Seward House
Badsey
18th July 1915
My dearest wife
This morning’s post brought a letter from Arthur and an official card from George, both of which I enclose for your perusal. I will keep this open till the morning in case there is anything further to send on. It was very wet here on Friday especially the latter part of the day when the barometer fell very rapidly. Yesterday it recovered at the same pace and today stand high again. It has been fine and quite pleasant, we had tea in the garden. I hope it will be as fine tomorrow for the wounded soldiers. The Chandlers, Prestons and Alcocks have promised to lend motors and with Mrs Rudge’s I think there will be room enough for all who are able to come. Ethel has got Clemmie Johns to come in the morning to help get ready, and she is going to invite Mrs Bayliss as well. Also she has given great joy to old Mustoe and Elijah and his wife by asking them to come in and have tea with the men, the latter will like to see any men from the Dardanelles. Old Joseph Knight died yesterday; he had taken to his bed for one week. I hope you had a good journey yesterday. I was glad to have your letter of 16th this morning. I have not received any box from Charlotte so far and perhaps the fit of anxiety has passed off. There will be plenty of time for her to take such precautions when (and if) the Germans get to Calais. We hear through the Carters that Willie Barnard is wounded in the arm and is in hospital at Halifax, but have no other particulars. The girls are pleased to hear that Marian is likely to pay us a visit these holidays. They are, as you may imagine, pretty busy, what with one thing and another. I tell them they must go to bed early tonight or I shall have to tell tales! There are some motors going through here, they turn from Evesham along the lane and through the village, past our station to Bidford, and return by same route. There are two each way and one on Sundays, but they do not seem to run at very convenient times as far as we are concerned. The roses are still nice but going over a little, the Dorothy Perkins on the railings opposite is a fine sight and seems to be much admired by the motor passengers and others. The Colliers called in their motor this evening but I was at church with Ethel, May keeping house, she went to Wickhamford this morning. It is Parson’s week for invigilating at Stratford so all week day services are suspended. Tell Miss de Costobadie that I congratulate her on heading the poll and it is nice to know she has attained her object. Give my love to Charlotte and with much to yourself.
I remain your affectionate husband
Julius Sladden
