quickly. They weren't allowed to have Whit Monday holiday, because Ma told Mr. Goskin she did not wish it, as we were having a holiday and many of the girls would be out with friends and might happen to see one of the Rydal boys and that would be a terrible calamity; so the boys had their holiday on Tuesday or Wednesday; Ma is perfectly ridiculas; I should detest her, if I were a Rydal boy.

I think I had better stop now; I hope you have managed to read to the end of this letter and haven't fallen asleep half way through with ennui (is that the proper way to spell it?) because my feelings would be most hurt if you had.

When do YOU think the war will be over, you must have some ideas on the subject, so if you condescend to write back to me, you might give me your opinion; I should be most interested to hear it. My opinion is that it will last until Ralph has gone out and become a Field Marshal, but perhaps I may be wrong, I am sometimes, not often of course.

It's getting very dark, I can hardly see what I am writing, but that's a mere detail. I really am stopping now, my well of information is dried up; besides I haven't got over the pork pies and ice-creams yet.

Good-bye until next time,

With love and a kiss - don't forget the kiss - two if you like -

Your most devoted sister,

Hilda

Dora to CMS; Sunday 10.6.'17. 2.30 pm

My Darling,

I'm sure you will be tired of having scratchy notes from me and getting fed up too - I expect I shall be getting a strafing letter from you in a day or two because of it. I hope I shall like your new coiffure but you MUST grow that little moustache of yours before you come on leave - you know you never mention WHEN you are coming on leave - I think it will be in about a fortnight - you don't mention it on purpose - do you? Is it because if it were stopped I should be so disappointed - you're a knowing old bird! Those were my only regrets at leaving Silkstone - that you mention in your letter to-day - that we can't go for any walks in those woods - they are simply beautiful now. Father and I went through them just a fortnight ago - still I should have liked to go with you.

Emma and Jim Raffan come back from their honeymoon to-day - they went to London first and then they were going on to Shillingford - a lovely spot on the Thames - they wanted to go there first - but couldn't because of Emma's throat - they say its a most ideal spot and the scenery simply delightful. I had a letter from Marjorie on Friday - written from Ireland Co. Donegal - she is there with her Ma and Pa waiting to be married on Wednesday 13th. - Killybegs is the place they are at and she says they are going to Donegal for their honeymoon for 48 hours - so it will have to be very short and sweet - I think her Billy must be on land for one or two days and at sea for about five - she says she is going to live in the hotel at Killybegs after she's married as the houses are so filthy dirty. I little thought when she was staying with us a year ago and you were over at Silkstone that she would be shooting off in a year. She says Killybegs is a lovely spot - a little Irish fishing village - so they couldn't have a better spot for beginning life together.

I should like to see you in your new boots and saucy little leggings - you will be a dapper little officer. I rang up your Mother on Friday - I think she had just come back from Welburn - she asked me to go down to tennis yesterday but I couldn't as I was entertaining paperhangers and plumbers etc. so I may be going next Sat. - I shall like going to see them again - it will be like a little bit of you - just a little bit.

Father wired y'day mg. to say he was arriving 4.30 from Grimsby and arrived up here about 5.15 with kit-bag etc. and has to report at the C.R.E's. office in Hull to-morrow - his order was "to be in Hull for an indefinite period" so it looks like a job here - I hope it's a decent one.

A biplane came over Newland Park this morning and twisted and twirled about overhead and came quite low once - William thinks its Wilfred as he is now near Lincoln with absolutely nothing to do but go joy rides and he doesn't think any other R.F.C. would come and twirl over Newland Park for the fun of the thing. I'm glad you enjoyed your joy ride - I should love to go one someday. How awfully interesting going back to the Somme - I suppose you didn't find your British warm etc. - It is lovely being at home again altho' the house WAS dirty and still is - but it will be in order again by next Sunday and I expect Mother will be coming home in a week's time. If you are coming home THEN I would come down to London and meet you and Ma would stay there a day or two longer - she wants me to go as it is but I'm not keen at all - unless of course you happen to be there and I should love it then. So you can always wire me if you leave France suddenly.

Goodbye.

Yours with love

Dora

CMS to Dora; 10.6.17. 10.30 pm

My Darling,

I'm awfully glad Emma's wedding went off so well. You must have felt a bit envious: weddings are such ripping things and everyone seems so happy that one feels a bit lonesome after it. I remember feeling like that at Colwyn Bay once after a big wedding there, when all the cars and carriages were going away.

We've had a shooting competition today amongst the officers of the Brigade. We put in three teams of 8, and came out 2nd., 3rd. and 5th.. out of 11 teams. I got top score for us: I don't know yet whether it's the top score of the Brigade.

