December 1918

What a relief it was when we heard that the war had finally ended and our men could come home. Of course nothing happens immediately, and there are all sorts of formalities to be gone through. Here is my most recent letter from John.

“Dear Barbara,

This will probably be the last letter I shall write from here as I hope to be leaving the Island on about next Friday. I have to report to the Department in Chester to sign a few forms, but as I shall already have had the medical and handed in all my kit out here it shouldn’t take to long. I shall probably come home on next Thursday if all goes well.

Out here life is much as usual except that things happen seem to be aimed against the British now rather than between the Greeks and the Turks. Every time we go out of camp now we have to stop at least one Greek Cypriot between 18 and 35 and search him for arms, bombs, etc. So far I have found nothing, but it is unsettling how many people go around with leaflets and things.

Today I was taking a trip to Paphos (on the other side of the island) for a couple of days of sightseeing. I am staying with a friend of mine. The roads from here to there are 2 vehicles or more wide but the main protection I always carry is an wireless aerial sticking out of the front vehicle, for no reason except to look important. No vehicle with an aerial has ever been ambushed for some reason so I think this gives more safety than all the guns one would carry.

I have been to every part of the Island although most of it is not worth living in, some parts are fine indeed like the Troodos forest, etc. which are rather like the Northwest of Scotland only warmer.

Can’t wait to see you again.

Love
John”

Thursday came, and John came home, looking tired and worn, but ever so happy for it all to be over. He was pleased to see Rebecca looking well again after the flu, and our Beth has managing to avoid it for the moment, but we must keep a close guard on her. Our love was rekindled, and gave us both almost unbelievable joy. It surely is true that you appreciate what you have so much more, when you have gone without it for awhile.

Our Christmas was a joyous one, with John home again, if only Peter could have been allowed out too, but apparently there is much red tape to be gone through before they let the internees go.

We bought Lisa a teddy bear for Christmas- a rather special one as it is made by Steiff. I asked John if he felt that was unpatriotic, buying a German toy, but he said he felt that we needed to try to get our relationship with Germany back, and helping their economy was one way to do it. We also got her some new books and jigsaws. It was so much fun to shop together again, although because of the flu we were very careful about where we went.

John had bought some rather wonderful perfume for both Rebecca and me before he left Cyprus, in very ornate little bottles.

We had our usual books for Christmas presents, and this year I bought John an American author, Sinclair Lewis’ new book, The Job. We bought Peter The Man with Two Left Feet by P.G. Wodehouse. John bought me Missing by Mary Augusta Ward, and Summer by Edith Wharton.

I am worried that Jo has suddenly stopped writing to me. Maybe she is embarrassed at admitting how upset she was when she dug into the window casing. I miss her chatty letters.

Women had their first opportunity to vote in the General Election in December this year. We went to the school to vote. I was nervous that I would not know how to do it, but John came with me and showed me how. Several of the women involved in the suffrage campaign stood for Parliament. Only one, Constance Markiewicz, standing for Sinn Fein, was elected. Like the seventy two Sinn Fein MPs, she does not intend to attend the House of Commons in London and instead joined the parliament in Dublin. In the new Irish government, Constance will be Minister of Labour.

She had been involved in the campaign to force the authorities to extend the1906 Provision of School Meals Act to Ireland. She also started a scheme to feed poor children in Dublin and provided a soup kitchen in Liberty Hall during the lockout of unionized workers in 1913.

During the Easter Rising in April 1916, Constance Markiewicz was appointed second in command. She took part in the fighting and after her arrest was charged with treason. Initially sentenced to death, this was commuted to penal servitude for life because the authorities were unwilling to execute a woman.

Released in the General Amnesty of 1917, she was immediately elected to the executive of Sinn Fein. Soon afterwards she was imprisoned again for her part in the campaign against the conscription of Irish men into the British Army. What an amazing woman she is. I wish she was in our parliament.

We didn’t even go to Church on Christmas Day. John forbad it. He says that it is another way of spreading the disease – with taking communion and having close contact with others. I can understand why he feels as he does, but I do so much miss having the support of my church at this time too.