Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Marie Martin

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

This is an open access work licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Letter from Marie Martin (1892-1975) to her mother Mary Lewis Martin (1866-1955). In this letter, Marie thanks her mother for sending news of her family and also for sending tobacco, which Marie is keeping for 'her Paddies'. Marie also describes her role as a VAD in great detail.Marie Helena Martin later known as 'Mother Mary', was a volunteer nurse during the First World War. She served in field hospitals in Malta, Leeds, and France working for the British army and later went on to become the founder of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM).

 Medical Missionaries of Mary France Letters, France Letters https://letters1916.ie/item/433 English Marie Martin Hardelot, France Mary Martin Monkstown, Dublin Female World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

The data in these XML files was generated based on a data dump from the Magellan database (https://github.com/Maynooth-Center-for-Digital-Humanities/Magellan). Each database record has been converted to a JSON file (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/json). The element section of the JSON file contains the TEI-encoded contents of the letters. The TEI XML has been cleaned and made well-formed using a Python script (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/src).

 25 th G. Hospital B. E. F. Wednesday My very dearest Mother, It is ages since I wrote to you but I think I warned you in my last letter that I might not have time to write. I have a great deal to say & tell you in this letter but must start off by thanking you a 1000 times for sending me the wire. I was greatly relieved to hear Gerald was alright but sorry to think of him being back on duty, however we must trust in Our Lord that he & all those most dear to us may come safely through. I hope you have had good news from Tommy lately & that he is still out of danger zone. I am afraid he & Dicke will find the heat very much. I must also thank you Ethel & Desmond for the parcels with vegetables etc. I have not had time to cook peas yet as they just arrived when we got very busy. The Tobacco arrived safely last night what ripping stuff & how they will enjoy it. I am keeping it for my Paddies. The Photos also arrived last night & I think on the whole they are quite good much better than the last I like the Oval full face by far the best in fact every one here does & thinks it very good. I also rather like the sitting down one only it makes me look like the mother of 12. 2 the way I am sitting, the 3/4 length is not bad but as you say very like the 1 st lot, if you think it wise to get a few different yet whichever of the 3/4 length you like best, but I would put nearly all of the Oval Full Face — & when they come, will you please give one to Uncle Charlie, he is such a dear to me I had such a nice long letter from him to night. Aunt Lissy does not seem so well since they went to Howth. I really think the sea air is very bad for Rheumatic people — Now I better start off by telling you all about my life here. Since last writing I have had a change — to the Tents. On Friday last Matron came up about 5.30 to know if I would go down to the Medical Tents to Bed Bath 8 bad gas cases. I understood when going down it was only for the evening so next morning went on duty as usual & about 7.45 Matron came up & said she wish- ed me to go down to Tents S.7. which were just being opened & a convoy in them, so down I ran to find every bed full noth ing ready & only a staff nurse we had not even a dressing lotion or any thing only just a bar table in the dressing tent but I am glad to say most of the beds had sheets & blankets on so the men were able to get to bed after their baths those that were not able to walk about. at about 12 p.m. we had things fairly straight &and the M. O. came round. I cannot describe to you how they all look & their dressings & wounds just covered with mud, which had just to be taken off so as not to keep the M.O. waiting there were 3 with bullets in their legs, so he said nurse, run off for the freezing stuff & scalpel & then & there he operated & took out the bullets. I do not know how the men stood it. We spent till six O'ck that evening doing dressings & after that there was all the ordinary work cleaning up & beds to make so of course except for our meals we did not get off the whole Hospital was in the same condition only of course they had been running & opened for some time. The next day was much the same. Then Matron came along & told Sister she wish ed me to be responsible for S. 8 Link when they were opened, this is simply ripping & only hope I shall work it alright it has not been opened yet so I am still in S.7. but am trying to get it fairly well settled so as not to have to rush when another big convoy comes. Sister Mackenzie who I worked for 1st of all must have given Matron a very good report of me because when I went the other day to sign on Matron was charming and told me she was very satisfied and considered me one of the senior & responsible V.A,D.'s. I need not tell you I immediately thought of you & felt it might be a pleasure for you to hear this after all the care worry & trouble you have had in bringing up. It is really very lucky on my part my present Sister is charming, there are three of us in J 7 Tents now which is 1/2 a division and S8 will be the other half which will be mine when open. I am always on alone in the afternoon or evening. The fighting seems terrible but up to this we have been doing very well and hope shall continue and end it quickly. How soon do you think it will be over? I had such a nice long letter from Gerald M. to-night he seems to be having a very busy time but writes in great form and seems to be enjoying it. I have destroyed my hands with creasot the other day by using it too strong they have all cracked & are stinging. hurt terrible but it is all in a life time. The tents are very nice in sun shine but on wet days they are awful it is pouring here with a terrible gale. I hope you have not forgotten about your change of air.- I hear Ethel is off to Lough Derg what a saint I hope she will not forget a sinner like me. I had to miss Mass Sunday we were so busy If you are getting any one of the standing photos photos there is a little bit of hair on the left side of both prints. arranging my hair is by far the nicest in the sick face but I look rather a lot in it ? Now I must close. It is very late hoping this will not bore you it seems to be all self but as always think any praise I get it is you I have to thank for it. I only hope I shall continue & be of the same use Matron thinks I am. We got a great fright the other day as someone said we had to do a months probation as before but I am glad to say we only signed on for six months since the 17th of June so D. V. I shall be at home with you all again for Xmas. - when I hope the war will be over. With my fondest love& ever in my thoughts. I hope that the relations are well especially Granny . Auntie Sissy Aunt May B.N. Frank and my God-child. Will you tell them I shall try & write soon tactually are we hasty as they will casualty list With heaps of love to Desmond & Andrew Please thank Nana for her nice letter also Ethel Your most loving & grateful daughter in haste. Marie Marie Martin Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 29 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 18 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 21 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 23 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 2 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 7 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 26 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 20 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 18 Sept 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 19 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 21 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 4 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 13 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Geo. R. Boase to Marie Martin, 10 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 23 [January] 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 15 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 8 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 6 February 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 9 April 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 18 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, [November'] 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916 Monkstown, Dublin Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Geo. R. Boase to Marie Martin, 10 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916 Hardelot, France Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916