Cecil Slack's letters: Volume 29

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.

CMS to Dora; Wednesday 21.11.17

Darling,

I got two letters from you on Monday, one dated the 7th., from the C.C.S. I suppose you're back at Beech Croft now, and getting things ready for hospital. I have been very strenuous the last two or three days. Yesterday I went on a cross-country run. My C.S.M. and I were the hares, and the company followed. We had a short run of about three miles over hilly country. Today I got up at 6.45 am. and immediately after breakfast marched off to the range and didn't get back till 3.0 pm.

I have hired a large empty room in the village, and am making some tables and chairs for it, and am letting the men have it for reading and writing and cards in the evenings. I am getting some magazines for it. The main thing about it is that it has a large fireplace, and as fires are not allowed in the barns where the men are billetted, I think it will be appreciated. Have you any old magazines you could send me, do you think? Any old thing that's knocking about would do. I have also sacked our mess cook, and have a big row on about some of our mess kit that has been stolen.

I think, as you do, about not getting married until we can settle down in our own young home. It will be much nicer, but it does seem a long time to wait, doesn't it?

Love from your sweetheart,

Cecil.

x x

Dora to CMS; Wednesday 4.30 p.m., 21.11.'17

My Darling,

I haven't heard from you since Sunday so I expect you have been busy removing to the back somewhere. On Monday Nurse Waddington came down to tea - she said a friend of hers, Eric Boast - Maj. Northumbrian R.Es. had been over on leave and she had seen him at Market Weighton - he said he was, or had been near the 4th. E.Yks. and knows your name and thinks he must have met you sometime.

Yesterday I went to see Flossie and Bill off to London by the 11.55 - Bill has some paint meetings on and Daddy Runton and two other paint fogies went with them. Yesterday afternoon I did some gardening in the front garden and cut tons of stuff down. This afternoon and this morning I have taken my bicycle nearly to pieces - both wheels off and mud guards - paraffined it all over - am going to do it properly - black japan it etc. - I haven't ridden it for about two years so it wants doing up a good deal. Pa is going to buy me some new lamps and a carrier so it's worth it !

Norman Oughtred is married to-morrow to one of the Bentham girls - he comes on leave on Monday and has got 14 days altho' his sister Mrs. Fred Till, this mg. told me that he had asked for 21 days but couldn't get it. Jack Oughtred was on leave just before the 14 days leave came on - rather a swiz for him.

I heard from Hilda the other day - but I believe I told you in my last letter - they come home three weeks on Friday - this term seems to have flown. I have sent off your parcel with the jersey to-day - I SHALL be sorry if this one gets lost.

I haven't got any more news for you to-day although I expect if you were here I should find plenty to talk about.

Love from your sweetheart and a goodnight x.

Dora.

Dora to CMS; Friday 23.11.'17, 2 p.m.

My Sweetheart,

I had one letter from you yesterday and another this morning - I'm glad you have got Bibby's Annual at last - it has been just about six weeks on the way! - There are some quite good articles in it and nice pictures and I'm glad you like it. I should certainly do the drawing lessons if you have time - it's a pity not to - do they teach you perspective or what? because you will find it very useful to know about that. I am glad you have got a nice mess and a comfortable bed in your new billet - the jersey I sent you the other day will be hardly suitable for just now but I hope it will be useful when you haven't such good billets. You would be fearfully tired after your long journey and I think it's a wonder you managed to do nine miles with your knee and I really don't think you will get very far in the Divisional Competitions with it.

I am getting on with my bicycle - I have got one coat of black japan on yesterday and am putting another on to-morrow - it really is looking awfully nice but I got myself into an awful mess - the black stuff is so sticky. Flossie and Bill come home this afternoon - we had a note from her yesterday and they had seen Wilfred and Queenie - and not at all struck with Queenie she was so affected in her manner. Mother and I are just going out shopping and going down to Wilton House for a few minutes to see Hilda and Mabel's costumes for their French play - Hilda is to appear in long stockings and breeks like balloons!

