Badsey
Evesham
March 7th/00
My dear Ethel
I must answer your letter today, please thank Kathleen for writing to me. I heard from Miss Smith last Sunday about this Franco-English Guild, I wrote to her today to thank her, & I have written for particulars about the examination which is to be in London in Easter week & which I should have to go in for if I go to this place. Of course I don’t know yet what sort of exam it is & whether I could take it this year or not, if I could I think I shall come & spend Easter at Clewer, it would save my going up there again in the summer as I intended, however I don’t feel at all certain whether I shall be able to go in.
I expect you heard from Arthur who I think was writing to you last Sunday that Hubert had been killed, isn’t it dreadfully sad but I think there is some comfort in the thought that the engagement in which he lost his life was the one that practically relieved Ladysmith. It was in the taking of Peter’s Hill on Shrove Tuesday, it is spoken of as one of the grandest feats performed by British soldiers. Mother heard from Auntie Polly today & I saw her letter, they feel his loss almost as if he was their son, Auntie said Uncle came in on Friday afternoon, when the lists were published, looking very much upset & she thought at first he was not well, but he said “They have killed Hubert” & then sat down & sobbed. Mary was at Brussels & I think is there still, Auntie had heard from Uncle Fred Mourilyan that she was a great comfort to them. They were going to have a memorial service for all who have fallen in the war at the Church of the Resurrection, Brussels. I was the first to see it in the paper on Saturday morning, Father, strangely enough, had missed seeing it when he looked through the lists. We had thanksgiving services here on Sunday for the relief of Ladysmith, but one could not but take part in them with a strange mixture of thankfulness & grief. I liked what Auntie Polly said in her letter “it was a Glorious death.”
I have at last been able to ride my bicycle again, the roads are splendid. Mr & Mrs Wood have both gone away again to Devonshire as neither of them were much better. Mr Price has begun daily services again this Lent, this evening Mr Preston preached. I should think there quite 50 there. I hope Miss Cave is better, I was sorry to hear she was ill.
Lowe’s have made me a very nice black coat & skirt & blouse, Baby likes it though it is black. She calls it May-may’s nicey dress. We put her some black ribbons on of which she also approves I also wear my cycling coat & skirt which is quite a dark grey.
With much love to you both from your loving sister
May E Sladden
