Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 22 March 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Dorothy 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. Dorothy tells of time spent with her sister Celia in London and a visit to St. John's Gate. She has been seeking employment and she made enquiries about a VAD clerkship. She has written a second time to Mrs. Arnold-Foster looking for a letter of introduction for the Admiralty. She encloses letters written by her sister Emma who is a VAD in Alexandria, Egypt.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Duffin Papers, D2109/10/1/C/31/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/2696 English Dorothy Duffin 1916-03-22 Ardeevin, Epsom, England Maria Duffin Dunowen, Belfast, Ireland Female World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 Wednesday 22.3.16 Ardeevin. Epsom Dearest Mamma Celia stayed Monday night here & we had a day together yesterday. She expects to get another day off next week as work is slack they are being given a litter extra. She looked very well & cheerful. We made an expedition to St John's Gate & interviewed Lady Oliver who was covered with orders etc. She was very pleasant & told Celia she thought there was little chance of her getting abroad but she will consult her Matron but said she knew what Celia's Matron was! I asked about V A D clerkships they have to sign on for a year get £1 a week & pay for their keep & lodgings & I presume washing. I don't think it is much good. St John's Gate was a nice place to see. So old & interesting. We lost ourselves once or twice but managed to meet Uncle Edmund for lunch at the Haymarket Stores. then we went on to St James theatre ( treated by Aunt F) & saw George Alexander in ' The Banker'. It was most melodramatic but quite amusing. I shall try to meet Celia again next week. To-morrow Aunt F proposes going to town with me & seeing various people ( addressed given me by Miss Sherlock) I wish she would not trouble to come with me but she is kindness itself. I think she & Uncle Edmund like having me . The baby Gill Eggar has taken a great fancy to me — a nice wee plain thing Emmie has cabled that she has settled to remain in India for the present. I do wonder when we shall hear about our Emma. To-night we dine with the club women for whom I have no liking. Aunt F thinks the best time for your visit would be the beginning of May. In April the Henley children & Harry's may be here & Uncle Edmund expects to get his holiday the second half of May when he & Aunt F will go away all plans are however a little vague but Aunt F is most anxious you should come so I do hope you'll make the effort. I have written to Mrs Arnold Foster again asking for a possible introduction at the Admiralty what my next step should be. I expect it is the best sort of job going but requires push. What a tragedy about Colonel Hill — Turner What is the mystery? I remember the night he dined with us he asked me to sing 'La Vie est Vaine'! I trust Mrs Swiney will be well & if you hear of Mrs Power let me know. I want to send her a cheque when she is out of hospital I am glad poor Marjorie is with Charlie though I expect she will have long hours alone while he is at work. You do not say where they are? I had a very kind letter from Mrs Donnet asking me there & I think I shall go when I leave this. Olive urges me to She says the Colonel is better but unfit for work. The weather is wet here but we shall be going out for a parole soon! Harry & Jamie Garrett have both been seedy but I think I am to be taken over to Cormac shortly. Aunt Fanny could have you here now but I fancy May will be better. I enclose letters from Emma returned by Olive. Perhaps you would like to put the one to me in your book, it is interesting. Best Love Dorothy Ardeevin, Epsom, England Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 25 March 1916Letter from Dorothy (Dussie) Duffin to Auntie B, 27 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 30 March 1916Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria DuffinLetter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 22 March 1916 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 Dorothy Duffin Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 25 March 1916Letter from Dorothy (Dussie) Duffin to Auntie B, 27 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 30 March 1916Letter from Dorothy to Maria Duffin, 22 March 1916Letter from Dorothy Duffin to her mother, Maria Duffin, 31 July 1916Letter from Terence Duffin to his sister, Dorothy Duffin, 12 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 Dorothy Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 29 November 1915Letter from Dorothy Duffin to Maria Duffin, 28 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