12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham SE
Oct 10 1915
My dear Mother
We were glad to get yesterday evening a letter from George enclosed with yours to Jack. Evidently they were near Loos. Although he does not tell us a great deal we can see they are in good spirits and hopeful for the next attack. You will be interested to read an account of their doings given in a letter from another man in the CS and copied by Jack from the letter shown him at the office. The news today from that district is quite good again, some further advance and only slight losses. I wonder if the CS are forward again yet. Private Tucker’s letter shows that they were not right in the front line before. I have had no letter from George myself for a long time now but had one from Cyril from Alexandria about a week ago or more. His next letters may tell of a move but I wonder where, Gallipoli or Salonica! Balkan affairs are anxious reading. If only we can have good successes on the western front that may relieve the situation but it makes the Dardanelles campaign still more difficult.
I expect you are all looking forward to seeing the baby next week. I do not know yet when we shall see them here. I suppose there is no chance of your having a maid by then so that you will all be rather busy. I imagine you are having Louisa though almost every day now. You speak of May doing the dining-room but that was a Saturday. I hope she does not have to do it before school other days.
We have got through this week without a Zeppelin raid although the moon and weather were right for it. The general opinion seems to be that the defences are now in better order under Sir Percy Scott and they are not likely to be able to give us another visitation such as that in September. They say aeroplanes are up always on guard towards the coast, ready to attack them at once, and that several attempting to come have been driven off.
Last Thursday I dined and spent the night with Mrs Bannister in her little house at Golders Green; a very nice little place. Mrs Lindsay (Miss Williams) was also there for the night and Miss Regan and Miss Arunfield to dinner. It was so nice to see them all again. There are so many of the old Moorfields staff I should be very sorry to lose sight of entirely although one cannot keep up by writing with everyone.
Yesterday I went up to town, met Jack for lunch and went down with him to Radlett, on the line to St Albans; from there we walked by Colney Heath to North Mimms where we had tea and then on to Hatfield; a very pleasant, really country walk, the first part especially rather pretty among wooded rolling country. It is wise to get right away from the influence of London and we both took pleasure in walking for a time behind a regular dirty farm cart piled with mangold wurzels along a country lane. We had time at Hatfield to admire the lovely gates of Hatfield House, just opposite the station, before we took the train back to London.
Our colds have very nearly gone and we are otherwise quite well. I am glad you are really better and hope you will entirely lose your cough before the winter comes.
I wonder whether Mela has more news of Cecil. George’s news contradicts the other. Now I must write other letters. Love to you all.
From your affectionate daughter
Kathleen
