1 19. Dec 15 My Pr. If a little pr imagined for a minute that a bw would be content
to put away a letter for 6 days she is an even more curious creature
that even he thought. However he is very good, & this letter will be
reread on the 24 th ! Whilst I believe I can quite well defer m Xmas greetings
till Tuesday, you will take notice that the BW will endeavour hard
not to forget about a pr on the 25th, unless of course he is very busy! I shall not be able to write tomorrow as I am going up to
see the 107 Bge I hope. At any rate I have made the suggestion
to the 9 RIR, & trust they make take the proposal - not as a beastly
ban - but as a sign that they are not entirely forgotten by the remainder
of the Ulster Div. I am alone in the office as the 2 Ro have gone out on a boar
shoot with the General. I was not very keen as it is sunday &
I proposed my visit to the 107thas my return. Yesterday Richardson & I went with the General on a
tour. Russell took the view that the Gen' would not want us
but I rather took the line that we ought to be with him
when he was doing this particular work, & as a matter of fact
he seemed quite well pleased that we should. There is something
up between the Gen' & Russell which I cannot understand, unless it
is that the latter's politeness is getting on the former's nerves.
Russell is certainly rather dumped at present & it is possible that the Gen' 2 has told him that he does not
recommend him for higher appointment
which is probably the
case with us all. Mayne has decided to relinquish his job in order
to become ADC again to Sir A Murray who is going our to the Mediterranean
probably as C in C I am sorry he is going. Tell Sue that I did not know she was a 'little bear' I thought all
my sisters were flowers, I certainly married one of the family as such, & found
— to my horror of course! — that she changed into an animal. Are the others
also going to do this? My leave will be even more uncertain till you reply & reassure me Don't write more than a p c when you have a headache old
thing. I shan't grumble. They are very busy hunting at the front, supposed to be for us, but all
plans may change now. I will not write about the changes as you know
my views about Douglas Haig. I hear Butler is to be chief of Staff! He is a
good fellow but we never expected this. If I wrote to him I could probably get a
lift but think I prefer to remain an obscure wild animal with a clean paw
in this respect. Only 6 years ago he was acting as my Chief of Staff on a staff ride!
I have written a stupid letter to mother but she will
understand that I write under difficulties. I will answer the 3
other letters for the New Year, unless I turn up? The General was to have started on his boar hunt in the dark
I took the opportunity of a laze bed till nearly 8, & only just missed
him when I came down! I hope to send you later Xmas wishes, & you will
also have time to send me another batch perhaps? Any how I
shan't forget the little animal which keeps disturbing me Your b w Wilfrid B Spender 19 Dec