Beverley, Tunbridge Wells
May 17th 1915
My dear Sweetheart
In case you are on your way to Southampton tomorrow I am writing to you again today as I shall not know what towns you are stopping at or when.
I had a pc from Kath saying she will meet me on Wednesday middle day and take me to the Academy in the afternoon before catching the 4.55. Uncle H rather seems to wish I would stay longer but as Uncle Bedford is coming down on Thursday and Aunt Clemmie returning I think it will be just as well for him not to have too many people about, also I keep to the line of action I’ve always tried to keep, namely not to let my relations see too much of me then they won’t get tired of me!
I enclose you a very typical Mrs Japp letter. I wrote to her a little while ago. Peggy’s high-falutin’ notions re marriage with John have come to grief, his will is evidently stronger than hers – I expect you remember me telling you her views. If I had stayed with the Japps I should evidently have had almost as much nursing to do as I have had at Birmingham! You will be interested in the news about Mr Kendall.
We are going to Mayfield this afternoon to Aunt Mamie’s. I like going to see places in the country near London, because I am always on the look-out for a nice spot for us, should your work be in London.
Uncle Harry heard from Cecil today - in the recent fighting their casualties have not been very heavy, 35 in all. He is rather sad about the death of a brother officer who is married. A few days before his death he had confided in Cecil that this wife was very much against his going to the front, and worried a great deal about it, and he was going to ask if he might be given an appointment at the Base to relieve her fears. Cecil, from the way he writes, was evidently much touched about being confided in and is very sad about the death of his friend, Findlay by name, who was killed by a shell bursting over him as he passed a house.
Dora had a picture postcard of Bethune which we think is meant to indicate that Cecil is billeted there. Dora wrote and told him of the death of her little friend, Jock, her dog.
Cecil gauges her disposition so well by the remark on his postcard, “I am very sorry to hear about the death of little Jock. How this brings the war home to us!”
I am getting more used to being here. It is as Cecil says, you’ve got to be with Uncle H a long time before you understand him and then you get very fond of him.
I must go and get ready to go to Mayfield.
D and I have been busy today taking down pictures ready for the vacuum cleaner tomorrow.
I see that the poisonous gas game is not being very successful now that our men wear protectors.
Have you read the article in The Times on the Fog Zeppelins?
Best love, dear Heart. Let me know if you possibly can when you leave England – if you send a blank pc I will know you have embarked, if you are forbidden to write anything.
Ever your devoted
Mela.
PS – Very glad to get your letter this morning.
