1 D2109/9/4/B 7. West Cliff
Eastbourne Nov. 1915 Dearest Mamma, It is awfully good of you to write so
regularly every week when you have so many to
write to now, home letters are such a pleasure to get. Mr & Mrs. H.Hollins & Emmi have just left this
morning. Poor things they are very sad, although
there are so many other children, this boy was evidently
of enormous pride & pleasure to them. They are very
nice people & very good & generous to all their be—
longings. It was rather upsetting as this was the
first meeting with Miss Roberts since Humphrey's
death. Mr Hollins was so good sitting talking to her
for hours though I am sure it was a torture to him
as he is a very reserved quiet man & she is all
inquisitiveness & that kind of curious enjoyment of
emotion that some people have. Poor Mrs. Hollins is
just a mass of nerves & jumps, never at peace &
devoting herself entirely to the children's education &
health, an awfully good little woman, but very
trying to live with. I left them alone yesterday
& went for a long walk on the Downs. It was
warm enough to sit in the sun for a bit & very 2 D2109/9/4/B lovely & peaceful up there, poor Miss R gives one the
feelings that Cousin Flo used to, that one must get
away for a rest. You must feel very funny at home with only Helen
& she out all morning. I am so glad Ruth is estab—
lished near. It is a great thing to feel that Terry
wont just be doing monotonous work in the trenches,
that must require a great deal of endurance. Let
me know the news of him as he won't have time to
write to me. I suppose one address's him Headquarters
Staff 107th Brigade? You told me 107th I always put
307th before. Thank you so much for sending the parcel of clothes.
I forgot to look what the postage was & I owe you for
Emma's too. I suppose we wont hear from her for
some time yet. There is a Col. Archdale I meet at the Dormets he had
a nephew called Lome in the Ulster Div. & had been
to the review by the King & thought they looked
fine troops & said they were well provided with
artillery. Sam & Charlie are lucky so far, one feels as if something
were bound to happen to one of them sometimes.
I've been doing a little making of bandages at the 3 D2109/9/4/B Red X. place here where they make all sorts of equip—
ment for the hospitals. told D. I would try to
help her to raise money for heating the canteen if she
thought of attempting it. & send me a letter giving
an account of the necessity & list of people she was
asking. I have been reading a wonderful book
called The Soul of the War by Phillip Gibbs, it is very
well written & one feels it is all true & not exaggerated
but just what he has seen personally in France & Belgium
some of it is awful. It is a wonderful record of
endurance & cheerfulness. I hope I may get home for Xmas, but it is no me talking
of that yet, no me making plans these days! I've been awfully bothered with a funny kind of hay fever
the last few weeks, which comes on badly every morning
& makes my nose & eyes ache but I suppose it will go
with the cold weather. I am so glad Edmund has
got company with him. I hope he will really be
better. Much love to Helen & Papa. Ever your loving Olive.