I had a letter from Marjorie Barker yesterday - she is still in Ireland but her Billy has had a bad time in the Atlantic - been forced to dive under for a great length of time because of rough seas. The new advance near Cambrai is very cheering isn't it - part of the push is where you had your April 23rd do isn't it?

Mother is just getting dressed so I must leave you now - my bicycle will really look quite smart when it is done.

Goodbye old boy xx - I suddenly saw you quite plainly last night when I was just popping off to sleep - it was so nice.

Yours with love and always your sweetheart

Dora.

CMS to Dora; Sunday 25.11.17. 5.20 p.m.

Darling,

I haven't been able to write for the last two or three days because I've had all my time occupied. Yesterday I was on parade all the morning, and attending at boxing matches all the afternoon, and after that a conference till 8.15 pm., and consequently missed the post. The day before was a Brigade field day, and my one and only subaltern had asked in two people for bridge in the evening, so I couldn't write then, and they stayed till midnight. I moved yesterday to another mess, bigger and much more comfortable. There are eight officers in it now. Ruthven has come back from leave, three new officers have been posted to the company, and the M.O. and an American M.O. under instruction have joined us for messing. Another company has come to our village, so we shall be able to get more bridge in the evenings.

I have a very comfortable bedroom opening into the mess. The bed is delightfully soft, and has a sort of curtain arrangement over it. I felt quite cheery this morning as I lay in bed, with the sun shining onto this curtain thing. Your parcel containing the sweater, and Punch, and the sweets came today, and thank you very much. I'm awfully pleased with the sweater, especially as you've had it on. I'm sure you must have made a ripping mermaid in it. I wish I could have seen you. No, I'm not on light duty, and my knee seems quite all right now, except when I knock it. Yes, I know Major Boast quite well by sight, and have spoken to him occasionally. He is in our Division.

It's turned very cold today, and we had a few snow flakes this afternoon. I wonder what you're doing now - sitting on the sofa by the fireside in your drawing room, perhaps. I wish I were sitting there, with your head on my shoulder.

Goodbye till 10.30, darling

Love from Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Sunday 25.11.'17. 12.45 p.m.

My Darling,

We have had frightfully windy weather the last two days and yesterday morning part of that screen of roses at the end of the garden was blown right down so Pa and I had a frantic tussle with it in the afternoon - we have also cut one or two trees down lately to make more room for the others. I have had my new winter hat altered - it was like fig. 1. first - and how you saw it - but I didn't like it and I looked so awfully tired and hideous in it that I took it to be altered and it is really much better now - in fact I feel rather nice in it.

Pater went off at 6.40 this mg. - had to take his men to Hornsea to shoot for the day - I haven't gone to church as Mother didn't feel up to the mark this morning but I think I shall rake out the Todd girls for a walk after dinner. I'm going to try and get a spurt on to write to Billy and Betty Keeble this afternoon - I have owed them a letter since April.

No more for to-day. I'm glad you still love me - it would be rather a blow if you didn't, old boy. I DO wish they would be quick and send for me to nurse - I'm so fed up with hanging about.

Heaps of love x x

Dora.

I've written this in front of the fire so it is a bit scrawly - is Grummit giving you some boxing lessons?

CMS to Dora; Wednesday 28.11.17 5.30 p.m.

My Darling,

Life at present is just “one damned thing after another”. Parades in the morning, sports in the afternoon, the following day's programme to arrange in the evening, and the whole intermingled with chits. I have only glanced at two papers since we came out. I have been wanting to write for a pipe catelogue and for some boots but haven't had time. I think I shall just manage to squeeze it in today though. I am on semi-light duty today, as I slit my other knee open yesterday on a stone whilst playing football, a nice little cut a quarter of an inch deep and an inch and a half long.

I expect you've painted your bicycle a good deal better than I used to paint mine. Mine looked very nice when the paint was wet, but not very startling when it was dry. Do you remember painting a lamp of mine red once when I was living at Dalton. I wanted you to paint your initials on it at the bottom, but you wouldn't. I was very fond of that lamp, and when I lost the oil part of it I still kept the red glass part on, and got another oil container, into which I fixed a little electric light, which you may remember.

