Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 9 January 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Maria Duffin

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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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. This letters, from Maria to her daughter Celia, is filled with news of family and friends. She mentions that Terry has arrived. They have visited Wolfhill. She also writes that Aunt Elizabeth is dying. She writes they met Mrs Lee Dawne after her return from Siberia. She notes that Mrs Dawne is very thin as she had to march 20 miles a day, suffered cold and hunger, as well as the hardships of a retreating army, including witnessing dead men along the route who had perished from hunger and cold

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Duffin Papers, D2109/10/1/A/16 https://letters1916.ie/item/2646 English Maria Duffin 1916-01-09 Dunowen, Belfast, Ireland Celia Duffin Female Personal Relations World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 D2109/10/1/A Jan. 9: 1916 DUNOWEN,BELFAST. Dearest Celia. Terry arrived thismorning, looking very well.He wired & telephoned to youto meet him for lunch. buthad no reply. I suppose youhad gone to Boad. He will be in London onnext Friday again: perhapsyou could arrange to meetsomeway. It is a joy tohave him for a few days. We were at Wolfhill yester—day: we went for a walk,but the usual rain cameon. They are feeling verydreary. Naturally and I am sorry for both. Old Aunt Elizabeth is dying,I had post a card fromMrs Morris and she gave noparticulars, but said shewas unconscious and sleptmost of the time. Under thecircumstances, I saw no goodin going. but told her toinform Aunt E's . ifshe was in correspondencewith them. I have heard nomore and suppose she maylinger for a day or two, poorold lady! We were at a musical at homeat Mrs on Thursday:the usual people. MrsP. Cott. Higgins had a solemncolloquy with me about Dorothy. He was afraid wemight think they had spreadthe news of her engagement.Mr Horburgh had spoken toMrs Cadell, so it was all outand I had to make the bestof it and say there neverhad been a real engagement. but it is very awkward.J. has a very stiff neck.got. I suppose. by comingout of very hot rooms atMrs B's and going on withme to the adults tea partyat the However, itis better today. No letteryet from Emma. It is afortnight since we hadone. but Mrs Finlay had heard and the Floyd Campbellshad an acknowledgment ofsome sweets, so I suppose sheis all right. We met Mrs Lee Dawne afterher Serbian adventures. Sheis very thin and had tomarch 20 miles a day andsuffered cold & hunger. andall the hardships of a retreatingarmy. but is very cheeryabout it all. Dead men &horses all along the route.who perished from hunger& cold. I am glad Dorothywas not with her. MrsCalwell and others areAurthian employed. D2109/10/1/A 2 DUNOWEN, BELFAST. as nurses. I have written to engagea young cook who turnedup and hope to get hersettled in soon, but she isreported noisy. and has notbeen in good places. Theyare very scarce, and I wanta cheap one. there times.I suppose you are justplodding along, I fear havinga dull monotonous time,Dorothy is swithering as to whatto do. Colonel Damet hasjust informed her that noV.A.Ds get paid anything until after three years fulltraining! Such isthe knowledge he possesses!and he says he has V.A.Dsin Hospitals under him,which. I presume. are military! Ruth went back last Tuesday.and comes over today for tea.after lunching at Hopefield.She thought Effe verynormal. When she saw her.but was convinced she neededa change. She was. evidently.badly managed in the firstnursing Have and sufferedin consequence. I hope you got Emma's presentall right. Goodbye now darling. muchlove. Is there no chance ofyour getting any leave?It seems hard after sevenlong months. Your loving Mammy. Dunowen, Belfast, Ireland Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 22 December 1915Letter from Terence Duffin to Maria Duffin, March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 15 March 1916Letter from Helen Duffin to Celia Duffin, 16 March 1916Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 25 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 30 March 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 13 February 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 9 January 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 27 February 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 19 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Emma Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 5 March 1916Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 22 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 31 July 1916Letter from Emma Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 27 March 1916Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Emma Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 22 November 1915Letter from Terence Duffin to his father Adam Duffin, 10 November 1915Letter from Terence Duffin to his mother Maria Duffin, 26 November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Adam Duffin to his daughter Dorothy Duffin, 7 November 1915Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 8 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915 Maria Duffin Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 24 January 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, February 1916Letter from Emma Duffin to Maria Duffin, 5 February 1916Letter from Terence Duffin to Maria Duffin, March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 15 March 1916Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 25 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 30 March 1916Letter from Terrence Duffin to his mother, Maria Duffin, 31 December 1915Letter from Emma Duffin to Maria Duffin, 29 December 2015Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 December 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Adam Duffin, 9 December 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, January 1916Letter from Olive Duffin to Maria Duffin, circa 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 8 January 1916Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 13 February 1916Letter from Terence Duffin to Maria Duffin, 29 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 Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Emma Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 5 March 1916Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 22 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 10 February 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 31 July 1916Letter from Emma Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 27 March 1916Letter from Olive Duffin to Maria Duffin, 28 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, April 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother, 15 November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother, November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 3 November 1915.From Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 9 April 1915Letter from Emma Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 22 November 1915Letter from Terence Duffin to his mother Maria Duffin, 26 November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, 8 November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to her mother Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 26 November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to Maria Duffin, November 1915Letter from Dorothy Duffin to Maria Duffin, 28 November 1915Letter from Olive Duffin to Maria Duffin, 1 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