1/9/16
My dear Father
I have had little time or inclination to write lately, have been rather overdone with work, and now in all probability you’ll have me home for a short holiday. I’m to be seen by a Medical Board tomorrow who will probably recommend some “sick leave” and perhaps within a week from now I’ll be coming across – a little rest and the change will soon set me up, and from the Army point of view they are much better advised to give me the rest now for it will take less time than an illness would. My work has doubled since April, and then Sir Wm Leishman considered I was rather extra busy. He would give extra help if he could I think, but is very shorthanded. However I now have 4 men working in the lab, two of whom are trained and can undertake much useful work but there always remains supervision – the examination of actual results that I cannot delegate. I have one man I’m teaching to do all the necessary clerical work, fortunately he is very apt, in civil life he’s a parson, and he can save me much writing work.
I was glad to get your long letter of 21st a few days ago. You have evidently a fairly useful crop of fruit, I hope the recent wet weather hasn’t spoiled the plums.
Well I hope this special leave will be put through, and soon, for I need it now, and there’s no prospect of the work slackening yet.
With love to you all
Your affectionate son Arthur
