Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Celia Duffin

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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.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Duffin Papers D2109/9/4/C/15 https://letters1916.ie/item/2620 English Celia Duffin 1915-12-06 3rd London General Hospital, London, England Ruth Duffin Female 1979 Medicine Personal Relations

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 3rd London General Dec. 6th 1915 Dear Ruth, Here I am, unfortunately on night duty again. I went to get 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 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. Ruth Duffin Letter from Terrence Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 10 December 1915.Letter from Olive Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 31 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her sister Ruth, 3 November 1915Letter from Dorothy Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 29 November 1915 Celia Duffin Letter from Emma Duffin to her sister Celia Duffin, 29 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 24 January 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, February 1916Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 22 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 15 March 1916Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 16 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Auntie D, 3 December 1915Letter from Emma Duffin to Celia Duffin, 15 January 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Adam Duffin, 9 December 1915letter from Anna Duffin to Celia Duffin, 3 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 January 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 13 February 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 6 February 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 9 January 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 27 February 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 14 February, 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 19 March 1916Letter from A. Duffin to Celia Duffin, 2 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 10 February 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, April 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother, Thursday November,1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 3 November 1915.Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her sister Ruth, 3 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 18 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 26 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 1915 3rd London General Hospital, London, England Letter from Celia Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 6 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Adam Duffin, 9 December 1915From Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 9 April 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her sister Ruth, 3 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her aunt, 18 November 1915