The Colonel asked me yesterday if I would like to take on the Adjutant's job again if Holtby got to England. I said I was very proud of having a company, but shouldn't mind if he wished it. I hear today that Holtby has got to England. Whether he will take me from my company or not, I don't know.

Yes, Grummitt has been giving me some boxing lessons, but now that we are thoroughly into our “rest”, I haven't time for any more.

Heaps of love

from your own boy,

Cecil x x

Dora to CMS; Tuesday, 27.11.'17, 7.30 p.m.

My Darling,

I have been awfully busy all to-day and by your letter yesterday you seem to have been busy too - I hope your knee is no worse for it all. It will be much better and nicer for the men to have a fireplace and room to sit in. I went to the Runton's and Todd's last night to ask for surplus odd books - and Flossie brought me some to-day - some quite new Tatlers too - I am making them into two 7lb parcels and sending them by post early in the mg. - I would have sent them off to-day but I was busy making you an Xmas cake this mg. then I caught the 12.15 train (arriving at the station at 12.14!!) went to Auntie Alice Batty's for dinner - and Flossie too - then up to Woodgates to see Marion Ferens and then to Mrs. Holdercroft's for tea - she was a Miss Story (dentist). Flossie and Bill are at the Todd's to-night but are coming here to sleep.

Bill has been teasing me so I'm thinking of some way to get my own back. I must go to get the post before it goes to-night so look out for the parcels - I do hope they will get there. It has been a really WARM day to-day and y'day was cold, nippy and frosty and snowing and I thought I was going to get a blinking chilblain on my nose!

Heaps of love from your sweetheart

Dora. x x x x

Dora to CMS; Friday , 7 p.m., 30.11.'17

My Darling,

I have got my orders at last! I have to report at Camberley Aux. Military Hospital, Camberley Surrey. on Dec. 12th. Hartley goes to-morrow Saturday to the same place so I'm awfully glad we shall be together. I can't find Camberley on the map so I expect it must be some far away spot in the country - anyway I hope it's not too far away. Mother and Father don't want me to go a bit and I believe they think I'm a bit too bad to go away and leave them alone - but you know it's six years since I first left school and I have been at home all that time and I feel I shall develop into one of those stodgy girls one sees about town - with nothing to keep me mentally alive - unless I go and meet some fresh people and learn fresh things. What do you think about it Cecil - it's awfully hard to do duty to others and duty to oneself too. I have signed an agreement from to-day and sent it off. I have sent you some shortbread to-day that I have NOT made myself this time - also some more books I found that we didn't want and I thought your men would like. We had Mr. and Mrs. Hemmons (Nellie Quant) over for the day on Wednesday - he is AWFULLY nice - we did like him - his arm is quite better and will soon be getting his artificial hand. He says what really saved his life was that he knew First Aid so pressed one of the arteries in his arm the whole of the time to prevent haemorrhage - and so saved his life.

Have you learnt First Aid because I DO wish you would - you've no idea what a help it might be to you sometime and now is your opportunity - behind the lines and two M.Os. in your mess - will you? On Wednesday evening Ma, Pa and I went to an R.E. concert got up by the N.C.Os. and it was really very good indeed. We met several of the officers of the Humber Garrison and the C.O. and they all seemed very nice.

I'm glad you've got such a nice bedroom - you seem to be quite in the lap of luxury. It has been awfully mild the last day or two - in fact quite hot sometimes.

Mother and Flossie want me to postpone going till 1st. January so am writing to ask if the job can be left open until then - but if it can't I shall go. Flossie has just been telephoning. Wilfred and Queenie are coming to Mrs. Todd's to stay for a week or two to see if it will do his nerves any more good. I must catch the 8 pm. post now. I WAS sitting in the drawing room last Sunday when you wrote but the sofa is right in front of the fireplace now - it's warmer. I did ache for you last night darling - ever so badly - I do still get these turns and feel I want you so badly - do you ever?

Goodnight sweetheart until 10.30

Your own Dora.

Dora to CMS; 30.11.'17. Friday 11 p.m.

