1916 Letter 21
[1916]
Dear Mother,
I have not been able to find enough of interest to write every day. But one of our Sisters is going to Canada on Wednesday so I really must take advantage of it.
Well – the first thing is that the latest rumour says that all mail may be stopped for a month – so in case you don’t hear regularly you mustn’t worry.
As you say the position of the Allies here is practically impregnable but everyone seems to think that there will be a big advance made on Bulgaria very soon. Serbia is entirely in the hands of the enemy and I suppose they feel they must recover it.
There are about 100,000 Serbs here now and the rest of their army is expected any day.
But this does not mean that we’ll be in any danger – the frontier is at least 40 miles away – which is what we were in France and Lemnos – so you mustn’t imagine all sorts of terrible things.
It simply means that in a neutral country like this the mails are uncertain and it’s always the custom to stop them altogether before an advance. Hervey will take this right to Canada so you needn’t worry your dear head.
It is 7 pm and Myra and I are sitting in front of our hut admiring the scenery. The hills are simply beautiful – with the camps dotted all over – with lights just beginning to show, and the smoke of their camp fires. Everything is green and once the glare is past it always looks so alluring.
I was discharged from the Infirmary yesterday and am back in the hut. It is a great relief. I have my breakfast in bed but go to the mess for lunch and dinner. Yesterday was my first day at tea, and as it was Sunday heaps of people came. Major Godfrey and two midshipmen from the Loyd Nelson – the sweetest kids imaginable and such charming manners! They brought pictures of the "Pantomine" Company, I am enclosing mine. Then there were a lot more men and altogether we had a very jolly time. I was awfully tired afterwards though so won’t attempt much for a couple more days.
I am getting along with my jacket and have all done but one half of the front. Am hoping to finish it as once I get back to duty I won’t look at it.
I sent a number of letters by hand last week and hope you get them all. I enclosed a lot of snaps Aunt Hattie sent and her letter – also other odds and ends.
I wonder if those parcels – 2 – from Cairo ever arrived? Myra’s did – and mine were sent at the same time.
The night noises here are strange – there are heaps of owls and they are beginning to hoot now. Then there are jackals etc. in the hills.
Well I am going to bed so will close with a parting hope that you will not worry. I will write as usual and hope they’ll go through. Heaps of love to Papa –
Yours always.
Helen.