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            <title type="main">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916</title>
            <title type="sub">Letters 1916-1923</title>
            <author>Marie Martin</author>
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            <p>This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in <date>2017</date>. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.</p>
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            <publisher>Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities</publisher>
            <pubPlace>Vienna, AT</pubPlace>
            <date>2026</date>
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               <p>Letter from Marie Martin (1892-1975) to her mother Mary Lewis Martin (née Moore). Marie describes some of the people that she is working with as a V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid detachment) nurse in Malta, as well as day to day events as a V.A.D. She also outlines the problem she is having with her feet as she is developing flat feet (fallen arches). 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).</p>
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              <date>1916-04-04</date>
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              <placeName key="#letters1916_place-1155">Monkstown, Dublin, Ireland</placeName>
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               <item n="topic">World War I (1914-1918)</item>
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                4th March  (April) <lb/>(see envelope)    My very dearest Mother   A thousand thanks for your <lb/>very long letter, I was delighted to get it <lb/> as I am getting very few letters now <lb/> except you &amp; I must really thank <lb/> you ever so much for writing so <lb/> often &amp; such long letters as I know how <lb/> busy &amp; how many letters you have to <lb/> write. I have been changed from A Blk <lb/> to H. so have been kept fairly busy <lb/> as there are a good few men fairly <lb/> bad with Nephritis &amp; need poulticing <lb/> etc during night so with this &amp; getting <lb/> the Sisters meals &amp; washing up after them <lb/> there is not much time. I generally <lb/> go to bed about 10 ock &amp; get up &amp; <lb/> go for walk which is most necessary <lb/> on night duty unfortunately these last <lb/> few days I have not been able to as <lb/> my feet have been very bad &amp; I am <lb/> great afraid &amp; sorry to have to say, I <lb/> am going very flat footed. Matron <lb/> who is a dear saw me about them <lb/>yesterday &amp; says I had better get supports <lb/> which I hope to do when I come <lb/> off night duty &amp; have time to go  
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              into Valletta â I am at present doing <lb/> Swedish exercising with my trio. My <lb/>Sister (Trowers) very kindly massaged <lb/> them yesterday which made them much <lb/> better, she says it is partly Rheumatic <lb/> &amp; that the foot has gone fairly <lb/>flat. Sister Trower I am sorry <lb/> to say is off night duty &amp; we <lb/> have a horrible common one instead. <lb/> I am glad to say Matron is <lb/> taking me off after the month <lb/> as she does not approve of V A D s <lb/> being on longer â Matron is <lb/> charming &amp; her one delight is <lb/> to see every one happy â She is going <lb/> to put me in Sisters Trowers ward <lb/>when I go on day duty â so I expect <lb/> to have a nice month before we <lb/> go home. I do not know what is <lb/> going to happen to us, the last lot of <lb/> V.A.Ds went on Friday, it did make <lb/> us all feel home sick. Ah but two <lb/> of those who have signed on again <lb/> were sent home <seg type="del">expect</seg> so it looks like <lb/> as if they are keeping very few <lb/> on in Malta â  
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              do you think there is anyone who <lb/> would like me to do any commissions <lb/> for them in the way of lace â because <lb/> if so do not leave it too late in letting <lb/> me know. Also if you want to give <lb/> me any instruction about journey going <lb/> home let me know early â &amp; also the <lb/> answers <seg type="del">to</seg> in my last letter about <lb/> signing on whilst in London for France <lb/> when wanted â! I have not heard <lb/> a word from Gerald since he <lb/> has been home, perhaps his letter <lb/> was in the torpedoed one â I hope he <lb/> is safe &amp; well â Aunt Lily was up <lb/> here yesterday as I suppose you have <lb/> heard. her whole Hospital has been <lb/><seg type="unclear">close</seg> â it is hard luck on her <lb/>there are 10 of the Floriano Sisters <lb/>arriving here today I wonder if she <lb/>will be among <seg type="unclear">the</seg> crowds, it <lb/> is just hopeless here at present <lb/> as all the sisters from the Hospital <lb/> that are closing were ÃÂ­dumped here <lb/>because everything but I am very tired. <lb/>The spelling is <seg type="unclear">weird</seg> I know so do <lb/> not show it round &amp; all the 1<hi rend="superscript">st</hi> part <lb/>is just as <seg type="unclear">crack</seg> only known by you  
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              I hope by this you have had good <lb/>news of Charlie â also Tommy &amp; I <lb/>wonder if he will come across <lb/>Irene G â  With every loving thought, good <lb/>wish &amp; blessing.  Hoping you are all very <lb/> well. <seg type="closer"> Your ever loving daughter,  <hi rend="underline">Marie</hi>  It is getting very hot but I <lb/>am feeling much better <hi rend="underline">Love M</hi> </seg> 
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              On Active Service <lb/><hi rend="underline">M.M.</hi>  M<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">rs</hi></hi> Martin  Greenbank  Monkstwon  Co Dublin  <hi rend="underline">Ireland</hi>    
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               <persName>Marie Martin</persName>
            <noteGrp><note target="item__0044.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 29 December 1915</note><note target="item__0102.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 18 June 1916</note><note target="item__0104.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 August 1916</note><note target="item__0105.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 21 June 1916</note><note target="item__0106.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 June 1916</note><note target="item__0107.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 23 June 1916</note><note target="item__0108.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 2 July 1916</note><note target="item__0110.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 7 September 1916</note><note target="item__0112.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 26 June 1916</note><note target="item__0114.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 20 August 1916</note><note target="item__0115.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 August 1916</note><note target="item__0116.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 September 1916</note><note target="item__0117.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 18 Sept 1916</note><note target="item__0118.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 19 September 1916</note><note target="item__0119.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 21 September 1916</note><note target="item__0122.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 September 1916</note><note target="item__0123.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 4 October 1916</note><note target="item__0324.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 13 July 1916</note><note target="item__0433.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916</note><note target="item__0434.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916</note><note target="item__0435.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916</note><note target="item__0436.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Geo. R. Boase to Marie Martin, 10 July 1916</note><note target="item__0437.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916</note><note target="item__0438.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916</note><note target="item__0439.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916</note><note target="item__0441.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916</note><note target="item__1095.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 December 1915</note><note target="item__1097.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 November 1915</note><note target="item__1100.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 23 [January] 1916</note><note target="item__1101.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 15 December 1915</note><note target="item__1380.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916</note><note target="item__1416.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 November 1915</note><note target="item__1736.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 8 July 1916</note><note target="item__3891.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 6 February 1916</note><note target="item__5651.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 9 April 1916</note><note target="item__5725.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 18 November 1915</note><note target="item__5726.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, [November'] 1915</note><note target="item__5911.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916</note></noteGrp></person>
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            <noteGrp><note target="item__1095.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 December 1915</note><note target="item__1097.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 November 1915</note><note target="item__1100.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 23 [January] 1916</note><note target="item__1101.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 15 December 1915</note><note target="item__1380.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916</note><note target="item__1416.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 November 1915</note><note target="item__3891.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 6 February 1916</note><note target="item__5651.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 9 April 1916</note><note target="item__5725.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 18 November 1915</note><note target="item__5726.xml" type="mentions">Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, [November'] 1915</note></noteGrp></place>
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