1 15th Dec:1915. My own dearest Mother I hope I have timed this rightly as I want
it if possible to arrive on Christmas morning, so that
I shall share in all you are doing in spirit as I can—
not be there in person to greet you all & wish you
every blessing, happiness & luck. I know you will
miss us all very much as I miss you all but
I hope you will get a nice cheery letter from the
boys saying they are well & happy, as this leaves
me. Perhaps Tommy will be able to get up for
a few days leave. I hope so as I know what
a difference it would make to you. A 1000 thanks
for the lovely blouse, gloves & the vest which I shall
wear at o it has turned bitterly cold & they will
make me so comfortable. Ireland seems to be coming
on, it did please me to see they were all made in
Ireland. I cannot tell you how nice it is when
one is away to see people are thinking of you.
Granny has sent me such lovely gloves with Xmas
wishes & poor Uncle Bernard who has so much to
think of sent me such a nice present & card.
I am longing for your next letter it is some time
since I heard but am sure to get one in a
day as two only a few things &letters came
up here today, they always arrive in dribs
& drabs. This is the quickest mail we have had
from England. Grannys parcel was only posted on the 2
8th and I received it to day. A very funny thing happened yesterday, I was in
a great hurry on duty & just ran out of the tent
and saw a girl on horse- back talking to another R.A.S.
I looked at her well & said to myself that is very
like Miss Judway,( the pretty girl out on a trip to the W.J.
who lost her brother in the war) but had not time to
stop to find out then but afterwards asked
the R.A,S & she said it was & that she is out on
a visit with the Govenor so she is going to ask her
to come & see me some day I am sure she
will ask me out to Tea some day. I should like
to meet her again very much— perhaps she will
not be so keen,— she looks as pretty as ever.
I sent you a very small present by post enclosed
in Violets parcel, with all my heartiest wishes. I
have bought you some very handsome lace but
I was nervous about sending it in case it gets
lost but if I hear these small ones arrive
safely I shall send it on. I thought the lace
& insertion would come in useful for under clothing
it is nothing wonderful but strong & good.
We have a new M.O a Mr Martin who is
a tutor for feeds & treatments he keeps us very
busy with the comparatively few patients we
have now but I do not know what we shall
do when we get in the new convoy if they
are bad cases. 3 It is just pouring now I hope it will be stopped by
the time I go on duty as one gets drenched, going
from one ward to another. The Matron has been very kind to me & asked me to
go again to the Opera last Monday night I enjoyed
it very much, it was called 'Manon' the scene
was laid in France in the 17th century. The news from Servia seems very bad and the poor
British seem to be leaving a hard time of it.
I hope you have heard lately from Charlie—
poor boy. What a surprise it must have
been for them at Clyde Rd when Uncle Charlie
arrived, do you know I miss him very much
he has always been so kind to me & and I used
to see so much of him. I sincerely hope he is
really stronger, It is very sad to hear Uncle
Frank is so poorly all he suffers. Well I hope you are having a nice dinner party
on Christmas day & having all the relations & I
hope someone special for Ethel and Violet don't forget
to give the Aunt a chance with Mr. G. Now I shall close this with very good wishes & blessing.
I am longing for your next letter they are always
so sweet and thoughtful. With heaps of love to you dearest of all mothers
Your ever loving and grateful daughter Marie xxxxxxxxxxx 4 I enclose quite a good photo of
our flock. Best love Marie