Officers’ Mess
9th Worcs Regt
Blackdown
Farnborough
May 13th 1915
My dear Mother
I don’t think I have written to you for rather a long time, but you have had all my news from Mela till recently. I have no doubt she also gave you an account of our weekend in London. It was very good luck that I could get away so early, as it made the visit quite a respectably long one. It was lucky Mela spotted me in the surging mass at Waterloo – mainly in uniform which made it more difficult to single me out. My train was nearly half an hour late and as no official knew which train was which they had nearly given me up.
We enjoyed “Quinneys” which is an excellent piece, and very well done. It was a full house, and they gave us a box for £1, finding we were a party of four. It was the first time I had been in one. It is not the ideal place for seeing the play, but is rather nice and roomy. One can spread oneself and one’s belongings and not be interfered with. We were lucky with our weather which was beautiful though a little cool for sitting out on Sunday afternoon; we had tea out of doors though, just by the dining room window where it was sheltered.
Altogether I had a very nice time the only drawback to which was the end of it. I am sure we shall be on the move pretty soon now though of course we can’t tell when. According to one report the 1st army has begun to go; if this is not actually the case I am almost certain they are on the point of doing so.
Please thank May and Father for their letters. I had a short one from Betty on Monday. The wet weather has got us off spending a night in the trenches. The division is practising trench warfare at present.
Best love to all from
Your affectionate son
Cyril E Sladden
