Letter from Celia Duffin to Auntie D, 3 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Celia Duffin

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Letter from Celia Duffin (1888-1979) to her Auntie D written on December 3rd 1915. Celia writes to her aunt describing her work at the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Celia has finished her 6 months in VAD and plans to sign up again. She writes of how excited she was about a new nurse in her ward who comes from America. They have three male patients in the ward that suffer from nerve shock. Celia Duffin, born in 1888, was one of Adam and Maria Duffin's nine children. She attended the Cheltenham Ladies College. She served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) during the First World War. Celia Duffin along with her sister Ruth published a book of poems titled "Escape Poem" (illustrated by their sister Emma Duffin) and published by Maunsell & Co. Ltd in 1929. 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/14 https://letters1916.ie/item/2626 English Celia Duffin 1915-12-03 London, England Auntie D Female Personal Relations World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 D2109/9/4/C Dec. 3rd/15 Dear Auntie D. I enclose the only copy of the magazineI can get as the first number is out ofprint and the 3rd not published yet, Iwill post you a copy when it comes out. Please thank Aunties B & E. for the nicesquares, I have collected quite a largenumber now and they are so useful. Ishould like to write a line to theold lady who knitted the ones youenclosed but can't quite make outwhether her name is How or Horn. I have just finished my 6 months herenow, so will soon have to sign on again.Some of the V.A.D's are leaving but Ithink the greater number will stay. I am still in the same ward, but have a new staff nurse now who comes from America and is consequently full of new ideas. She has been doing laboratory work for some time and is very ready to teach us which is different from some of the nurses who don't bother to explain anything. We have two or three poor fellows suffering from nerve shock at present, rather difficult patients to nurse. They are very nice men and quite sensible, but one thinks that he is dumb and another that he is deaf, although there is nothing really wrong with their organs, and will be all right when they have had a little rest. Sister sent the deaf one to the concert last night and he went very meekly although he hears nothing. I am hoping to see Dorothy in her way through London, I am having a day off on Tuesday, so hope she will come then. I liked Auntie B's cuttings, it was good of her to send them, I suppose the war must change them, but they the ones who have been out always seem to be nicer than the recruits we get in the wards sometimes. It seems to make them more thoughtful and gentle instead of making them harder. Here is quite a nice little chapel attached to the hospital and we sometimes get permission to go in the mornings if we are not too busy in the wards. I want to thank you all ever so much for the Xmas money mamma has forwarded to me. I don't think we really ought to have any Christmas presents this year, it is too good of you yo give it. It is splendid about Sam, Aunt Margaretmust be pleased. I hope you aren't working too hard atthe old S.T.S.F.A. I do think you have donemore than your share of it, and thatsomebody else should take your place nowand let you have a rest. It will be funny having Xmas here in—stead of at home. Some of the nurses aregetting up theatricals and singing for thepatients and staff. Please thank Auntie E. for her nice letterand best love to all you dear aunts,I should like to pop in and pay you a visit. Ever your loving nieceCelia I enclose 7d stamps and keep4d for the next copy. London, England Letter from Lancelot Worthy Horne to Robert Chalmers 31, May 1916Letter from Edward O'Farrell to Bertram Cubitt, 10 June 1916Letter from Lancelot Worthy Horne to Command Paymaster, 8 May 1916Telegram from Basil Home Thomson, Assistant Commissioner at New Scotland Yard, to Sir Neville Chamberlain, 9 April 1916Letter from Sir Edward O'Farrell to Sir Reginald H Brade, War Office, 12 November 1915Letter from John Condon to Herbert Samuel, 17 June 1916Letter from Matthew Nathan to the Treasury, 3 March 1916Letter from Lady Henrietta MacDonnell to Lady Clonbrock, 23 September 1916Postcard from C.D. Groom to Lady Clonbrock, 1 March 1916Letter from Lady Henrietta MacDonnell to Lady Clonbrock, 28 October 1916Letter from Colonel Douglas Proby, to Matthew Nathan, 25 February 1916Letter from Herbert Samuel to Lord Wimbourne, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 15 February 1916Letter from Colonel Douglas Proby to Augustine Birrell, 26 January 1916Letter from Labour Party of Bruff, Co. 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Murphy MP, 11 November 1916Letter from George Bernard Shaw to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from Michael Governey to Major General, Army Veterinary Service, 10 January 1916Letter from Henry Lawson to Director General, Army Veterinary Service, 18 January 1916Letter from Andrew Philip Magill to Cecil Harmsworth, 1 April 1916.Letter from Cecil Harmsworth to Augustine Birrell, 31 March 1916Letter from Edward O'Farrell to the Secretary, General Post Office, London, 1 June 1916 Telegram from the Managing Editor, Central News to the Secretary, Dublin Castle, 20 May 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Auntie D, 3 December 1915Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 13 February 1916Letter from Father Edward Murnane to George Gavan Duffy, 24 July 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 19 May 1916Card from Father Bally to the editor of the Irish Citizen, 2 November 1915Letter from Art Ó Briain to The Commandant, Frongoch Internment Camp 8 September 1916Letter from Art Ó Briain to John J Neeson, 4 September 1916Letter from James O' Dwyer to Art Ó Briain, 31 August 1916Letter from J E Lyons to Miss Coates, 5 July 1916Postcard to Edward Carson, 4 May 1916Letter from Thomas Kirkpatrick to Sir William Henry Thompson, 2 February 1918Letter from Thomas Kirkpatrick to Herbert Eldon Roaf, 14 March 1919Letter from Thomas Kirkpatrick to Captain J.C. O'Farrell, 11 June 1919Letter from Thomas Kirkpatrick to Mrs. R.J. Quin, 30 September 1919Letter from Paddy Guinness to Cesca Chenevix Trench, 6 June 1916Telegram from Basil Home Thomson, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, to Sir Neville Chamberlain, 8 April 1916Letter from Henry Wilson to James Craig, 1922 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