My Sweetheart,

I rang up your Mother to-night to ask about a Sale of Work she was going to to-morrow - and she told me of the bad news about poor old Bob - they had only had the wire about half-an-hour - it really is overwhelmingly sad for them both and your Mother seemed frightfully upset but is awfully plucky about it all. She said your Father had just written to you and hopes you will be able to get over to Rouen to see him - I do hope you can manage it - then they will be able to hear from you yourself how he seems.

It is sad for you, darling, too, all this and I am feeling for you and thinking how you feel about it just as if it were my own brother - because now that I belong to you and am part of you - those who are dear to you are dear to me as well. I know now why I was so restless last night and could not get to sleep for thinking of you - for it was only yesterday that Bob was wounded. I suppose it is in the ear he is wounded so I do hope he won't be in much pain.

Goodnight my dearest - I am with you, loving you and thinking about you all the time.

Dora.

CMS to Dora; Saturday 1.12.17., 6.0 p.m.

Darling,

Thanks very much for the sweets and the cake, the latter I take it being home made, as it was very nice.

We are moving again tomorrow, to another village. The whole Brigade is swapping over with another Brigade, rather a silly arrangement really. It's very annoying when we have comfortably settled down here. Yesterday and today I have been arguing with inhabitants about various claims for broken glass, stolen straw, and lost chickens, which they say have been done by our men, and which the men, of course, deny. This morning I was looking over the new billets we shall be going into, and on the way home my noble steed had a little trouble with a ditch, and fell on to his face and knees. It was soft ground so it didn't matter. I didn't come off. Did I tell you that I had applied for Paris leave again? Two of our officers are there now. I may be going in about a fortnight's time, with Capt Laverack. Do you know him? We have also applied for a weekend in Calais, but I don't think we shall go, as there is nothing doing there. My worthy servant, one Bush, goes on leave tomorrow to Norfolk, and I shall have to put up with a temporary one for a fortnight. I have had Bush for a year now. He is a splendid old man, and everyone envies me.

I felt very near you last night, Dora, and do now, whilst I'm writing. x x

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Mother (WS) to CMS; Dec. 2nd, 1917

My dear Cecil,

You will be interested in the enclosed letters of the children. Harold has written quite a long one. Father wired you yesterday telling you that Bob is wounded, and in No. 2 Red Cross Hospital Rouen. Poor Bob, I think he was tired out before the wound. His last two letters struck me, that he was trying to make the best of things, but he was feeling the lack of sleep. I am hoping the wound does not prove dangerous, and also that being sent to Rouen will mean coming to England as soon as possible. We have had no further news since receiving the first telegram, so I am hoping no news is good news, but it will be a relief to know more soon. Of course we do not know the extent of the injury, just gun shot wound ear, severe. He will appreciate being in a comfortable bed and the other comforts of Hospital life, after the trenches.

Hilda and Mabel will be home next Friday week, and Norman a few days later. We shall miss you two boys at Xmas time this year. It is almost 12 months since you became engaged. How time flies! This year seems to have gone at a terrific rate, and the early part of it was most anxious. I am thankful for lives spared. Harold seems to be growing stronger, though at times he looks tired, but I do not think anybody else notices it as I do.

Dora has probably told you that she has written to the Matron of the Hospital, to see if her time can be extended to Jan.1. I think Mrs. Willatt will settle better if she can be home for Xmas. They will be very quiet at Beech Croft when she has gone. Dora has just been speaking to me on the 'phone. What a boy you are, fancy damaging your other knee. Have you had it stitched? The Colonel will be rather chary about allowing you to take part in the sports if you get knocked about so much. It seems advisable for you to take the post as Adjutant as you have the opportunity. It will give your knees more rest, also you have had a pretty rough time taking all things into consideration, and will be quite justified in accepting something not quite so dangerous if you have the opportunity.

The President of the Conference (Rev. Simpson Johnson) is preaching at Brunswick twice to-day. He gave us good measure this morning and seems to be doing the same to-night, as Father or the maids are not yet home.

I have written to Mater and Auntie Florrie asking them to come here for Xmas. Tom is still in England, and if he happens to get leave, I hope he will come also.

