July 18th.

Oh dearest Mother and Father Robertson:-

Oh, how my heart does ache; nobody can know what it is like but those who could have such happen to them and having such a dear husband as I did. It really seems to me like a dream yet, for I feel stunned and no feeling, but there is that terrible vacancy and that continual gnawing at my heart. Still I must remember that there are millions with aching hearts to-day. Everybody has been so wonderfully lovely to me and try to make me feel he is only a prisoner and nothing has happened to him. I do pray so. But that suspense is terrible waiting to get the final word. The only word I got was he was missing. I will enclose the letter I got from the Commanding Officer, also the telegram from the War Office, and then the darling letter Eric Dear wrote the night before, so bright and full of wonderful hope. You both have been on my mind continually too and I wish I were near to comfort you both.

Everybody cannot do enough for me to help me. Lady Samuel who is connected with this hospital told the Matron this afternoon that her brother was the head, or one of the heads of the Red Cross in Switzerland and she was going to connect with him this evening to get him to try and find out as soon as possible. As it is, I won’t hear before two weeks or a month; but you shall know as soon as I do as I will cable at once.

Pete Wedd too has been so good to me and came down this morning to see me as soon as he heard; and he is writing you to-night. He tries to tell me too that there are such hopes and if he is a prisoner he will he treated well.

Oh, only to get the first letter from him. You see I know so much about aeroplanes and the kinds of accidents and all that , that is why I guess I think the worst of things. Every day I would say to myself one day gone and that much nearer to the time when I will see and be with him. And those two wonderful two weeks we had- three weeks to the day when I got my sad news. If Eric Dear is a prisoner, and oh I pray he is, I shall send him a box two or three times a week. When you find out definitely you can send bars of chocolate, or fruit cake, or such things as that. I don’t know what I can do without Eric; but he has been a good and noble boy and has done his duty bravely, and how very proud I am of him. By the way two other people called me up to say they thought they could get in touch with that has happened sooner than I could hear from the War Office. As soon as one mail comes I am watching and patiently waiting for the next to bring me good tidings. So very many of our good friends have been killed recently, that that is why I am so anxious.

I hear one of the boys upstairs singing and oh it nearly kills me for the memories it brings to me. Three of the St. Luke’s girls are here and they have been a great comfort to me, seeing that they have known Eric so well. And then I know you all and my people are thinking of me and sharing my burden.

I just cannot write more to-night but will do so in a few days. Tell all the family please what I write as I don’t feel I can write them all just yet. In closing let me ask you to please pray that our dear boy is safe where ever it may be and will be brought back to us safely. Lots of love for all and remember I am thinking of you all all the time in your great sorrow and sharing it with you one and all.

Ever lovingly,
(Signed) Molly.