Letter from Celia Duffin to Maria Duffin, 3 November 1915. Letters 1916-1923 Celia Duffin

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Letter from Celia Duffin (1888-1979) to her mother Maria (1854-1954) informing her about her daily activities in London. At the beginning of her letter Celia mentions her desire to join her sister Emma (1883-1979), who was posted to Alexandria, and an offer she received to work on a hospital ship. 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/B/4 https://letters1916.ie/item/3146 English Celia Duffin 1915-11-03 Maria Duffin Female 1979 Medicine World War I (1914-1918)

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 Nov. 3rd 1915 Dearest Mamma I enclose a lot of letters that were forwarded to me thank you so much for sending them, it was nice seeing them all. Olive’s poem and Molly Carson’s letter was were picked up by one of the orderlies just outside the hospital, and she returned them to me. It must have dropped out of my pocket just as I left. I am glad it turned up. I liked the poem. Emma seems to be having a queer life at Alexandria. I want to try to join her when my 6 months here are finished and will write to the St. John's Headquarters about it, if you approve. The War Office wrote and asked some of us who had been here longest to volunteer for a hospital ship. I didn’t as I am such a bad sailor and I think they got enough quite easily. I got my travelling voucher all right when I left home, but I spent 10/ on inci- dental expenses, cabs etc, which the War Office has just paid to me now. After this we get extra pay, £1 -13/4d for sure every month, and about £2 more I expect over from our govern- ment allowance; this however depends on how much is spent on food, lighting, housing etc. So far it has all been used up, but now that the furnishing etc is paid for, we are to get all the extra money, so I think we are well treated. We have nothing to pay out of this except our washing, so I hope soon to be able to repay you the money you advanced for my uni- form. I went and saw Miss John one evening, so I have got that off my chest. She seemed very happy and delighted in her work. She says the War Office of- fered her a good post, but she wouldn’t leave her present job! She was all over me and kissed me when I went away. Such a funny little room she has, and attended by a dear little French nun in a wide starched cap who doesn’t know a word of English. Eva Andrews wants to join her there, but at present there is no room. I had supper with all the other boarders, an odd collection of females, some old ladies, two young Belgian girls, and one or two of the hard-working strenuous English type. The Mother Superior apolo- gised for "pas de viande" as it was a fast day, so we supped on eggs and vegetables and suet pudding. Miss Monaghan and I went out to Ealing on a pouring wet day, and I had tea and dinner with her family. The mother seemed a rather uninterest- ing person and the other sister was fair and pretty with features exactly like Olive's; she reminded me of her all the time. They live in a flat overlooking the golf links and have dreadful pictures on their walls. They were very kind and begged me to go back; they all seemed to be in love with Terry, especially the mother. Miss Monaghan gets £1-10/ a week as cook at the orderlies' hostel, but of course, she was well-trained in London. I am sure she is a capable person, very bright, and a great talker. I was rather tired last half day, so I went to see Mrs. MacLeod again and curled up in a big chair by her fire while she read and recited to me. Then we went out together and looked at frocks at her dress- makers. Such a pretty little mannikin showed them off - and then we went and chose her a new black hat trimmed with fur. I stayed on for dinner as "Bill" was away shooting, and was introduced to Hindy. Mrs. MacLeod's Ladies Made The house is so pretty, it makes one quite sad to see it all, everything so beautifully planned by a young bride. Her husband has gone to the front and she has gone home. I hope he will come safely back to his pretty house. I wonder if Helen would lend me Rupert Brooke's poems, Mrs. MacLeod read me some, and I would like to see the others. I'll send them safe back to her. Many thanks for all the squares, I wrote a note to Miss Bruce, but please thank her too the next time you see her. Mrs. MacLeod was going to have tea with Mrs. Harper, and was surprised when I told her I had just been there. The rug hasn't turned up yet, but I expect it will come all right. It was nice getting all that money for Emma's men, the ones here have a good many people to visit them, so they don't need things so much. It is sad about Dr. O'Brien, I suppose she will be left dreadfully badly off. Colonel Bruce-Porter has gone to a hospital in France and we have a new head. I think the late Colonel is coming back to take some of the staff out with him, and some of the V.A.D's hope to go too. I think I am getting my November day next week, and if so will go to the Tillings; it is a nice easy place to get at from here. If you are sending me a cake, I should like one of our nice chocolate ones best. I make myself funny suppers of force and buns or bread and milk and biscuits. We have a big stodgy midday dinner, large helps of meat and vegetables and pudding. It is very dark getting up these mor- nings. Please thank Molly for her letter, I shall write to her soon. Ever your loving Celia 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