Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Marie Martin

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Letter from Marie Martin (1892-1975) to her mother Mary Lewis Martin (1866-1955). As usual, Marie enquires after family members and describes her work in the tents in France. She describes another bathing incident which has led to a ban on swimming for nursing staff.Marie Helena Martin later known as 'Mother Mary', was a volunteer nurse during the First World War. She served in field hospitals in Malta, Leeds, and France working for the British army and later went on to become the founder of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM).

 Medical Missionaries of Mary France Letters, B/F/1/56 https://letters1916.ie/item/5911 English Marie Martin 1916-08-13 Hardelot, France Mary Martin Monkstown, Dublin, Ireland Female World War I (1914-1918)

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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— 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 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 Marie Martin Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 29 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 18 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 21 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 23 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 2 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 7 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 26 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 20 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 17 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 18 Sept 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 19 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 21 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 4 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 13 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Geo. R. Boase to Marie Martin, 10 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 23 [January] 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 15 December 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 8 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 6 February 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 9 April 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 18 November 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, [November'] 1915Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916 Monkstown, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 4 April 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916 Hardelot, France Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 15 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 20 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 3 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 8 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 12 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother, Mary Martin, 13 August 1916