Sisters’ Quarters, University House
Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham
Oct 21st 1915, 2.30 am
My own dear Cyril
I have been having a very slack night. My patients have slept all through the night and I have filled up time by writing to Arthur, knitting socks, and I have read a whole novel!
This kind of a life does not tend to give me much new for a letter.
I went for a walk yesterday morning. It was a glorious day, crisp cold and the sun shining. I evidently walked too much in my enjoyment, for I hardly slept at all the consequence being I’ve felt very cross all night!
I had a ppc from Arthur asking for news of you later than Sept 25th and also saying he hoped I’d see Mary and little Dorothy while they were at Badsey.
Mary is not going to Sydenham after all, on account of the air raids. She says there is no necessity to take the risk and so she thinks it wiser not to do so.
Barbara asked me to ask you if you could possibly trace a Lieutenant Noel Worthington, of the Kings Own Loyal Lancs. He has been missing some time – first of all the report came that he had been slightly wounded in the leg, then a wire contradicting it saying there were two men of the same name and that this Noel Worthington was wounded and missing. His Uncle, Colonel Jenkins, is a friend of ours and lives in Boulogne.
I have heard a great deal lately from Australians and New Zealanders about the muddle of the Shimla Bay landing. In todays paper the answer to the enquiry about who was responsible for it states that the officer in command, not named, no longer holds command in any regiment. The Colonels are simply mad at the needless loss of life owing to the mistakes made at that time.
Private Wells of your Regiment too spoke of the fearful lack of things at Sari Bair.
I see Ian Hamilton is coming home and Colonel Monro is taking over command.
In tonight’s paper I read an account of the new kind of craft our fleet are using in the Straits. It is an amazing account.
I hope, darling that I shall soon have a letter from you. Life seems so empty without news of you.
God bless you, dear Heart and guard you is the constant prayer of
Your ever devoted
Mela
