gb0551ms-33-54

Transcription

[Page] 54
[continued from page 53]

the disastrous failure of the great German offensive
which was to take them to Paris & has au contraire
carried them back to the Aisne comes as a
happy augury. This morning I attended a special
service in St. Giles, as I did on that memorable Sunday
four years ago. I shall never forget that earlier service.
Mary & I went alone. Everyone was thrilled with
excitement & and full of doubts & anxieties as to what the
immediate future would bring forth, yet the stranger
who preached that day, departed not one syllable
from his written address and uttered no word to show
that he grasped for an instant the immensity of
the occasion. A row of young soldiers, Camerons, sat
in front of us. Mere lads they were. Often I wonder if
anyone of them has survived. How long will it last
still. An impression is abroad that 1919 will see the
end of it. The German reserves are being rapidly
used up. Their 1920 class to be mobilised in Sept.
brings the 400,000 fresh boys, but the Americans
are sending over 300,000, splendid fighting troops each
month. I have been out on police
duty this afternoon, visiting the dozen men or
so of my patrol. Jocelyn & Mary have gone
to the rooms we have taken at Braefoot Gatton:
:side & I follow next Saturday (10th Augt)
Food is becoming more plentiful, but jam

marmalade, & at times, cheese, are unprocurable.
Eggs are at 5/6d a doz. [dozen] in town! From the allotment
I have supplied the house almost entirely with
vegetables since early in May. My peas are just done
& French Beans are beginning. This has been a
wonderfully dry summer but we had good rains last
month.

10th Oct. 1918
The dry summer came to an end in August
and we have experienced very indifferent weather since.
In August we went out to a small house called
"Braefoot" at Gattonside and stayed there till 9th Sept.
when I returned to town, preparatory to going off later
on for some interviewing work in Aberdeen, Dundee,
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle for the Civil Service
Commission. Our stay at Gattonside was pleasant on
the whole. We managed a few excursions. Jocelyn, Mary
& I had a delightful excursion by bicycle & on foot
to the top of the Black Hill & later on to Dryburgh
where unfortunately we were caught in rain &
had a wet ride home. We visited Weens on another
day, taking the train to Hawick & and going from there on
our bicycles. It was a pathetic sight the old home
with all its cherished memories, neglected & desolate,
the garden overgrown & covered waist high with
weeds & grass. Here and there, from the rose beds,
that my dear Mother-in-law loved so well a rose
[continued on page 55]

  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

Moira L- Moderator, Jane F Jamieson, Kate51- Moderator