THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

[Early July 1940]

My Dear

I am so sorry about your foot. Do take care and don’t move – that is essential with a poisoned foot – they kept me in bed 10 weeks though I was quite well.
Your bit of news was very exciting – but was it wise to write it – I am tearing that bit into small pieces.¹
I went and practiced fire fighting the other day – they stage a real fire with lots of smoke & I had to creep along on my stomach with an axe in one hand & the nozzle of the hosepipe in the other!
I heard from Maud² today & she has had her op. & says she goes on well.
Yrs

RVW

1. Ursula Wood had told VW that she had seen the French destroyers, which had escaped from Oran (Mers-el-Kebir), arriving in the Solent.
2. Maud Karpeles.