Somerfield Hostel WAAC
Sutton Coldfield
Dec 6th 1917
My own dear Sweetheart
I was simply delighted to get another letter from you dated Oct 22nd, and awfully pleased you’ve at last heard that I am one of the “Wacks”. I was a bit nervous, I must confess, that perhaps you might not like the idea! It is such a relief to know that you are happy about it. You say “after having slept on it” etc.
Poor old man of mine. I expect you could hardly have helped feeling just a weeny bit hurt that I had signed my liberty away. But, Sweetheart, I can get released to get married – only the fact that this is allowed is not noised abroad or else among the rank and file, we should have some of them getting married to one of the Tommies, after one weeks service! I’ve got some very pretty women, especially among the clerks, and it is no joke keeping them within bounds! We have no restrictions regarding them having men friends – only on duty they are supposed to behave quietly and to be on business footing with the men off duty – they may go for walks with their young man every evening if they like. Both soldiers and women have to be in by 9.30 so that is one help in keeping them in order! They are allowed to bring one man each to our Saturday Social Evenings, which are a great success.
Last week we had a dance in our club room interspersed with songs and recitations. Mrs Becher, the General’s wife, and I got it up. I sang them popular songs like “Let the great big world keep turning round” and “Home to Blighty” - and some of the Sergeants present recited and so on. The men really enjoyed themselves for when 9.30 came they asked me to ask Colonel Sloan, who was present, to grant them a late pass, which he did, and I granted the women a late pass.
I forget to mention the other day in my letter that by request of General Becher, I spoke in public at a Recruiting Meeting for the WAAC and he congratulated me afterwards and so did everyone else. I, myself, did not realize I had a gift for rhetoric, is that the word!!! The Adjutant spoke too and the Messing Officer, testifying to the ability of women to replace men in many branches of employment in the Army. General Becher would have spoken but he is not allowed to do so, by doctor’s orders. They say, that unless he is very careful, he will not live through another winter – something wrong with his heart, I believe. Although he is an elderly man he reminds me of you. He has a weak spot for me too, I think!
The Adjutant is very much the Adjutant – I expect you know the kind – very red tapey and so on. Still we pull along all right over business matters. He treats me exactly like a man – which makes me remember that you once told me my mental capacity in some ways is more like a man’s than a woman’s. And yet I hate to be thought unwomanly.
By the way – Captain Diver’s Christion name is Cyril! I’ve not met his wife yet. They have a little boy.
The nicest officer in the camp is Captain Brown the Officer i/c of Drill and Physical Training. He has lent me a Sergeant to drill my women, Sergeant-Major Jones, a splendid instructor from Aldershot, of the old Army. He is so gentle and yet firm with the women.
It is getting very late, dear, I must “awa” to my little bed or else I shall not do my work properly tomorrow. My chief difficulty is dealing with the correspondence from Headquarters! I get the same question asked as to numbers of women in a different way every week – add circulars with orders on them which are next door to impossible to carry out – although I can only act on AC Instructions – it is very difficult to know how to act on AC Instruction!
Heaps of love, you funny old Thing. Do come home in the Spring.
Ever your devoted
Mela
