1 19-3-16
3 A.M. My very dearest mother, A thousand thanks for
your letter dated the 5th of March,
also one the 27thsuperscript text of Feb: which arrived
the same day. I was delighted to
get them, also the shamrock
from the boys & Nana. I gave
it round to all my men &
they were delighted with it although
it was quiet dead. I
was the only Irish person
who got some in time. I sent
off in Corotsies to High Mass
on St Patrick day which they
were all delighted with. There
was a concert not very far
away from here that evening
& on Saturday another
concert & Sunday a tea or 2 Bun fight as the men call
it of course they all longed
to be in Ireland & the day
& took great delight in telling
us that if they had been at
home they would have got
drunk, they look on it as
by far the best way to enjoy
themselves. One of my orderlies
who is an Irish Rifle had
really had a good day of it
but I had not the heart to
report him on St Patrick's
Day but then I had all
the trouble & worry that he
was not seen or I should
have got it hot but I got
the other orderly to put him 3 to bed in our empty ward
& when the Ward Master &
Orderly Officer came round
he was always doing something
for a patient in a ward.
I am glad to say it went
off alright & I gave him a
good talking to next night
& said of course if it occurred
again I should have to
report him. He seemed so
sorry & ashamed of himself
& is altogether much more
satisfactory. As I say I
spend most of my time going
round seeing all the patients
are asleep & waking up
the Orderlies. I have 14 new
patients since I last wrote, 4 a few Irish but not quite
so many as last time. I really do
not know what is going to happen
about this hospital they all think
now it will be kept open. Did I tell you we have a charming
new Matron it is the greatest
pleasure to work & try & please
her. Her one thought is that we should
all be as happy as we can. She
is a Territorial./p> You need not worry about me as
she will be the 1st person to take
me off night duty if she thinks
it is not agreeing with me.
She has been sweet to me &
askes me every morning how
I feel & like it. I think it
will suit me alright natural
I feel very tired in the mornings 5 so far I have been able to get
quite a good sleep by day. I
nearly always get about 5 hours
sleep, so that is not too bad.
It is ages since I saw A. Lily
so am ringing her up & asking
her up to tea at 5 Ock. I
shall be in bed but that does not
matter. I want to hear her
latest news. I am so glad you did not miss
seeing Gerald. I have not
heard from him since. I am
looking forward to his next
letter very much telling me
how he found you all.
I suppose there is no more news
of Charlie & what about Tommy 6 has he left Alexandria yet then he
is supposed to be getting a rest. I
hope this is true. I have a
Srg. Connaught Ranger & a Pt.
How are they all at 28 Clyde
Rd it is ages since I have heard
from any of them. I hope tht
Charlie is very well & got my last
letter tell him all about Paul,
the Captain we met on our way
back from West Indies.
I think it will be nearly time
to go home in May or I shall
be walking out of all my clothes.
My uniform dresses are going to
ribbon & underclothing are
nearly rags, the washing must
be very hard on the clothes. 7 & as for shoes, tell Nana the
Greenbank parcel is not in it.
my combination are a delightful
bit of patrol work, but it all
only add to the excitement of
the whole thing - it is not worth
buy any thing we're getting things
sent out. Did you get my
coat done? I spend my nights
mending. Will try & make
myself some nice camisoles
when every thing is mended.
I was just delighted to hear
you & Ethel went for a few
days change to Kilkenny
I hope it did you good &
must have been a great treat
for Aunt Eileen — I hope she
is quite strong now. 8 The new lot of V A D have not
gone home yet. How funny about old W
Gravely turning up, he has
not come here yet. Now I must close with every
loving thought, good wish &
luck. Your most grateful &
loving daughter, Marie