I expect we shall be going back to the line again soon. We can't grouse though, can we? We've had the greater part of this year in rest. Isn't this new advance ripping? We used to live near Wytchaete. It was not far from there that I had my little raid, and stuck a Bosche in the neck with my pocket knife. I should have loved to have seen the mines go up. Acres and acres and acres of earth have been blown up, and hundreds of Germans and guns have been buried. Everything is said to have gone off right.

I'm still getting up early in the morning, about the same time as you. I think of you then, and it's especially nice in the morning freshness.

I can't get my sylvan bath nowadays, but stand in my bucket and swill down on the stone floor, with the fresh air coming in through the windows.

I'm popping into bed now to dream of you if I can. I'm writing this in my bedroom. Your photograph is on the mantlepiece.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

CMS. to Dora; 14.6.17

My Darling,

I started writing last night but was so horribly drowsy and tired that I waited till now, which is before breakfast.

Today is our last day of comfort. We move very early tomorrow morning. It will be quite a change to go into trenches again, and perhaps it won't be so bad in decent weather. I expect you rather like being back in Beech Croft, and having a bit more room to move about. It's rather like going home on leave. I have not the least idea when I shall get my leave, but I'm not very hopeful. I can quite understand that you didn't have any bother about excess luggage, you bewitched the porters. I'm afraid I'll have to stop this note. Breakfast is going on and I can't think properly. I'll write a decent letter in a day or two from the trenches.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Pamphlet entitled:

Third Army

STANDING ORDERS

on

DEFENCE AGAINST GAS.

B Coy. Read by:

C.R.I. C.M.S., W.S., H.B.W., 4th. East Yorks.

Dora to CMS; Thursday. 14.6.'17. 11am

My Love,

Its ages since I've written to you in the morning but I have just a little time to spare - all the people are working on different things and won't be wanting me for a few minutes. I have two charwomen and a kitchenmaid - two plasterers to-day and two paperhangers later on - and to-morrow - I have a man to put down carpets and hang curtains - another to hang pictures and a piano tuner coming so I shall be busy all the time.

The man is coming from Beverley with our two portraits and we are putting them on the dining room wall - the door-wall - mine goes next to the door and Flossie's nearer the window - so you'll be able to pass your opinion on them when you see them - he did my face exactly this time last year so it's really as I was then - not NOW - I'm a bit more of an old chicken since then. Father wants to get them up as a surprise for Ma but we are not quite sure whether they will look too big for the room or not.

I am awfully glad you did so well in the shooting but you always are rather a nib in that line - let me know who got the top score for the brigade.

I am sending you some photographs of Emma's wedding to see - the top one is the best I think - they are all snaps really - I took them while they were moving about so that is why they are not all a great success. It's rotten to think you've got to go back to the line again - old chap - you've had quite enough of it. How is your hay-fever - I do hope its better - I heard that the only cure for it is to sleep with your windows fastened so that the germs or something can't hop in during the night - its awfully lousie to be shut up like that all the same I think. It says in the paper this mg. that they heard the mine explosion in Dublin - I wish I'd known about it and I would have listened for it. Did you hear it very much? I've been awfully lazy since Sunday I haven't got up until 8o'clock - I really have felt so awfully tired and its really no good wearing oneself out - is it? It's no good getting too tired before I get married - is it? It's lovely having my own bedroom again and my bed right under the window - so I get a cool breeze all night long - don't you love getting back to your own bedroom at home - I never thought it was quite so nice before - its with being away at Silkstone in that little potty, stuffy bedroom for two people.

Mother comes home next Wednesday I think - the house will be quite straight AND clean by then - I've been awfully busy turning out drawers etc. and y'day we did the boxroom and today the dark room which is, or rather WAS in a frantic state of untidiness - I came across a lot of my old drawings and designs there - it was quite interesting looking through them but it made me feel as if I wanted to begin and do some more drawing and painting again - still I shall someday.

Its awfully hot here so I expect you poor things are boiled. Father gardens hard in the evenings and is making it look quite nice again - I haven't had time to turn into the garden yet.

The air raid on London seems to have been pretty bad doesn't it? - I expect there will be far more casualties than it says in the paper.

This advance is lovely isn't it - it makes one think that every little advance will make the war end sooner. When do you think it will be over now? I don't think for two years yet - call me a blinking pessimist for it

Heaps of love my darling

Dora.

Dora to CMS; Sunday 17.6.'17. 6.30pm

My Darling,

I've been frightfully lazy to-day - it's been too hot to do anything or go out even. Pater was a gem - he brought my breakfast up about 9.30 and I didn't get up until eleven - I read "Getting Together" - a pro-American little book by Ian Hay - not been out long - he has been out to America for the Government to establish a feeling of goodwill and the little book is what he has discovered about the Yankees - it's very interesting and really rather good. I read it through in about an hour. Have been reading Bulver Lytton's "Last Days of Pompeii" this afternoon - it is awfully interesting - especially as I have seen Pompeii. I feel heaps better for resting to-day - I really did feel fagged last night. All the rooms are cleaned now except the billiard room - so we shall not be so long.

