Baghdad Dec 23. My Belloved Father. I have just written to Mother and all that I have said to her I said to you, most dear one. But I know you will understand that it is first of her that one thinks and of course even in your great sorrow it is first of her that you are thinking. But when I bring to my mind your unfathomable love for us all, I know how you are suffering too and I can only weep for you darling. Your love was so wonderfully comforting to me when I was very unhappy; I hope our love for you may be a little comfort to you now.
I think you were right not to telegraph. The ship arrived on the 10th, didn't it - I do tremble to think of the account of that arrival which your next letters will bring. Your letters which I got on the 11th were still hopeful, so on the night of the 12th I went to Mosul [Mawsil, Al], as I has long planned and had three amazingly successful days of archaeology there, opened a museum and photographed Moslem tombs and mosques that no one had ever been allowed to see before. I still have only touched the fringe. It would take a good fortnight's work to do all that there is to be done. I hope I may get that later.

When I returned last Saturday I found your letter of the 9th written in the train and it left me still hopeful. It had come by airmail. In the evening I was dining with the Cookes to meet Professor Langdon and his party who are going down to Kish. Mr Cooke's house is next door to the Residency and I sent in to see if the overland mail were there. Mother's letter was brought in. I somehow had an awful feeling that I could not open it before all those people, so I waited till after dinner when I was alone with Mrs Cooke. Then I opened it, saw the postscript and despaired. Mrs Cooke was extraordinarily kind and helful. We decided that we would say nothing, and not disturb the party who were absorbed in discussing and showing to me very ancient flints. But when I got home, I felt I could not bear it all alone, so I sent for Ken, who also lost a very Belloved brother in the war and he stayed with me for about an hour and was very comforting.

Except Ken, Lionel and the Cookes I haven't told anyone yet. The Bourdillons only know that I am dreadfully anxious. It is somehow easier just to have the sympathy of one's inmost friends and carry on. So I shall wait for your letter. Lionel spent Sunday afternoon with me - most of the morning I was in the Museum with the two men of Langdon's party, Mr Buxton and Mr Field, learning about flints. Ken and Major Wilkins and Major Eadie dined, as had been arranged and played bridge. The Cookes took care of me on Monday afternoon - we went shopping for the King's house - and I had so much work to do that I went back at 4 to the office and did not get away till 6. Heaven be praised, all these days have been packed with work - it is such a blessing isn't it to have a lot of work to do when one is unhappy. How thankful I was for the Red Cross that spring. Tomorrow I am going up to Khanaqin with the King, Ken and Iltyd to spend Xmas. It will be very much better to be with those kind and dear people, all three of them. I could not have gone to Xmas parties and to be alone in holidays with no work would be terrible. We shall come back on Sunday when I shall find your letters.

Darling, I'm telling you all this so that you may know that I am being cared for - far more than I deserve. I send you all my deepest love and sympathy. Your very loving daughter Gertrude.

I am writing to Frances and addressing it to R'ton [Rounton]. I hope she and the two little boys will stay on with you.