Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 10 February 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Celia Duffin

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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Letter from Celia Duffin (1888-1979) to her mother Maria (1854-1954) informing her of her latest news from London. Celia writes about time spent with her sister, Dorothy, her trip to the theatre and a number of soldiers from her ward who visited Buckingham palace to be entertained by the King and Queen. 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, D2109/10/1/C/31/2 https://letters1916.ie/item/2697 English Celia Duffin 1916-02-10 3rd London General, London, England Maria Duffin Female 1979 World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 D2109/10/1/C 3rd London General Hospital March 24th 1916 Dearest Mamma Thank you so much for posting me the currant loaf, Gosse and I have been thoroughly enjoying it for tea and supper, but please don't send me any more things, as I am very rich at present, as I am drawing £6-13-4d a month. Long may it last! I have just been meeting Dorothy this afternoon. I joined her at S. Kensington Station, and we called on Mrs Macleod, but found she had just gone out which was a pity. We then journeyed on to the High St, and I helped Dorothy to choose a new hat at Barker's, rather a pretty pink sports' one, and managed to have time for a hurried tea before getting back. I was lucky this week, as matron gave us a full day instead of a half day, and I was able to go to Epsom while Dorothy was there. I only spent the night really, as I went up to town with Dorothy next morning to see Lady Oliver at St. John's Gate. We waited in the big hall and studied all the quaint portraits of the old grand masters, nearly all wearing a large St. John cross on their breasts. The place seemed full of business. Lady Oliver was very nice, quite young, with a great row of medal ribbons across her apron. It appears the clerical staff must sign on for a year, and only get £1 a week and have to keep themselves, so it doesn't seem much use D.D. going in for that. I asked her about going abroad, and she said they had sent no new ones since last December, and none were to go except from home hospitals on the recommendation of of the matron, so that if I left here I wouldn't have a chance at all, unless Papa can get me sent through Lord Ranfurly. Lady Oliver said the V.A.D's who were coming back from Alexandria would most likely be landed in France as they would be more used to foreign conditions. I wonder what is hap-pening to Emma, I am anxious to hear. France would be rather nice for a change and she would miss the desperate heat of Egypt in summer. D2109/10/1/C afterwards, Dorothy and I met Uncle Edmund at the Haymarket Stores and had lunch there and Aunt Fanny, with her usual goodness gave us theatre tickets, and we went to see "The Backer" at St James' which was about the only Tuesday matinee and was not good. Genevieve Ward was an old Duchess, and George Alexander was the hero, but as he was trying to be funny he was not much of a success. I was shocked to see the tragic death of Colonel Hill-Trever. Was there anhy reason for it. It does seem a pity. Some of the tommies in my wardwent to Buckingham Palace andwere entertained by the King andqueen, they were awfully pleased,especially one whom King Georgehad chatted to, and admired hiscapelline bandage. I have been busy to- day andam writing this in bed, so goodnightto you. Ever your lovingCelia 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 3rd London General, London, England Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 10 February 1916