Letter from Maria Duffin to Celia Duffin, 27 February 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. Maria Duffin writes her daughter Celia a chatty letter about the weather at home (dry and cold), about friends and family, as well as the Johnsons who have decorated their house which overlooks Hollywood hills. She also makes a reference to the fact that they are Unitarians.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Duffin Papers, D2109/10/1/B/2 https://letters1916.ie/item/2647 English Maria Duffin 1916-02-27 Dunowen, Belfast, Ireland Celia Duffin Female Personal Relations Personal Relations

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 D2109/10/1/B. Dunowen,Belfast. Feb. 27, 1916. Dearest Celia I hear you havehad snow and now it hascome to us and is sleetingat present. The dry cold ofthe last few days is worsethan snow. Sam and Ivan are over again.Aunt Margaret is not well.She was to have come fortea yesterday with Mrs Finlaybut sent a message to sayshe was in bed. I onlythought of her usual indigestionbut it appears this morningthere is something wrongand Dr Malcolm called inMr Kushi, who advises an operation towards the end ofthe week. I do not know whatthey think is wrong. Notappendicitis; perhaps some tumourI hope it will be all right.but it makes one feel anxiousI suppose Marjorie will berecalled, but have heardno details. I will let youknow if there is anythingto tell later. Your father & Dorothy walkeddown to see the Ewing's yester—day. It is a great pity of poorMinnie. Willie insists theyare ruined and never ceasesmourning and she poorthing! has no-one to relieveguard, or cheer her, in anyway. After being so ill too! They finished up at the Days'and saw his etchings, whichare very good. In the meantimewe had Mrs Finlay & Kathleenhere for tea. James is illwith rheumatism, so theyhave no car. It must bedull for them and, I think,they were glad to come. We tried to have Mr Knox& Hugh Hamilton, for dinnerbut both were engaged, sothe only guest was Barry.Captain Jackson has beensent to Cork and Evi Evansson to Newry. We saw the Johnston's houseon Monday; really very niceprettily done up and quitecountry in its look—out. They got it all very prettilydone up and ready. Gwenhas a lovely room over thesmoking room, looking out overthe Hollywood hills. We went to the Red Crossworks on Thursday, again,with much the same results.In addition to Mrs George Andrewsthere was Mrs Bell of Whitethorne,and Dr Bell's wife (Miss Hacks)who has now taken the littlehouse, the Hut, where theother Bells lived. Mrs Andrewstold me that poor Mrs Kirkpatrickthe dressmaker, has been deadfor some months; some internalcomplaint. I feel quite sorry,she was such a good, naturalcreature. D2109/10/1/B. 2 Dunowen,Belfast. I had nice letters from Clive& Emma. Both very cheery.I have sent them to Standtownand will afterwards sendthem to you, via Molly asI write to her next. I amglad the girls were goingto the Bruces, MacLeods andGarretts for holidays — I had a nice letter of thanksfrom the sister-in-charge andshe said you were veryuseful and they were gladto have you. I replied aspolitely as possible. I am glad you have madesome other acquaintances. I suppose a Unitarian wouldbe worse than aRoman Catholic to MrThorpe! It is funny coming upagainst the Christie Millers.Emma shared a sleepingcompartment with Lady Dufferinwho was very kind. The Aunts were in very goodform and pleased withtheir tub and stand.Mr Cormick brought themanured pots of pink begoniasand we looked quite gaybut Peter was frightenedby the crackers and retiredto 'barlnet' trembling. I neversaw him daunted before.I took him a walk yesterdaywhen Ruth and Helen were at the canteen and hewas very good. We are as dull as usual,with no news. It is freezingand the birds very glad ofcrumbs. Many thanks andMuch love from Your own 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