Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Marie Martin

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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Letter from Marie Martin (1892-1975) to her mother Mary Lewis Martin (1866-1955). Marie begins by writing that this is the first long letter she has written in some time. She describes the work conditions in the medical tents. She also writes about her sadness at the death of her brother, Charlie who had been missing in action since December 1915.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, B/F/1/53 https://letters1916.ie/item/437 English Marie Martin 1916-07-20 Hardelot, France Mary Martin Monkstown, Dublin Female World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 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 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 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 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. 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 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