Mother and Flossie are coming from Rottingdene - straight through on Thursday I think and not staying in London 'cause of air raids etc. - it would upset Ma a lot if one happened to be on while she was there. I think I told you they left Brighton for Rottingdene about a fortnight ago and they like it MUCH better - Brighton is too trippy and noisy for long. Rott. is only five miles away and a most delightful little village right on the coast - Burne-Jones lived there and his widow lives there now. William had to go to London on Thursday night and went over to see them for Friday night - he says it is so delightful that they are thinking of honeymooning there. Have I told you that William has decided to get married in Sept - Flossie has practically decided but I don't think Mother has. Still Mother will have me left so she won't feel as if she had lost both her chicks.

The kitchenmaid I have now called Eva - is a very good sort but unfortunately stutters - still, that's nothing in war time. Her brother (Howlett) went out with Col Shaw - been wounded twice - I think and out again now. I've got a housemaid coming on the 29th. so we shall be alright then I hope.

The King and Queen are coming to-morrow - I expect you know though. He is coming to this new hospital on the Cottingham Rd. behind the students college. Pa and I are going to stand on a plank with the Todds at the end of their garden (it stretches to Cottingham Rd.) and see everything from there as they pass. Poor old William has to special constable himself at the entrance to the hospital! Pater's unit isn't formed yet so he hasn't anything to do. The King will be going to the Naval Hospital too - its rather a pity I haven't been going for a year and a half now so I shall miss all the fun. I ought to write to Emma - haven't written since she was married - and I ought to write to Marjorie - I haven't written to her since she went to Ireland and I expect she is a Richardson now but I have heard nothing. I've been an awful swiz in the letter writing department lately and neglected everybody even Mother - have left it to Pater - and written to no one except you. I'm awfully sorry I haven't made that mayonnaise for you yet - I will in a day or two - but I've only had time to do the absolute necessity cooking so far.

It's positively heavenly to be in a civilized sort of house again. Have you been getting up at six am. still - 'cause all this week I have woken up promptly at six and then popped off to sleep again about quarter of an hour later and I thought of you as soon as I woke. You know the photograph you had taken in Sheffield of you - isn't half as nice as you are really - there's heaps more I can see in your face in reality. It's just six months ago to-day I think that I said goodbye to you on Sheffield station and I never thought then, that even at six month's end I should not have seen you again - it is just as long as it was from June to December. The War Office are stingy old blinkers about leave. I am sending you a cutting from the Hull Mail on Friday night so you will see what Pater's job is.

Bye-bye my love,

Yours with love

Dora.

Pater is to have the first section in Hull - one at Beverley - one at Bridlington - one at Withernsea and one at Hornsea - but am not quite sure about the latter.

Cutting re East Yorks Volunteer Forces.

"...Captain W.H.Willatt, R.E. has been attached for raising and organising the East Yorks Volunteer Signal Co., R.E...

Sgd. G. Easton.

Col. County Adjutant.

CMS. to Dora; 19.6.17. 13.30pm

My Darling,

I am writing this about 30ft. below ground in a little trench off the Hindenberg Line. We came here two or three days ago and have been very busy. I have been working since 9.30 this am. and shall be out again in a couple of hours. Our little bit of line is quite quiet.

Your letter with the photographs of Emma has just come in with the rations, 11.30pm. I like Jimmy Raffan. Emma and he both look awfully bucked about things, but not any more bucked than you and I'll be. I am just longing and aching to see you again. I wish my leave would come through.

You've had a frightfully busy time cleaning up your house, and together with all the work and anxiety you've had lately I can easily understand that you feel a bit tired. Do have a good long rest now old girl, and don't bother abour V.A.Ding just yet.

Yes I know the feeling of getting back to one's own bedroon again. There seems to be such heaps of room for one thing. I have my bed near the window which I keep wide open, and damn the hay-fever. This by the way has practically gone now.

I wonder whether the mine explosions at Wytehacte really were heard in England. It's quite possible, for they were simply terrific things, and whole regiments and batteries of guns were buried by them. We wouldn't be able to distinguish it from where we were from a lot of big guns. I think there's a very good chance of the war ending this year. If it doesn't I give it another two years at least.

I wish I could come and see your and Flossie's pictures. You're wearing tennis things aren't you. What's Flossie wearing, ploughing breeks?

No, I didn't get the top score in the Brigade for shooting. I lost by two points 64-62. But I must say the other chap had been practicing on the range, which I had not a chance to do.

