4/3/15
My dear Mother
I felt relieved on the whole to hear you had got Dr Leslie to see you, and hope you were able to get up again. I got your letter of 27th two days ago, letters are coming through well now. By the time you get this don’t address any more to me here; I’ll send a new address as soon as I have one. I am enclosing a photo you may like to have, a group taken a few days ago at the French hospital [photo no longer with letter].
The Canadian sisters returned early this morning to their unit, as I could dispense with their services now. I am anxious to move on by Monday if possible, as there is not much to do now and I shall begin to get tired of my own company.
How nice for George to get some leave; he has only had very short spells most of the time.
The Dardanelles movement is very interesting, the Queen Elizabeth must be a bit of a tartar, like her prototype: I think the co-operation of French, British fleets is giving enhanced pleasure about the action, this side of the channel.
Please thank Mary for her letter, I’ll write later on perhaps when I get to a new job.
I have wandered around the harbour a good deal lately, it is mostly new and looks very well arranged, and the quays are particularly neatly kept. Of course trade is pretty slack now, but they seem to keep things going to some extent, and there is also some shipbuilding going on. The estuary here is wide but very muddy, and rapidly widens out to open sea beyond Saint-Nazaire.
I’m glad to hear Fred has a commission; the MT work will suit him a good deal better than private soldiering, though I daresay the latter has not been a bad experience. I hope Aunt Fanny writes more cheerfully, you spoke as if she was not very well a few months ago.
It is steadily getting warmer here, and there are signs of spring. Mary says Dowlais is still quite cold in winter, but seasons are later there.
With much love to you all
From your son Arthur
