1 Mater
Mab
Edmund
Rex Please return finally to Lil 9 April My dear Folks. Douglas brought me a most exciting
budget with news of Sir E & all manner
of things. I am sorry that Edmund was unable
to get an interview with him, tho' I can
imagine what a strain these interviews must be
on a leading man. I am delighted that
Ed has decided to support him in the WMN
& if he knew all that I should like to tell
him but must not he would be even more determined in
his views. Bonar Law whom I look upon as a most 2
honourable man is I think a little narrow
minded and limited in vision, probably a most
useful head of one of the great departments, but
not a Leader. Pearson, especially if he has to feel the
tonic of sacrifice, as I believe is the case now that
he is resolved to give up law has all the qualities
of leadership except one & that is robust health,
but many a great man has succeeded in spite
of this — Wolfe Caesar — . Of my own news I have not very much
to tell. We have left our lordly chateau but
I am not so badly off in my labourer's
cottage & our office is not bad at all, & the
Spring weather of course gives quite a different
aspect to life & one can sit by an open window. 3 Lt Col Place — Russsell's successor as GSO1 —
has arrived. He is a sapper best & I think has
both brains & determination so it is probably
best for the Division that he should be here. I have just got Mater's letter saying
she is giving us a gift of £25 each, & really
it is wonderful in these times. Her purse seems
to be a real Widows' cruse thanks to her
care & management. Both Lily & I give
our most grateful thanks & I hope Mater
will approve of its being used for Government
Loan purposes, into which all my pay is being put. I calculate that the Government will take
rather more than half one's income this next
year — as the excess profits tax will take a very
large portion of the rubber dividends & the 25% 4
income tax comes in on top, but thanks to Mater's
help in the past & Lily's care now we can manage
more than comfortably & can I hope still give our
tenth to charity. Later on rubber will not do so
well and we shall also have no pay butso that
is why we do not intend to live beyond our future
— even if there were any inducements to do so
which there are not —. There was a very determined attack this
week upon our lines and on the Division
next door, and for the 3rd time the Ulstermen
held their own whilst those Divisions on our flank
let the enemy in though only for a short time
before they were turned out again. As the
battalion concerned was our most doubtful
one it is satisfactory to feel that they have upheld
the moral of the Division, but they are certain- 5
ly a good lot. It will not do to boast & under
certain unfair conditions they may fail, but
I am sure that no other troops in the British
Army could do more. It is wonderful how the French villagers
can cultivate their land with the whole
of their villages full of British troops — how full
you can imagine when a village of 800 inhabi
tants has got 3000 men extra living in it !