Ltr from Bairnsfather's secretary 30th August

Ltr from Bruce Bairnsfather’s secretary .

Bairnsfather’s secretary wrote to Kate Rafferty 30th August. His letter above is dated 30th August but the year not given. reading points to  30th August 1915 as Kate had asked Bairnsfather if he could give her any information about her missing husband. (She presumably needed some news of her husband to be able to consider claiming insurance benefit bearing in mind there was their daughter Ivy to look after!)  Then 4th January 1916 Kate was informed officially by the war office that her husband Thomas Henry Rafferty had been killed in action.  Later Kate Rafferty contacted the Sheffield Equalised Independent Druids sending proof that her husband had been killed in action, she received documents back dated 28th January 1916 as  stamped by the society. (The Independent Druids 1858 was instituted as a Friendly Society, the Sheffield district had 84 lodges, the strongest in England, A mutual association for the purpose of insurance, pensions and saving benefits society.)        (See Lost Killed in Action, document)