May 21st 1915
22. Elphinstone Rd
Southsea
So sorry to see Ted’s name in the paper yesterday. Do hope the wounds are not serious. Wasn’t it sad about poor Freddie Bond, he was such a dear boy. I am going back to Camberley on Sunday. Love to all.
L. Wooldridge.
BUDDS
WITTERSHAM
KENT.
21 May 15
Dear Gertrude. We saw yesterday that Ted had been wounded, but Bens tells me it is not serious. I am so thankful, how glad you must be to have him at home. Isn’t it a dreadful time? Unspeakable I think.
Morton has been out since the beginning of Oct. he is in the A.S.C. Motor transport, attached to the Indian Contingent – He was ill in Feb. & had a fortnight’s leave, but I don’t suppose he will be able to get any more for a long time. He got influenza & a very bad throat. Everyone in the world will be out there soon.
We have lots of wounded in all the Red X hospitals round us- & they may take our school later on. Esmée is quite ready to be a ward maid or do anything, but we have not had a hospital in the village. I would much rather have a government one. Red X is wonderfully muddled as a rule, & such squabbles!
I have spent my life knitting, & am still at it, for the French wounded now.
Much love dear Gertrude
Ever yr affect
Ethel Ford
EARDISLEY RECTORY,
HEREFORD.
My dear Mrs Berryman,
I was very sorry to see your Ted’s name in the Casualty list yesterday but very thankful it was not in the first part of the list. The only time lately when there has been freedom from acute anxiety has been when our nearest relations have come home wounded.
One alas returned wounded for a blissful month with his young wife & was killed in the landing of troops in the Dardanelles. I do hope Ted is not badly wounded. Is he in Hospital or have you got him with you.
I expect you are most desperately taken up with your works for sick & wounded as well as with your other manifold interests. Are Richard & Paul doing their bit somewhere.
My brother Archie has been a prisoner at CelleHanover since August & had a rotten time for months. Things are rather better now. The elder brother Col. has an ammunition column somewhere in France.
Yours very sincerely
S.M Campbell.
May 20
102, CHURCH STREET,
KENSINGTON, W.
My dear Gertrude
I see in today’s paper that Ted has been wounded. I do hope you have been able to get definite news of him & that it is not serious & you are not in great anxiety about him, in that case it is almost a relief to feel that they are out of the firing line. I know my aunt felt that.
She has got her boy at home now for two months’ leave after his second wound. Joan & I are going down there tomorrow for a fortnight, I do hope the weather will be kind. Devonshire can be delightful at this time, Webbery, Bideford is the address. I am very busy & must not write more this morning
Yours ever
Molly O’Brien
Awfully sorry to see Ted’s name in list of wounded. I do hope it is only slight & thus a blessing in disguise & that he will get a good long leave– Let me know.
JF
Presumably a postcard
Sandyknowe,
Compton,
GUILDFORD.
May.20th 1915.
Dear Mrs Berryman.
Just a few lines of sympathy to you all, but I do hope your son is not seriously wounded.
Your anxiety must be dreadful, but we can only help one another with our prayers.
Kindest love, your sincere friend
Eva.C. Houghton.
10. Neville Terrace
Onslow Gardens
London S.W
20.5.15.
Dear Mrs Berryman
I was so very sorry to see poor old Ted’s name among the wounded this morning. I do hope it is not serious & that you will be able to have him home soon to be nursed.
Poor you must be in continual anxiety with so many sons serving- & I do hope you get good news of the others – I should so appreciate a post card from one of you, to let me know how Ted is going on.
We have Reggie at home now, also wounded – it is such a blessing to feel they are safely in England & receiving the best attention. The dear old boy is very cheerful, but in a good deal of pain as his sciatic nerve has been injured in some way.
I am thankful to say my husband has not been in it very much lately & is quite well, but I expect their turn will come soon.
I hope you have been keeping well & that the girls are all well too. It is a most horrible time to live through & the only thing is to keep as well & as cheerful as one can, by being busy.
I am staying up here for a few days- but go to Mother soon & hope to live with her until the end of the war.
With very much sympathy & I do so hope your news of Ted is as satisfactory as possible.
Yours v. sincerely
Kathleen Broadbent
Lucky, wounded, cheerful, Reggie.
And a note from Chris who transcribed these letters for posting online: “Idle curiosity led me to Google the address, now 10 Neville St, South Ken SW7, later occupied by Harold Nicolson, husband of Vita Sackville-West”. Nicolson described it as “A Victorian house of unexampled hideousness which they christened Devil Terrace” I have to say, it doesn’t look hideous to me.
Thorner Cottage,
Pirbright,
Surrey.
May 20
Dear Mrs Berryman
I see the name of Capt Berryman in the list of wounded, I fear it must be one of your sons? If this is so I trust he is not severely wounded & that you are able to get news of him? Do you know in what hospital he is being nursed? What an anxious time it is for everybody!
The only way to keep up at all is I think to keep as busy as possible. I hope your other sons are all right so far? There seems a little lull in Flanders just now, but I believe the fighting recently has been appalling, one wonders if there can be anyone left. Perhaps you can find time just to send me a post card.
I remain
Y. very sincerely
Beatrice L. Shelton
33, TREGUNTER ROAD,
SOUTH KENSINGTON,
S.W.
May 20th
My dear Gertrude
I am very sorry to see in to-day’s paper that Ted has been wounded. I hope it is not a very bad wound, but at the same time if he gets to England for a bit you will be glad. Do let me know how he is.
I met a friend of your’s the other day, Mrs Ommaney. I forgot she was living at Guildford. We have known or rather Mother has all her life, for she knows Mrs Ommaney’s mother so well.
I have just been in bed with a rheumatic attack & feel as limp as a rag. We have got a flat in Portman Mansions & move in June.
Much love & hoping to hear Ted is going on well.
Yours afftly
Dumps Morse
What name gives rise to the nick-name “Dumps” one wonders?
Tudor House
Camberley
May 20th.
My dear Mrs Berryman.
I am sorry to hear about Ted. xcept that as it is slight, he won’t be able to fight again yet awhile & that is a mercy. But must’nt it be depressing to have all your friends killed? I think I should feel like xchanging with something else, you wouldn’t feel so lonely.
Gen. Bond’s youngest son has died from his wounds – they heard a few days ago. He was wounded in the abdomen & they were told slightly, but that was a mistake for he died almost at once. He enlisted when the war began, & came from Canada, I think, on purpose. Amy hasn’t heard any more from Reg; when he wrote last, he thought they wd leave on March 12th, but when you think that he is walking from Central Africa to the nearest Rly St! it doesn’t sound a quiet job.
Eily Ward is on her journey home, her boat is not going to stop I fancy after Port Said. Poor Mrs Orr feels very anxious. I only trust she & the child will arrive all right, personally I shdprefer to keep off the sea.
You will be all at home shan’t you this weekend? How awfully nice for you. I thought it was so friendly & kind of Jim to come & see me. He looked so well in his uniform & his likeness to Mr Berryman struck me very much. It’s the way he looks at you I think. Col & Mrs Bowdler are home, came to Blkwater St [straight?] from Folkestone – & both got out at Little Farnboro thinking it was Blkwater & never found out their mistake until after the train had left!!
On Sat: Mrs Stotherd comes to lunch after decorating – it’s always rather a trial- altho’ she doesn’t sit among the tombs as much as she used. Love to you all. Yrs affectly
S S Scote