It is freezing hard to-night, and the fire is very comfy.

Very much love from

Your affec. mother

Winnie Slack.

Kitty to CMS ; Dec. 2nd 1917

My dear Cecil

I hope your leg is better. we have 19 fowls. there has been ice on the water to-day. We hope Bob will soon be in England. With love from

Your sister

Kitty

Harold to CMS; Dec 2nd

Dear Cecil,

We have got 6 more pullets we got them on Wennesday. We btought them home in two baskets, and two paper carries, and one rapped up in brown paper, we brought them from Sutton, we got into a tram at the tram-terminus, and we just got nicely setteled down, when the one in brown paper began to cackle and nearly got loos, and the woman who was taking the tickets said take that up stairs AT once. and so we had to take them up AT once. I break up in about 3 weeks time. It snowed last Sunday for the first time. The new pullets and the old ones are always fighting. The hens arnt laying very well just now. I hope you are getting on all right.

Bob is wounded servley in ear. We hope Bob will come to Blighty. Father reads The Blue Bird to us every night. I rote a letter to Bob the other night to Bob but it has not gone yet because we do not know his address yet, It ofton frezes very ofton now. Norman is coming home about the 18th. I am reading General Gordon. I hope you are coming home for Cristmas. I expect Bob will be. The hens are getting quite tame one of them took two apples out of my hand the other day. One of our chimneys has been blown sidways and another has has had a hole blown trough it. itnd a slate was blown of the roof and some more glass was blown out scince last time. I am glad you were able to run in the sports. The wind has blown one of Mr. Ferens's big trees down.

From Your

Afecc Brother

Harold

P.S I get up at 7 to feed the hens

Dora to CMS; Sunday, 4 p.m., 2.12.'17

My Darling,

So far they have had no news of Bob again yet - but your Mother seemed decidedly more cheerful about him last night on the 'phone so they take “no news” as “good news”. I do hope you will be adjutant because I know it is interesting work and it always seems much safer to me too than being a captain - especially in a push. You really do seem to be awfully busy with parades and sports and knocking your other knee to bits - I really don't know how you managed to play football with the other one. Why didn't you let me know what you wanted in the boot line and I could have got them sent off for you and ordered the pipe catelogue? I could have done it for you easily - especially as you are so busy just now.

I haven't heard anymore yet about nursing - I expect I shall hear on Wed. or Thurs. whether I have to go on the 12th. Dec. or 1st. Jan. I remember that little tail lamp of yours and the bit of glass I reddened for you - I never thought you would keep it then though! In fact I didn't think you were that sort at all who would be a bit sentimental in anyway - until I knew you better. The second coat of black Japan won't dry on my bicycle - it is a nuisance because I want to put it together again and I haul the thing everynight into the kitchen to see if that will dry it better.

Bye-bye now - I'm just going to write to Queenie Willatt - I haven't written to her for ages.

What DO you think! Wilfred and Q. Todd are coming to stay at Carlmayne for an indefinite period! The Dr. thinks “home life” is what he wants so he has got three weeks' sick leave. I don't think they will stay longer than a week - Queenie will get tired of their ways of living - there won't be enough excitement for her we think.

Heaps of love and kisses, my sweetheart,

from

Dora.

CMS to Dora; Tuesday 4.12.17. 9.30 p.m.

My Darling,

I got your letter today saying that your orders had come through to report at Camberley. Of course your parents are fed about you going, but then, you know, there are plenty of people whose children have gone off to do their bit and who will never come home again in this lifetime. And then for your own sake I think it would be good to be on your own-i-oh for a bit, although you're not the kind of girl who would get stodgy. I wouldn't have asked you to marry me if you were. I expect you'll get frightfully independent though, and will fairly boss me about when I come home on leave. x x .

I'm very sorry to hear the news about Bob. All I know at present is that it is a "serious" wound in the ear. If he gets over it all right it means that he will not have to spend the winter out here. I shall not be able to get over to Rouen to see him. Neither shall I be able to get over to Paris, or Calais, as we are moving again shortly.

