Sources:
The letter:
No. 42
Tsarskoje Selo, Jan. 29-th 1915
My own beloved One,
Loving thanks for two dear telegrams. I can imagine how emotioning it was going on board our dear ships, & how your precious presence will have given them new courage for their difficult work. How one longs for them quickly to get hold of the Breslau before she does any more harm. How lucky there were only so few wounded still in the hospital. — Over & over I thank you for your dearest letter from Rovno — it came as a very great & most pleasant surprise whilst I was still in bed. Fancy Olga going to be the eldest sister now of the red Cross community out there — with God's help I am sure she will manage well. —
Petia has turned up & comes to-morrow to luncheon. I shall be having to see his mad father, as I sent Loman twice to him with questions about our trains, & he received before others & screamed at him & insulted him & understood everything wrong, tho' he had the paper wh. I had seen before he got it. He is so impossible rushing about the room, giving others no time to speak & screaming at all. — This night I went to sleep after 4½ & woke up early again — such dull nights! Then we had Troitzky's Operation, it went off well, thank God — hernial rupture & then I had to do several pensements, so scarcely saw Ania. Our Fr. came there, as He wanted to see me a second. — Fredericksy & Emma lunched, I photographed them. Olga & Tatiana only returned near 2, they had so much to do. In the afternoon I rested & slept half an hour. Then we took tea with Alexei upstairs, then I saw Loman, — Viltchkovsky's report is always at the hospital. — Baby stands — & I hope, by the time you return, that he will be able to walk again. Marie's finger is not yet right. — Ania is better, but the humour not famous — I fed her, so she ate alright & she sleeps quite decently now. — The most of the wounded I could not see to-day, there was no time. — I am so glad you had good talks with N. Freder: is rather in despair (rightly) about many orders he gives unwisely & wh. only aggravates, & things one had better not discuss now — others influence him & he tries to play your part wh. is far from right — except in military matters — & ought to be put a stop to — one has no right before God & man to usurp your rights as he does — he can make the mess & later you will have great difficulty in mending matters. Me it hurts very much. One has no right to profit of one's unusually great rights as he does.
The weather continues being glorious, but I cannot venture out into the garden. —
Do you remember one of our first wounded officers Strashkevitch who had his head tied up & spoke so long to you, until you felt quite faint? Well poor man, he returned to his regiment & has been killed. Sad for his poor family — he served in a bank. — I said to Loman that some of the wounded might also come with us to Church & take Communion with us — it would be such a consolation for them, & I hope you do not object. Loman will speak with Viltchkovsky, & you can warn Voyeikov, if you don't forget. — How the »noises« this night will remind you of the Yacht — that clang clang of Sebastopol.
Sweetheart, what joy to have you back in four days! Now I must send off my letter. Goodbye & God bless & protect you my dearest darling Treasure.
I kiss you ever so tenderly & hold you tight in my loving old arms.
Ever, Lovy, yr. very own
Wify.
Nicholas' telegrams:
Telegram.
Sevatapol — 30 January, 1915.
Have visited all the fortifications and batteries on the north side. Saw a few wounded who have recovered. Pleasant, warm weather...
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Telegram.
Sevastopol. 30 January, 1915.
Warm thanks for letter. Drove round the southern batteries in a car. I had inspected some of them in 1913. In the town I saw wounded officers and men from the front, sent here for treatment. A magnificent day. I am leaving now. Good-night. Tender embrace.
Nicky.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra.
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