Diary of Annie's War by Annie Droege

not know where they are until a letter comes to say. Many come back wounded a week later and many letters come home at the same time to say their last goodbye. A lady here got her first letter from her husband two weeks after his departure saying: ‘Beloved wife, my last greetings on our third wedding anniversary’.
    That was all he was able to write being mortally wounded. She was at home with a one-year-old baby.
    I could tell scores of sad tales that happen here in Hildesheim. When a man is advertised as missing his people do not know if he is a prisoner in England, France or Russia. Or if it means he was blown to bits and cannot be identified.
    When you send a parcel or letter you simply address it to so and so, such and such a regiment and the post forwards it to whichever country he is in.
Wednesday 6t th January.
    It is nine weeks since Arthur left here and there is no sign of him coming home at all.
    Today rain has set in and the streets are dreadful with melting snow. There are no men to clean it and the telephone is quite at a standstill. So many wires are broken and so few men are left here to repair – all being at the front.
    I have to take my photo to the police today.
    Belle got a ‘Times’ (it was a perfect treat) of December 25 th . It gave us such pleasure.
Thursday 7 th January.
    It is Belle’s birthday so I went round to congratulate her. She had received a card from Arthur and a letter from Emily. The latter says they are on their way to Nijmegen (Netherlands) and the card was from Köln.
    I had a visit also from Frau Grebe and her mother. She tells me that if her son gets away from Ruhleben then he must go to the front. He is thirty-five. Men up to forty-five are called up so I am glad Arthur is where he is.
    It has rained all day and the snow is almost gone. One feels so sorry for the poor soldiers.
    Tonight a three day preparation for a whole day of prayer commences. We go to a sermon in the cathedral for the first preparation tomorrow the 8 th , which is a fast day. Saturday is a day of preparation and confession. Sunday is for communion and the offering up of the whole day in devotion all over Germany for peace. It is a grand idea with the whole country (Catholics) at one in prayer and fasting and Holy Communion for the one great cause. Let us hope there is soon a result.
    Belle, Rosie and I went to the Dom early. There was a fine preacher and the place was packed. But the less said about the sermon the better. Of course, England was to blame for everything.
Friday 8 th January.
    We went to meet Frau v. d. Busch today it being her birthday. In the morning a policeman came here for my birth and marriage date etc. I got in a hobble when I went to the police for Arthur had not announced us when we came to stay here.
    It appears that as soon as you come into a place to stay over a week you must go to the police of the place. You must give your age, place of birth, name etc. If you do not do so you are fined eight shillings. Of course they find you out if you stay longer. I suppose Arthur had more to think of. I asked if my man had not announced himself at the police, how was it that he was a prisoner. I thought we had been amused enough and said I thought the neglect lay upstairs with the police chief. I said that I could not understand them. I think they were glad to let me go. They were tired of hearing: ‘I understand not’.
    In the evening we went to the Dom to hear what the Father had to say but he was too ill to preach. I was not sorry for I enjoyed the sermon from a different priest far better.
Saturday 9 th January.
    When I visited Rosie v.d. Busch today I said how I had expected Arthur, after he had written, to come home. But she said I must not wish him free as all the men up to forty-five had been up for inspection. If he came out of Ruhleben it meant the front for him. I am so glad he is not here.
    Things are very quiet and the people seem a little