It is getting very cold out here now. Your sweater will be very useful. I shall like wearing it in any case, but when I remember that you, my love, have had it on, well--------! x

Yours with love,

Cecil, still badly aching.

Dora to CMS; Wednesday 5.30 p.m., 5,12.'17

My Sweetheart,

I have been awfully busy ever since Sunday that I have only had time to think of you and not write. It is awfully cheering about Bob - being in Oxford and your parents are more than relieved about him - you can imagine how anxious they were with a telegram "severely wounded in the ear" - any wound in the head may be mental until one knows for certain - but now, Bob has written so it is alright - your Mother seems to think she may go over to Oxford to see him - I should be over like a shot to see you if you were in hospital, old boy. We have had Col. and Mrs. Bunberry and your Ma to tea this afternoon and they have just gone - he is the C.R.E. for the Humber Garrison. Monday I was gardening hard all day and putting in wallflowers - our front garden will look awfully nice in the spring with the flowers.

I got a letter from the V.A.D. y'day to say a nursing member was urgently wanted so must go on 12th. Dec. - I only wrote to say I would like to stay till 1st. Jan. to please Mother and Flossie - but now that it is urgent they don't mind so much - Mother seems more reconciled to it as well and is feeling better than she was. My address will be Aux. Military Hospital, Camberley, Surrey. - so think of me on the 12th.

I am sending your Xmas parcel off to-morrow morning - and am risking a plum pudding - so to the British Army it is a CAKE - as we are not supposed to send puddings. Mother and I have made the cake and pudding and please see that those blinking cooks don't BOIL the pudding - it wants STEAMING - that is - putting it in a pan with holes in the bottom ON TOP of another pan kept boiling with water for an hour or hour-and-a-half. If you boil them it takes all the flavour out of them. Mother has sent you the chocolates - they are the only kind one can get now-a-days - they are awfully difficult to get - quite plain ones almost unprocurable.

Wilfred and Queenie Todd are staying at the Todd's and everything is very sweet and aimiable so that's a good job - although Bill says Wilfred seems far from well - mentally - frightfully apathetic - takes NO interest in anybody or anything except Queenie - he has got 21 days sick leave and a ground job in the R.F.C. in England after that - so I don't know what he wants to bother about. Flossie and Bill have come to spend the night and we are expecting Auntie Alice Batty and Molly for the day to-morrow. Friday Ma and I are going to the Zenana at Mrs. Ferens and Saturday Nurse Waddington is coming for the weekend - so I am pretty well booked up before I go away.

Your Mother has heard thro' a Tommy on leave from your company that you are Acting Adjutant (he left on Sunday) and understood you were fighting again at Passchendale or perhaps it was where you HAD been. I'm awfully glad you are Adj. again - I feel heaps easier about you now but I DO hope you will be able to stay out of the line over Xmas.

I believe I have a chronic cold coming and it's so cold in my bedroom that is why my writing is so jiggly - we have the radiators on too - and had 13 degrees of frost last night. Goodbye my darling x x . I'm getting quite excited about going away - Hartley went last Sat. you know but I haven't heard from her yet.

Yours with love

Dora.

CMS to Dora; Friday, 7.12.17, 9.30 p.m.

Darling,

I came back this afternoon from a Cook's tour up the line, commencing two days ago. The C.O., Grummitt, Laverack and I went up. We had some very good meals on the journey but that was all the pleasure there was. I got up about a quarter to four on Thursday morning, had breakfast at 4.15 and then had a five mile trot to the bus, for which we had to wait in the cold for an hour and a half. We got shelled a bit up the line, and Laverack and I were showered with spray from a shell hole into which an 8" shell landed. A piece of the shell hit my helmet. An aeroplane also dropped about eight bombs a couple of hundred yards away from us, at dusk.

I forget whether I thanked you for the books - I'm awfully sorry if I didn't. The men are very glad to have them

It will be just a year ago, by the time you get this letter, that you promised to be my wife. The year seems to have gone very quickly to me. I know you a good deal better now than I did then. I cannot describe my feelings when I think of it all, and of how I have longed, and wondered, and prayed for years that one day I should have the courage to ask you, and that you might love me as I loved you. "Happy" is no description at all. I can't describe it; it's a peep into Heaven.

