Muritai
17 Millfield
Folkestone
11th August 1914
Dearest wife
I was glad to have your letter on my return from London today. I got a good train at 11.05 and reached here soon after 1 pm. Cyril had started, so I have forwarded Juliet’s letter to him to the flat where he sleeps tonight, going down to Oxford tomorrow. I find Mr Collier does not want me to cut my holiday short so I propose to travel via Reading to Badsey on Monday next and I think you and Ethel might well return that same day. I saw in the paper that the coast trains to Fishguard were running again. Anyway, I hope you will not be in for too tiring a journey. I hope the others or at least some of them will stay on with Jack. I feel sure some sea air will do him good and it is desirable that everyone should get braced up as far as practicable. The war news is scanty today but great events cannot be far distant. Tomorrow I go to Deal for the day and propose to go also to Ash, probably on Friday. I found Arthur looking pretty well and imbued with the national spirit which everywhere augurs well for this country. Charlotte had a letter from Anna today. It seems that Polly is going on nicely. I must go over to Hythe again this week. It is possible Fred might then be back. I will ask presently for the address and append it to this letter. Arthur had seen nothing further of George so we presume he had moved out of London. I owe letters to both Kathleen and May but for the present perhaps they will be content with the joint letter I wrote to the girls and you can tell them of my doings. I expect you will hear from the flat that Mela is going to join Mary for a few days and then the latter is to go to Port Talbot. I think she fancies Newport would be too reminiscent of happier days there. She seems pretty well but once can see there is a good deal underneath her outward calm; it is a great strain for the poor girl, no doubt, but how many are in the same position. I shall leave you to advise Brailsford as to our return and you will of course instruct the maids what to do.
My best love to all, and especially to my brave little wife.
Your loving husband
Julius Sladden
PS – Charlotte sends her love, she is quite well but of course very excited about the war.
Florence, Ethelwyn and the baby are at Gainsboro’ House, West Parade, Hythe.
