1 4th March
(April)
(see envelope) My very dearest Mother, A thousand thanks for your
very long letter, I was delighted to get it
as I am getting very few letters now
except you & I must really thank
you ever so much for writing so
often & such long letters as I know how
busy & how many letters you have to
write. I have been changed from A block
to H so have been kept fairly busy
as there are a good few men fairly
bad with nephritis & need polticing
etc during night so with this & getting
the Sisters meals & washing up after them
there is not much time & I generally
go to bed about 10 o'clock & get up &
go for walk which is most necessary
on night duty unfortunately these last
few days I have not been off & as
my feet have been very bad & I am
great afraid & sorry to have to say I
am going very flat footed. Matron
who is a dear saw me about them
yesterday & says I had better get supports
which I hope to do when I come
of night duty & have time to go 2 into Valletta. I am at present doing
Swedish exercising with my toes. My
Sister, Trowess, very kindly messaged
them yesterday which made them much
better, she says it is partly Rheumatic
& that the foot had gone fairly
flat. Sister Trower I am sorry
to say is off all night duty & we
have a horrible common one instead.
I am glad to say Matron is
taking me off after the month
as she does not approve of VADs
being on longer. Matron is
charming & her one delight is
to see every one happy. She is going
to put me in Sister Trowess' ward
when I go on day duty so I expect
to have a nice month before we
go home. I do not know what is
going to happen to us the 1st lot of
V.A.Ds went of Friday, it did make
us all feel home sick. Ah but two
of these who have signed on again
were sent home expect so it looks like
as if they they are keeping very few
us in Malta. 3 Do you think there is anyone who
would like me to do any commissions
for the in the way of lace because
if so do not leave it too late in letting
me know. Also if you want to give
me any instruction about journey going
home let me know early & also the
answer in my last letter about
signing on whilst in London for France
when wanted! I have not heard
a word from Gerald since he
has been home perhaps his letter
was in the torpetoed one. I hope he
is safe & well. Aunt Lily was up
here yesterday so I suppose you have
heard her whole Hospital has been
close, it is hard luck on her
There are 1 of the Florence Sisters
arriving here today. I wonder if she
will be among the crowd. It
is just hopeless here at present
as all the sisters from the hospital
that are closing were dumped here
because everything but I am very tired
the spelling is weird I know so do
not show it round & all the 1st part
is just as such only know by you 4 I hope by this you have had good
news of Charlie also Tommy & I
wonder if he will come across
Irene G. With every loving thought, good
wish & blessing.
Hoping you are all very
well. You ever loving daughter Marie It is getting very hot but I
am feeling much better
Love M 5 On Active Service Mrs Martin,
Greenbank
Monkstown,
Co Dublin
Ireland