I'm very tired tonight, sweetheart, after my recent journeyings, but I couldn't go off to bed without writing a letter to reach you in time for the anniversary, although I'm afraid, now, it will be a day late.

Goodnight my darling Dora. x x x x

Love from your sweetheart,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; 8.12.'17, Saturday 12.45 noon

My Darling,

I am writing this in the train for Beverley which goes at 1 pm. - I am going out to say goodbye to Bill and his spouse and coming in by the 5.37 - also taking my camera to finish off the reel of films that I started when you were on leave the last Sat at tennis if you remember them. I never got your Xmas parcel off till yesterday morning after all - I hadn't time before - and just when I had done it up - it weighed over 7lb. so I had to make it into two. Your Mother telephoned this morning and said they had heard from you and you had just received the wire about Bob - we did not know that if a case is sent to Rouen it isn't generally so very serious and anyway he is alright now but the War Office certainly do send alarming telegrams. I do hope the C.O. puts you on the Adj job - it still seems indecisive by what you say. I'm awfully glad you are going to get some Paris leave - it will be an awfully nice little Xmas holiday and break the monotony of camp life for a bit - but don't smash your knee up again or you will be spending your Paris leave grousing in the C.C.S.! I don't know Capt. Laverack at all but I believe Eileen Parkin (Dr. Parkin's daughter) knew them - do they live down Anlaby Road somewhere. Is he a young or old bird?

I expect you will be going almost anytime after you get this letter - I would sooner do Paris than Calais though - Calais is rather a miserable place isn't it? Tell me all you do and what you see this time. Please don't go to the Folies Bérgeres this time, will you, Cecil, I would really much rather you didn't - I don't like to think of you being there - you don't mind my saying so do you?

I have been busy in the garden this morning we have borrowed your gardener from Wilton House for the day. I heard from Hartley this morning - she says there are 100 beds in the hospital but everything is rather quiet - anyway it will be a start - they treat you very decently so it won't be so bad. Lovely country she says. Just getting into Beverley so goodbye my sweetheart - I do hope you have a jolly time in Paris - wish I could be with you.

x x. Always your love

Dora.

Please excuse the scrawl it's the wobbly train.

CMS to Dora; Sunday 9.12.17

Darling,

Thanks very much for the shortbread which came today. It's very nice even though you haven't made it. We are very busy at present with packing up, and all the other attendant evils of a move. You mustn't get the wind up if you don't get many letters from me for the next week, as it is just possible that I may not be able to get any off, although I shall do my best.

It's dinner time now, but I don't expect anything for another hour and a half as there's no wood for the fires, which are in the open, it is raining, and all the servants are packing up our valises which have suddenly been called for. There are a lot of minor horrors of the war today. Tomorrow morning I shall have to rise at about 3.30. I have heard a rumour today that Russia has called the armistice off on account of the Bosche taking away troops from that front. I hope it's true, but I doubt it.

Love from your sweetheart,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; 11.12.'17, 6 p.m. Tues.

My Dearest,

Just a year ago to-day isn't it ? I was thinking of it as I was writing the date so that's why I put '16 I expect - altho' it isn't the first time that I have thought of it to-day. Many happy returns too - it doesn't seem like a year ago - the time has flown so - but I wish you were here now - I do love you, Cecil, will it be VERY long before I see you, do you think? I was sorry to hear that your Paris holiday is off - you will be disappointed and I'm sure it was time you had a holiday too. It is rotten to think you will be in the line for Christmas - do take care won't you - because it generally means a very rough time after you have been training for about a month or so. I had a letter yesterday from the Matron at Camberley saying I was not to go until the 14th. - Friday - as the nurse whose place I am to fill is not going until then. I don't think the place is very far from Aldershot really.