The heat here is terrific. The sweat simply pours off me, even if I don't move about.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Friday 22.6.'17. 7pm

My Darling,

I am so sorry I haven't had time to write to you since Sunday but I have been so awfully busy finishing things off and arranging things as I like them that one couldn't let other people do. Mother and Flossie came home last night and Ma seems ever so well and looks well too but says she has no reserve strength yet but feels she is getting stronger gradually. William came in to supper so we were all there except you and I wish you could have been here too.

We are quite clean and straight now - nice bed to oneself and real live bath every morning. Flossie and William are going over to Beverley to-night to have a look at a house in Lairgate - it sounds a rather nice house from the description of it.

How is your hay-fever getting on? I haven't heard from you since you went to the trenches - I think the letter will take longer to get through from the front line. Are you still adjutant now? Its about time Holtby came back isn't it? I'm sure it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to put in for that course at Aldershot - drop a hint to the C.O. about it - do.

I heard from Hartley yesterday - I hadn't heard for some weeks and I was wondering what had happened to her. She says some weeks ago she heard that her Boy was "missing" and a few days afterwards that he was killed - the poor girl seems frightfully upset about it and I know she will feel it terribly 'cause I got to know her so well during the time I was at Waltham Abbey - altho' it was only five weeks really - but we were together all the time. They were awfully happy - just the same as you and I are - so I do feel sorry for her. I am writing to her to-morrow - but I feel there is really nothing that an outsider can do to help in anything of that kind.

11.45pm. Two of the Runton girls came in and Mrs. Runton also Nurse Waddington so I had to leave off. I came to bed at 10.45 but lit my gas fire, got undressed, then sat over it and thought of you until just now - I ought to hop into bed but I felt I must write a little more to you, my sweetheart.

William and Flossie like the Bev. house very much and are taking me to have a look at it to-morrow aft. - it must be a sudden affection they've got for me - for they've never taken me out before in the world! They say it is very nice but F. wishes it had more garden and right IN the country - but I don't think it sounds half bad altogether, but I will tell you about it when I've seen it.

Leslie Brown (Kathleen Runton's boy) hopes to get leave the end of July but he is permanently at the base so probably it is easier to get from there. Arnold Cleminson is NOT engaged to Mrs. Theilman - Mr. Quant said he'd heard about it and wrote and asked Arnold himself (Mr. Quant does get to the bottom of things!!) and Arnold wrote back and denied it. - so it was all lousie scandal. (Are you shocked at my blinking language?) Colin Marr went past our house to-night in uniform again - he spends the main part of his time with Kathleen Hall (lives next door to us - Major Robert Hall's (R.G.A.) daughter) and has done so for the last six months - has always been there so the Todds say - MORE scandal for you! He was out with you wasn't he? Jack Ferens is on 10 days leave - home from Bermuda and goes to Catterick next week I think so you will probably be getting him out with you before long - if he is under you - you will be able to lead him a dance won't you!!

Its just midnight so I must turn my fire out and roll in - and think of you again as I go off to sleep - I always think of you as I go to sleep - and when I wake up - do you of me, my darling? My eyes are just about shut so goodnight. I WAS so disappointed about leave but I oughtn't to be really - I ought to be thankful that you are always kept so safely and always will be I know. Will finish this to-morrow.

Sat mg. Just going out in town with Flossie - it has turned fearfully cold the last day or two.

Yours with love

Dora.

CMS to Dora.; FIELD POST CARD; Date 25.6.17

I am quite well.

Cecil.

CMS to Dora; 26.6.17. 12.15am

My Darling,

It's midnight and what's more it's nearly a week since I wrote you last. I sent a card to-day lest you should get the wind up.

This time is the only chance I get of writing a letter just at present as we are in the midst of "minor offensives". One is going to start in a few minutes, 12.30am.; gas and all sorts of things will be going over. I am quite safe though for the moment as I am 30ft. below ground in a dugout with 42 steps down to the bottom. I don't expect the Bosche will put very much back at us.

I'm awfully sorry you haven't been feeling up to the mark lately and are a bit tired, but do have a decent rest now that you've got back to Beech Croft. Your Pa seems to have struck rather a nice job. I expect it means you'll be able to live at home for good now?

Just between you, me and the lamppost, I have a little idea that the C.O. has put my name in for a Staff job - not one of the "dud" kind, but the other sort - but don't say anything about it because I'm not sure, and it might not come off.

The C.O. was bucking about leave at dinner tonight. It might come off soon, and then again it mightn't. I can feel somehow that you're waiting for me to turn up in Hull very soon. - The strafe has just started - I'm going out to see the fire-works - I'll tell you what's doing in a few minutes - I've been up and it's nothing very startling, just a few red and green flares, but our guns are kicking up a terrific row and making the ground tremble like a jelly.

Joy has come out again - we got the news tonight. I haven't seen him yet. I shall be awfully glad to see him again.

I dreamt of you the night before last, and had a ripping talk with you.

Yours with love,

Cecil

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