Meerut British Gen Hospital
Rouen
11/10/15
My dear Father
I expect I’ll get a letter from home in a day or so, I’m wondering if you have any news lately of George.
Soon you’ll have Mary and your granddaughter at home. I hope she’ll be less noisy than I was at her age! I shall want to hear what you all think of her, Mary says her likeness to me is very strong.
I’m having busy days here, but with one advantage, I generally know approximately the day before how much work there is ahead.
I seldom see any paper now but The Mail (Paris edition) Things look ugly in the near east. I hope our fellows aren’t walking into a trap in the Balkans.
I have signed the necessary papers for Lloyds, for the conversion of the Loan, so that should be completed in good time.
Have you got all the apples off yet? The crops here are tremendous and I believe sales very poor, so that most of the fruit of all qualities is being shaken and put into bags to go to the cider mills I suppose.
There is less stress here now, it appears likely that our offensive is only of limited extent and that after months of preparation, the success and spirit of the French, and the signs of rallying in Russia are of happier omen on land. I am glad to see Lord Derby’s appointment, I think he is less afraid to speak truth than most of our rulers and more able to form an opinion free of preconceived ideas, but even so it is largely a matter of sifting a great responsibility from one man to another.
Well if the brilliant Censor reads this he’ll start blue pencilling on general inane principles.
With love to all
Your affectionate son
Arthur
