1 20th July 1916 My very dearest Mother It is ages since I wrote
you a long letter but we have
been fairly busy and did not get
very much off duty time,
however things are slack again,partly
owing to an epidemic of Diarrhea
which has been affecting both
staff and patients.They are trying to get
to the bottom of it. S. 8 opened
about a week ago and we had some
quite bad cases but am glad to
say most of them have gone to
England as their wounds will take
some time to heal. We have S. 9
also under our care so that when
we are full up there is a fair
amount of work to be done. My
Tent is beginning to look fairly 2 straight. I have got to the stage of
leaving flowers in it so it looks
quite homely. I am off this morning
as sister is having a half & will
have to keep an eye on S.7
but there is no one had so the
work is not hard. I am so glad to think you are
having a change, don't be in a
hurry back. It cheered me up
greatly to hear you were feeling
more yourself also to get A. Mays
letter saying she was taking care
of you. Although I have not written
very often lately, you have been
constantly in my mind. Really it is terribly sad about
poor Charlie. I really do not know
what to think. All the stories
seem so different. There is one thing
we may feel sure of & that is 3 he seems to have been one of the
bravest & most consciencious the way
he stuck to his duty & men. How
proud a mother you must feel to
have such a son. I only know how
I feel about him. Poor Charlie,
how we shall all miss him. It is
not now so much but when we
all gather together when the war
is over, which I hope will be
very soon. I still keep praying
he may turn up, although it
looks so hopeless. I shall have
some masses said for him here.
I hope you have had good
news of Tommy. I must try & write
to him today if I get time.
I have heard no more of Gerald
G. but hope also to write to him
to-day. I think I shall send on
the letter about Charlie. he was
so fond of him. How the men
all loved him as everyone who 4 knew him did. Also Gerald R. How
is he. I was so glad to hear in
your last letter that U. Frank &
A. Lissy were something better.
The heat really has not been very
trying til yesterday and today
when it is really very warm, but
I am really glad to think of you
having such fine weather, which
means you can sit out & enjoy
the air without tiring yourself.
Please thank A. May a 1000 times
for her letter. I will answer her
soon. Tell her she could have done
nothing to please me more as I
was very anxious about you & it
relieved me to hear from someone
who say you how you were looking.
Your hands will be full again
with all the boys home. I suppose
Ger & Jack will remain at home
for good. 5 Don't forget to ask that Mr Boase
out, He is quite nice & I am
sure plays tennis. I have not
written to him yet. This place is getting quite fu
lively,
as a great number of French
people are opening their houses.
Certainly the B.O do have a time
with the french girls. I think I must close now, Time is
getting on. I only got off at 10.30 &
must be ready for dinner at 12 0'ck
I want to write several letters, one
to Dinnie Fitzgerald asking him to
send Red Cross stuff. So au-revoir With my very fondest
love to you & all
Your ever loving & faithful daughter Marie x