1 13-8-16 My very dearest Mother, I was just delighted to
receive your letter to-night, I
am very sorry to hear about
Tommy but strange to say this
last few day I have had
a feeling, a sort of presentiment
hanging over me that Tommy was
not well so have been anxiously
awaiting some news of him through
you. I hope you will very soon here
he is well on the road to recovery
& if he is not, too bad I think
it is a great relief to know
he is out of the fighting that
has started out there. It is
nice him having Ebbie
with him — I think Tommy is 2 wonderful the way he has stood
the climate I am so glad to hear Violet has
gone for a change. What have
you decided about poor Jack
it seems a difficult problem.
I suppose you would like to
have some sort of an explanna-
tion of my neglect about writing
lately but it is easily explained.
You remember I wrote to you on
the 15 th telling you about the
treat, well on Tuesday 16 th I was
on duty all the morning as usual
in Tents S.7. my off duty time being
from 1 to 5 which of course was spent
preparing & serving the Teas, at
4.30 that afternoon Matron came
& told me she wished me to
open two new Tents for 3.6 3 Stretcher Gas. Case & the convoy was
expected at 5 O' ck p.m. I went
up & found the 1 st lot already
there & they kept arriving till I
had about 20 cases— al went
fairly well that night. Came
on duty next morning to find
we had received a convoy
during the night 'Shell Shocks'
etc. but when the Medical
Officer arrived he had them
all transferred as he wishes
to keep ours only for Stretcher lb/> Gas Cases. no sooner where
these beds made up again than
we started taking in again
& being the 2 nd day of the Tea my orderly was off for
half day & had to do
absolutely every thing for 4 them my self except carry the Tea
from the Cook-house. I must say
it was a bit much but nothing
matters as far as I am concerned
so long as I am able to
get through & do every thing
necessary. The next day I & the
orderly were on the whole day
again by this time we had
over 30 patients — The next
day I got Janet as help
& I was glad as we filled
up & had another very heavy day.
Really I could not sit down & write
I felt only just able to crawl to
bed. The next day Saturday things went
better, we had all beds full but
two so could not take a convoy
so were able to get things a 5 bit straight & clean. The next day
Sunday I got off for the evening
went to Benediction & came straight
to bed & had a long rest &
really recover as I was a little
done up after the rush. To day
I am in my element as two
new stripped Sisters arrived &
one has been sent to me
I am so relieved & glad as
I just hated the responsibility
& with those Gas Cases one never
knows when they are going to
take a bad turn, as one did
this mornings— I got a half
day to-day to help in a
Fete for the wounded French
just to help to serve the
Tea— it was really quite 6 fun & I ran in the egg & spoon
race & won 1 st prize being a very
useful pencil which I am writing
with at present. Two quite nice
young Officers who had tea at
our table one in the R.S.R
we got talking & they ended
up by walking back>with us .
They are down here quite near
Taking a course of suits etc, it is
really to give them a rest & change
One Officer from each Reg is
sent down there & they have
about 4 weeks of it & then go
back. There has been another terrible
bathing accident here to day
Really it is most depressing —
Evendently two French girls were bathing
& got rather out of their depth & called
for help, two of these Chateau 7 Officers who happened to be bathing
went up to help them but with
the very strong current got taken
out of their depth but were all
saved except one of the Officers
who could not be found for
two hours, when the tide started
coming in his body came up
on a sand hill with a wave &
the men who were in looking for
him brought him it. The Medical
Officers think there is very little
chance but ofcourse A Respiration
will be tried on him for about
4 hours & every thing is being
done for him, I do hope
he will firf live, it is too
sad for word & really it is 8 very hard to settle down for the
night, he was on brought in at
9 O' ck & of course we have not been
able to hear any thing of him lately
We must only pray all will be well
The other 3 patients are getting
on well. Bathing will be stopped
altogether again for the Nursing
staff & I am glad it is much
too dangerous I am so glad to hear about
Willie M. I only hope she
is a very nice Girl —
Did I tell you Paul is being
moved, so there will only be
the Sisters & self for Tents— but
I am so relieved the responsibility
has accually gone from me —
I am as fit as a fiddle again &
quite ready for the next lot of
Tents to be opened— 9 Imagine it is the 3 rd lot I have
already opened, we were all delighted
to see these new Sisters arrive. Matron
is leaving me where I am as she
say later she may have to take
the Sisters & I shall be still there
to run them for her. Poor M rsGrattan will have a lonely
time of it, I think Reggie
might stay at home with her.
however every one know there own business — I am very
sorry to hear about Granny
& hope by now she is alright
it will be very hard on her
being knocked up. I am
also sorry to hear about 10 Uncle Frank, all he suffers, please
give every one my fondest love
& tell them all my news, you
see I really have very little
time for writing even now it
is very late. So must say good night
hoping you will be able to
make head or tale of this
& that it does not bore you. My every fondest love &
a big kiss to every one of the
family— Your ever loving Marie