Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915
my day off which I had arranged to spend with Dorothy and
was told I was to go on night. So at two o'clock I went off
to bed, and was on duty again at 7.30 in an enteric
ward which I hate. Not only this but I have had to change
my billetts and go into a house where the nurses are on
night. I have been spoilt so far with a single room and
now have to share one instead; fortunately my stable com-
panion seems a nice girl, her brother, Capt: Josse is the
registrar at the hospital, but I am disgusted at the
whole thing, and liked my old ward so much. I suppose
shall spend Xmas day in bed this year for a change. I went up to town for an hour this morning to meet
Dorothy who was spending the night at the Grosvenor. She
was looking very well, but think very doubtful about
the engagement. I don't know what she intends doing,
apparently nothing at present. She went down to
Eastbourne to-day to see O. and talks of going on to
Cirencester. Mrs Lecky was taking me to the
theatre next week, but of course I can't go now. There is an intake to-night and motors are driving up to
the door all the time. As my ward is full, I shan't be 2 disturbed. All these men seem to be Australians or New
Zealanders from the Dardanelles, and most of them are convales-
cent, only one on on 3 hourly feeds, but they all have to have
temperatures, respirations and pulses taken in the mornings, and
then I go across to the next-door ward and help there too, as
some of the cases there are bad. One of the patients
seems to be quite mad and kept everybody awake all
night singing songs, and this morning refused to be
washed, so a man orderely had to be sent for. We have been told to take all the red covers off the lamps
and wrap them in brown paper instead, so I suppose
zeppelins are expected to-night. I wonder how you are getting on in your hotel. Will
you be full up next term. It must be a pretty big
job. I think a good many of the V.A.D's here are going to
sign on again. I would like to go home in between,
but that seems impossible, and the matron won't take any-
body back here again who does. I suppose everybody
would rush off if she did. One nice is surprise is,
that we are now to get at least £2 a week month allowance
money as well as our £20. a year. What is happening
about Xmas presents this year. Are we giving to each other or
not this year. Please let me know. I have no news, and only hope I won't be on
night work long. Best love from Celia.
Letter from Celia Duffin (1888-1979) to her sister Ruth (1877-1968) concerning Celia's daily life in the London hospital. Celia discusses her difficulties with her shifts and new accommodation, meeting with her sister Dorothy and taking care of Australian and New Zealand soldiers arriving in from the Dardanelles. Additionally, she mentions that the majority of VADs working with her will most likely sign on again despite difficulties with the matron. This letter is part of a rich correspondence between various members of the Duffin family, a large prosperous family living in Strandtown, Belfast. Several family members served in the war, including Major Terence Duffin, who served as a staff officer with 107 Brigade, and later with Royal Irish Rifles; Major Charles G Duffin MC, Royal Field Artillery; and their sisters Emma, Celia and Dorothy who served as Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADS) in Egypt and France, and with the YMCA.
- Celia Duffin
- Ruth Duffin
- 1915-12-06
- Personal Relations
How to cite
Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__2620.html)
- Mentioned in
- Mentioned in
-
- Letter from Emma Duffin to her sister Celia Duffin, 29 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 24 January 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, February 1916
- Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 22 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 15 March 1916
- Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 16 March 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Auntie D, 3 December 1915
- Letter from Emma Duffin to Celia Duffin, 15 January 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Adam Duffin, 9 December 1915
- letter from Anna Duffin to Celia Duffin, 3 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 January 1916
- Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 13 February 1916
- Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 6 February 1916
- Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 9 January 1916
- Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 27 February 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 14 February, 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin
- Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 19 March 1916
- Letter from A. Duffin to Celia Duffin, 2 March 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 10 February 1916
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, April 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother, Thursday November,1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 3 November 1915.
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her sister Ruth, 3 November 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 18 November 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 26 November 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 1915
- Place
- 3rd London General Hospital, London, England
- Mentioned in
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 December 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to Adam Duffin, 9 December 1915
- From Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 9 April 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her sister Ruth, 3 November 1915
- Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 18 November 1915