Seward House
Badsey
30th September 1915
My dear Juliet
I want to get your letter written in time for tomorrow morning’s post, so will begin it before I have to lay supper. I hope you are getting on well with your work and find the new arrangements of work suit you all right. Do you still have your music pupils and how is the one getting on who is supposed to have no ear?
We had two long letters from Cyril yesterday dated 16th and 20th inst. The first one was written on board ship, the second at Alexandria where he expected to stay about ten days. The doctor ordered massage for his arm and it had done him good and he was feeling more fit; I expect he is back in Gallipoli by this time, he thinks it will be more trench warfare now. He says that account of the battle at Suvla Bay and Anzac by Ashmead Bartlett gives a very good account of it as far as he could judge from the limited amount that one man sees. His division was near General Baldwin’s division, the General who was killed. We must look up the account in The Times and read it again.
We heard from George last week; in his letter he says that if “a certain amount of liveliness” begins to show itself out there, he would try and send us frequent news, if only a FS postcard. We got one from him dated the 25th just acknowledging some apples and saying he was well. I think in all probability his regiment is in this present fighting or at any rate very near. Ethel will lend you her blue dress, but you must be careful and not do anything to spoil it for her own wear, I would not attempt much alteration in your place. I had not thought of your wanting anything like an evening dress at present, it is so very unlikely that there will be anything for you to go to while the war goes on. Yesterday we had a French Flag day here and in all this district; Ethel has been kept busy the last few days, finding people to help collect and sell flags etc etc. We got over £7 in the three villages. I have had quite a cold for some days and kept in the house; it is better and today I did go out in the garden for a few minutes. I suppose Muriel (Mrs Thelwall) will be coming back next Monday, but I don’t think she will be here long as I understand Mrs Ashwin is advertising for another companion; we shall miss Muriel when she does go. With much love dear.
I am your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
PS – Are you using the aloes with a good result?
