8 The Fosseway
Clifton
Bristol
January 22nd 1915
My dear Eugénie
Thank you very much for your letter, I was very glad to hear from you. Fred has just been away for a fortnight to Paris and Nancy, he has returned safely and is quite well. He saw Ethelwyn and Courtney in London, I daresay you have heard that Courtney had returned ill and was in hospital in London, he had neuritis nervous exhaustion and his wounded hand was not recovered. Ethelwyn has been staying with Polly to be near him. He is much better now and they have both returned to Exmouth. I hope he will be allowed long enough sick leave to get up his strength properly. I saw the account in the paper of the sad death of Cyril’s Colonel from overwork, this war is very trying for the nerves of any not very strong, but I should think the home work might be divided so as not to injure anyone but, of course, each one tries to do all he can and sometimes more. Archie has been to Boulogne replacing the Chaplain there for ten days, he has returned now. Do you know where Arthur is? We can get no news from Brussels, except now and then we meet someone who has heard. The Colonial and Cultural Society have had news once or twice from the Chaplain there, and we have had one or two opportunities of sending messages, and tried to send a letter through Holland, but have only once in five months heard from Hannah and do not know if she has received our messages. All the men under 55 are sent to be interned in Germany, their wives and children left in Brussels may write a pc once or twice a week to their husbands, but cannot communicate with relations in England or receive any money from them. It is a terrible state of things. Mr Hodson was released, being over the age. I had an indirect message, I don’t know how it came, through my brother Evelyn, that Annie specially requested no one would write to her. I believe people have been imprisoned for writing or receiving letters. You ought not to keep in England any Belgian men of military age. It is a very happy thing that all your girls are so usefully occupied and that May and Ethel can stay at home. I hope Kathleen will not be overworked.
Fred joins in love to you, Julius and all your party at home. I hope you will continue to have good news of all the sons.
Your affectionate sister
Florence Mourilyan