We have had an Old Penrhos girl in this afternoon - she has married a Beverley dentist and come to live in Newland Park - a very jolly girl altho' I can hardly remember her at school. Your Mother has been and Mrs. Todd, also Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Leech and ALL the Taylor girls - the Taylor girls really are dull. Bob rang up from Oxford this morning , your Ma said and he said his ear was quite healed and has only left a slight scar - he can hear quite well too and expects to be home next week so he will be in Hull for Xmas - all the kids except you - I wish you could be home as well. Kathleen Runton's boy - Leslie Brown - comes home on the 21st. for 14 days - he was only on leave in July - at the end - cuss him and he is behind the lines the whole time. Flossie has got Wilfred and Queenie Todd over for the day - they were going over for three or four days but have now decided to go to Bournmouth - Flossie had prepared for them and is rather fed up about it.

It is frightfully cold and freezing hard so I'm sure you must be perishingly cold - I'm awfully glad that the jersey will be useful - I like to send you things that are useful to you. I wonder if you got the two 7lb. packages of books I sent you for your men - I should think they will arrive when you are about to leave for the line. I'm glad you don't think it selfish of me to leave home - I really was beginning to think it was rather too bad - my going away - but I don't think so if you think it alright.

Goodnight - my darling - I wonder if the first year we are married will go as quickly as this one - but I shall be with you a bit more anyway and have more to remember than one fortnight's leave.

Always your love

Dora.

Field Post Card

To Miss Dora Willatt,
Aux. Military Hospital,
Camberley,
Surrey.

I am quite well

Cecil.

14.12.17.

Dora to CMS; Friday 14.12.'17. In the train 10 a.m.

My Darling,

I had two letters from you this morning before I left home - one was our birthday letter which had taken a whole week to come - still I thought it was the "11th." when I read it - I'm glad I can make you more than happy, sweetheart, and I love you just as you love me so I feel just the same as you do about it all. I knew before I got your letter this morning that you were having a rough time - I have felt it all this week - so it shows how near we are to each other really. I know you will take every care but I feel I must tell you again every time - it is because I want to keep you so badly and for you to come through this awful time safely. You will be very tired with it all and don't bother about writing to me until you are rested - just send me a field p.c. - so long as I know you are alright I shan't mind.

I am on my way to London now - your Mother came to see me off - it was good of her because she has to turn out to meet Hilda and Mabel again this afternoon. Ma and Pa came to see me off too - Flossie was supposed to come but of course missed the train from Beverley. I was intending writing to you yesterday but I had so much to do at the last - but I was thinking about you all the time. I have got an enlargement of you and your Mother on the wedding day and framed it with passe-partout last night - and it looks awfully nice - it is one of my favourite photographs of you. Pa and I finished my bicycle on Wednesday afternoon - it was rather a job putting it together again but it looks awfully nice now - I shall want to take you for a push bike ride when you come on leave - I have got a carrier on it now so I think you might just as well sit on that! I am thinking of our last journey to London - but I don't want it to be that now because it is three months nearer your next leave. Father and I really thought we were going to have some skating on Wednes. and we should have done but a thaw set in at noon - anyway I'm taking my skates to Surrey in case there is any there this winter. We are just running through Doncaster now - I have been through quite a few times with you.

You had some narrow escapes in the little trip up the line and I think it must be rather a hot part of the line that you have to go to - I noticed in the paper yesterday that things were active round Bullecourt where you were before. I shall be glad when you have finished this turn in the line.

The train is frightfully crowded - we arrived at 9.10 am. this morning at Paragon and the train went 9.38 and I was only just in time to get a comfortable seat.

I saw Mrs. Hugh Farrell (Marie Vandenberg) in the town the other day and she asked me to go and see her - but I haven't had time so I shall have to pay the call some other time - they have only been married since the summer you know. I'm glad you got the books for your men alright - I wondered if they would allow them to go through - I do hope you get your Christmas boxes safely. It is raining horribly to-day - I expect it will be uncomfortable and muddy for you out there now you are on the move again.

I wish you could come home in the evenings and I could cook you a nice meal and then both sit over the fire - war wouldn't be so bad then would it.

I will write as soon as I can when I get to Camberley and tell you what it is like.

Goodbye, my sweetheart x x. God keep you safely - I am always praying for you,

Yours with love

Dora

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