Sisters’ Quarters
12th August 1915, evening
My own dear Sweetheart
More than a week having passed since I last heard you can imagine I am on the "qui vive" for letters.
I spent my last half day with Nurse Sampson. She asked after you, and it was so refreshing to have someone to whom I could talk about you. She was so impressed by the improvement in my looks (ahem!) that she said she would like to write and tell you how well I look! She thought that you would be pleased if you could see how much better I am looking now that I have more fresh air. Sammy is a dear faithful soul and very loyal to her idea of you! I murmured something about "I expect I make rather a fuss of him" and she flew at me and said that I did not make half enough fuss of you! I believe you and Sammy have met before! Now if I were of a jealous disposition I should be very horrid to you about this but I don't mind a bit so I cannot screw up the energy to be horrid!
The Chaplain from here, Mr Wormald, is going out to the Dardanelles next monday. He wants to go but has never been separated from his wife and little bairns before, and the pain in his eyes when he told me he had been "called up" for foreign service, cut me to the heart. I've asked him to look you up if he should ever be in the same part as the 9th Worcesters. He and his wife have been very good to me and i should like you to tell him how much I have appreciated their friendliness. He is a good sort and his worth is proved by the number of confirmation candidates he has had within the last year.
A year ago today the first contingent of Sisters arrived at Bournbrooke. Out of the 90 who came there, only 30 are here now, the others have gone abroad and been replaced by fresh ones. The "30" have been out to dine together tonight, which I think is in doubtful taste because one hardly wishes to celebrate an event so closely connected with the horrors of war.
I will continue this tomorrow, dear heart.
I feel very sad to think I have a nice comfy bed and you are more than likely sleeping on the ground.
Goodnight, darling.
Aug 13th 1915
Another day has passed and brought no news of you. I expect when I do hear there may be more than one letter like there was last time.
I heard from May this morning, suggesting two of them should come over to see me next week, one of them will be Kath. They are all very busy - May does the housekeeping because she doesn't like climbing trees and the others spend the greater part of the day fruit-picking.
George wrote home a little while ago saying he hoped to get leave, but in his last letter he says his hopes were raised too soon and that leave seems very remote. The news from the Dardanelles has been good all this week. It is heartening to hear we are making progress even if it is slow and gradual.
You said in one of your letters that you had an idea that possibly British troops would not be kept out in the Dardanelles through the winter. Will you let me know, dear, as long beforehand as you can, if you hear when you will be likely to be returning. My six months is up on December 31st and if you were given leave of any kind I would ask for a holiday before signing one again, and should probably get it if I could give a good reason why I wanted it but not otherwise.
You also say you do not wish me to bind myself for a lengthy period even if I should get sent abroad, in case you wanted to marry me in the event of your coming home on leave. I will keep this in mind, but I do not think I can renew my agreement for a term of less than six months, I believe that is the minimum allowed.
As far as I am concerned, if you wish to get married while you are still a Lieutenant, I shall be quite willing for I can continue to work when you go back to the Front again and after the war is over I feel sure there will be plenty of jobs going. The papers are full fo the way in which "Science" is coming into prominence.
The varicose veins in my legs do not seem to be getting any worse, perhaps if I am careful they will get better. I find the library subscription a great book. I'm afraid I do not read much that improves my mind but the lighter books help to distract one's thoughts and pass away an hour or two. Several more of our Nursing Sisters have been called up for foreign service - they are very excited. The majority of them hope they are being sent to Egypt, at present their destination is wrapped in mystery.
There was an air raid on the East Coast three days ago, but no very great damage was done.
We lost one of our airmen, Lieutenant Lord. He was at a dance with his fiancee when suddenly called up to join his fellow airmen and half an hour afterwards he was killed. I cannot keep thinking of the poor girl - to have been dancing with him only half an hour before he met his death. Truly "In the midst of life we are in death". I hope, sweetheart, you are still keeping well. Let me know from time to time if there is anything you want. I sent you some notepaper the other day - only a small block so that it would be easier to carry about with you.
God bless you, my own man, how I long to feel and know once more you are near me - together just you and I. Sometimes our evening hour together seems like a dream. I feel as though at present I have put away all that you are to me for the time being. It is the only way to stifle the feeling which clamour to be uppermost and I have to fight them down.
I must not sadden you, dear one. All my love goes with you and where you are in danger, there it is strongest, with you, fighting for you, shielding you, praying for you.
Every your devoted
Mela
