Sisters' Quarters
Aug 9th 1915
My own dear Cyril
I haven’t time to write more than a short letter tonight. You’ll be rather surprised at seeing inside this a letter from Dr Baker to me! I wrote to him the other day to let him know your whereabouts and how you were. I thought you would like him to know and that he would be interested. You will see for yourself how nicely he replied. You note what he says about sending your name up to the War Office with the suggestion that if chemists are wanted in the Dardanelles to see to the gas protective appliances that your services or that of a trained chemist would be valuable, or rather he says invaluable!
This sounds as though he wants to get you into something where your training will be required – and when you come to think of it, this would bring you before the notice of the authorities and then in “peace” time they might get you a good billet. Don’t you think it would be quite a good move on his part? I never thought of this when I wrote to him but just thought it would be as well to keep him informed of your movements.
I have no particular news to give you, dear. We are not full up with patients just now so the whole hospital has been spring-cleaned. The lesser number of patients doesn’t seem to affect theatre work much although we have not done so many bullet extractions, we have had numerous “Central Force” men in for ordinary operations, such as removal of varicose veins, appendices, etc.
I am meeting Sammy tomorrow, we both have a half day – I don’t know yet what we are going to do, probably go to the Lickeys.
I have a feeling you’ve been slightly wounded or had a small incident of some kind. I’ve thought so for about ten days now.
Goodnight, darling, I shall be so thankful when I can see you again – I daren’t let my thoughts dwell too much on the past or future – I can only lived from day to day and hope and long and pray for our reunion.
All my love, Sweetheart, I’ll be writing again in a day or two.
From your devoted
Mela.
LETTER FROM DR BAKER ENCLOSED
Latchmoor House
Gerrard’s Cross, Bucks
Dear Miss Constable
It was more than kind of you to write to me. I have often wondered where Lt Sladden had gone and I hoped to hear of him. Will you be kind enough to let me know what his regiment is. It is possible the WO will want the help of chemists in the Dardanelles if the Turks, or rather their German masters, begin using poisonous gases. There are protective appliances out there, on the chance of this, and the services of a well-trained chemical officer will be invaluable in seeing that these appliances are kept in good order.
It must be a great comfort to you now, and it will be of greater satisfaction later, that you are both doing your part in the war. When one is able, in calmer times, to look back on a troublesome period, it is pleasant to think that one has done one’s best.
If you can spare time to send me Mr Sladden’s address on a postcard, I will pass it on to the right people at the War Office; it will go through more quickly this way. With very many thanks.
Yours very sincerely
H B Baker
