Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 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). In this letter, Marie writes about the types of injuries and illnesses she encounters in her ward, which has become an 'acute' ward. She mentions a soldier whose leg was amputated due to gas gangrene and provides graphic description of how she must change the dressings of those who have skin problems such as scabies. Marie's weariness is evident in this letter.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/1/68 https://letters1916.ie/item/441 English Marie Martin 1916-10-12 Hardelot, France Mary Martin Monkstown, Dublin Female World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 12.10.16 My very dearest Mother A thousand thanks for your very nice long letter of the 7 th October I cannot tell you how delighted I was to get it. but frightfully sorry to hear you are having such a terrible time with the mumps & that my darling Andrew has it. I sincerely hope he is better by this also poor Cecil. Really you have had a terrible hard time since I left & it has kept you so isolated from the rest of the family & I feel I have been so slack about writing but really we have not had time for anything but work & when I got off for an hour I used to generally lie down so as to go on fresh. I shall try & give you an idea what I have been doing since the 25 th Sep: when our big rush really started here but I do not want you to think I am being over worked or any thing of that kind, as you know I had good weeks spring cleaning an empty ward before the rush. I am glad to say I felt A.1. at the time & I am quite able for the long hours. I think it is working under canvas that is so healthy & one does not get nearly so tired. On Monday Sep 25 th I had had my usual day work in my own tents M8 & was going off duty for the evening when I received a message from Matron to say I was to go to S.8 Surgical til M.8 is open again, when I got over there, there was Sister St. Legas & another V.A.D. the two tents were full of wounded some very bad others only slight but most of them too bad to have baths so all had to be washed in the wards. this was getting on to 6 o'clock & none of the dressing has been touched so we started off & did all the worst & found a great number had hemorrhage on the way. others we found with Gas gangarene which meant immediate operation which had to be done that night I think we got off about 11 o'clock leaving one poor man named Woods very bad they found he had septic absorption. it had gone too far for amputation & the only chance was to drain the leg & they & get rid of poisoning. Next morning we came in to hear he had been in the theatre during the night again & that the M.O. was going to give a intransfusion which is a terrible job in itself & so many of the others were very bad we really did not know where to begin I forgot to tell you that the lad had a Ensol transfusion the night before which I believe is the latest treatment for these gas gangrene in some case I believe it has proved invaluable but it seems Gods will this man should not live he linger on for three day, every thing possible was done for him but he died very quietly on the 3rd night, it is a very sad thing to watch, the patient is so frightfully restless & has to be watched all the time he was quite unconscious on the last day & spoke in such a weird way. Well things went on fairly well operation after operation but they all seem to be getting on very well & a great number of arms & legs were saved with G gangrene that they thought would have to be amputated on the 1 st Oct one of our tents was turned into the mente ward for the whole surgical division which of course made us very busy again as we got all the worst cases from the hospital after operation. Really we were dressing from 8 in the morning till 8 at night & the three of us on duty all the time except for one day when we each got an hour still we all felt wonderful & it was such a joy to see them all improving so but we had some nasty frights one man started haemorr— haging one night & in the end had to get the M.O. to stop it after having the artery help for 15 mins by sister & myself. He lost pints that night as he hemorrhaged twice but was sent to England the next day. I wonder how the poor man got on. Well things were beginning to get quieter & the work a little lighter when a very large convoy of skin cases arrived & my old tents M8 were open & I got a message to go down there & take charge again. What a change to go & see these terribly disfigured men cover with scabies, impetigo & the Lord know what after having the most interesting work in the whole hospital. So again I found myself with 56 patients & one orderly which meant no off duty till I got a help which will now two days ago, so we are able to relieve each other now. I really do not care for skins very much the fact of the matter is I know nothing about them except what have learned this last week Some time I feel quite sea sick pulling off these horrible scabs but I feel heartly sorry for the men & some one has to look after them. I believe this hospital will be nothing but skins after the 1 Nov but by then I shall know more about them. One is dressing all day long as one case some times takes over an hour to do, especially if it is a face case when all the crusts have to be removed We have two skin specialist here who are frightfully keen & expect you to be the same so I must try & get up my interest. I cannot help thinking of Uncle Charlie every time I am dressing the less descent if he saw them with the big sores all over them I do not think he would ever kiss me again It is really sad to think there is so much of it among our troops the only good thing is they can cure scabies in three days if taken in time but then it is so terribly infectious Our staff has increased a great deal but we are still rather under staff for our numbers. I have not heard from Gerald G since, he ought to be getting leave very soon now as it is open. I wonder if he will pass through B—I may see him if so Did you ever send me those two photos I asked you. I want to give one to Sister St. Leger who this morning present me with a sweet gold broach in remembrance of the happy & busy time we had together etc. It was very sweet of her & I did not deserve it I only did my duty, Really Mother I am very lucky & always seem to be sent to places where the work is good &interest so I must not grumble at the skin which I am sure to like just as much when I know more about them. I hope you are feeling well it is too bad you should have the shortage from the War company this year when everything is so dear. However we must all look forward to brighter days soon, as Gerald says when I sent him the Photo of Greenbank roses ( which he very greedily kept) he said they look topping but we will all make up for these bad times when the War is over. I hope he will go & see you on his way home when he gets leave — M rs Garttan wrote me such a nice letter with all their news. I do feel for her being left all alone but am glad her anxiety is lessened with Gerald appointment. I must close now hoping you will be able to read this awful scrawl written in a hurry as I just had two hours off this morning to give Mrs Paul my help an half day. I had one yesterday but had to go into Boulogne to get a winter hat as we are not allowed to wear straw after the 1 st Oct. I got quite a nice useful sailors for 20 frc My very fondest love to everyone & tell them all although I do not have much time for writing I am always thinking & wondering what they are doing & how they are With every good wish, love & thought I remain always dearest Mother your most grateful & loving daughter. Marie I hope you continue to have good news of Tommy. Love wish we could get him home I am very anxious to hear the result of poor Uncle Frank Love Marie You must be bored with this but I just feel today how I would love to be at home have a dear old chat with you so if I have written nonsense you know how I am feeling. I am writing this with your photo before me & trying to imagine I am speaking to you dearest Mother — Cheer Oh the war will soon be over I hope 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