12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham
March 29 1915
My dear Mother
I am enclosing a copy of a letter which Kathleen had from George this morning. The original was written in pencil and not too easy to read, so K thought it better to send you a copy in ink especially as you may like to send it on to other members of the family. His first impressions of France are much the same as mine of Normandy, and I call to mind again some of those extraordinary old ramshackle vehicles which we used to see at Arromanches. I should think it probable that by now his battalion have had a turn in the trenches. I was very sorry to hear of Charlie Butler’s sudden death. It must have come as a great shock to them all, his sudden death in the prime of life.
Father’s letter to Kathleen has just arrived. I am glad you were able to get to church yesterday. It has been bitterly cold here for the last three or four days, and the wind is so piercing one can hardly keep warm walking. However it is better to get the cold now than later on in the spring. Kathleen asked Miss Attree in to supper last night. She is going out to India later on in the year to work under the SPG, it’s very energetic of her at her age. She does some work among the troops at the Crystal Palace, and says there are very few there now. I know some of them had gone to the Dardanelles. The IR Training Corps had a very energetic afternoon on Saturday week at Hampstead Heath. We marched there taking about 1½ hours with two short halts. On arrival we did some extended order drill, attacking an imaginary enemy in most gallant fashion, with short rushes, till a fence prevented further progress. Then with the enemy again in front of us we turned round and came back in similar manner. The small boys on the Heath were most enthusiastic and wanted to join in too, and I think we must have caused a good deal of amusement to all the people about there. Some of the men were game enough to march all the way back. Most however, myself included, felt we had done enough and returned by train. I was beginning to feel stiff, and was rather breathless after running the best part of a mile. I don’t know what the Corps are doing at Easter.
We are pretty busy now, though two hours overtime was found to be excessive and we are at present doing only one hour. Saturday is being granted only on condition that one is going out of London, and that the work is put in at another time. As K will still be up here I don’t think of going away now. Sorry to hear of Miss Holmes’ accident. I hope it will not upset her nerve for riding. I wonder who you will get to take your Easter services. Our Vicar is still away, and I hear not likely to be back till May.
With love to all, I remain your affectionate son
John D Sladden
