(_From Mrs. Clinton Baker._)
BAYFORDBURY,
HERTFORD.
_March 28th, 1915._
Writing of her son, she says: "Osbert feels his Colonel's death
deeply. When telling me of it, he said: 'I _could_ only write a short
letter; I know you will have written to Mrs. Laurie to try to soften
the blow.'--'Ten young officers and 250 men have now been sent out
from home.'"
(_From General and Mrs. Bird._[11])
22, ALBANY VILLAS,
BRIGHTON.
_March 29th, 1915._
... We have not written to tell you how deeply we sympathize with you
in your great sorrow, as I know letters are of no comfort in times of
sadness, but to-day, in a letter we received, such words of admiration
were written of Colonel Laurie that I felt I should like to write and
repeat them: "Colonel Laurie handled his battalion to perfection
during the attack on Neuve Chapelle, and his death is an irreparable
loss to the 1st Battalion."
We have always heard what a splendid soldier Colonel Laurie was, and
our country does so need such leaders now in the army to bring
victory....
(_From General Sir John Keir, K.C.B._)
_May 4th, 1915._