1915 Letter 17
France
May 9th, [1915]. 3 am.
My own dear Mother,
Today a letter came from you dated March 10th and ever so many
of the girls received Feb. and March letters. It was a most interesting one
too, by the way, and filled up several gaps in the continuity of your descriptions
of things in general.
We also heard today of the loss of the Lusitania and are bewailing the fact
that probably a lot of mail was lost - now doesn't that sound selfish. At dinner
there was a general discussion as to whether this might or might not be the
end of the world and there were some very entertaining opinions expressed. Some
were of the opinion that it didn't much matter.
I am sending you some snaps I took to cheer you up a little for I can guess
how you are worrying. Of course Eric is in my mind always but I have become
reconciled to not seeing him. I always think of the men as Eric and try to do
for them what I hope others will do for him if ever he needs it.
The girls here are a mighty fine lot. You should have seen them when the big
rush was on - the way the worked and the number of extras they made time for.
You have to work with people to really know their value. Anyone coming
around casually perhaps sees nothing but confusion - but we know.
We are doing practically the work of a Clearing Hospital - admit and evacuate
as soon as possible. That makes it hard from our point of view for we deal entirely
with fresh cases and we no sooner teach them our ways than they are gone. On
the other hand it is very interesting for we hear the latest news from
the front. Last night - we had a convoy at 10 and another about 12. After the
men got cleaned up we gave them supper and when they were satisfied they sat
around the table and smoked and talked. As Kipling says "the backbone
of the army is the non-commissioned man" and "Tommy ain't a blooming
fool". Of course I'd be shot at sunrise if I told you the things they tell
us. Again go to your Kipling - when they sat on "the little h'officer boy"
and many thing were done that never come out in field orders.
And the Canadians!!! Mother we should be proud to think we have one of our boys with them. One English officer said in maneuvres requiring the men to advance and then retreat to draw the enemy on give him British soldiers - but in charge or a last hope give him the Canadians. They wouldn't retreat. In one lot all their officers were killed or wounded and an English officer went to assume command. They told him where to get
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P.S. Later
I wonder if you could send me my tennis racket and the white tennis shoes
that are in my room. Rackets are very expensive over here owing to the duty
and mine is quite a good one. Also that pair of tan shoes if you haven't given
them away - and get rubber heels put on them - for the ones here are no good.
I suppose that sounds silly but all the girls are sending for things, and have
no trouble about duty etc.
If you haven't sent the other things I wrote about don't bother about them.
I certainly am glad I came Mother, for while I may never see Eric till this
is all over at least I am within reach. I suppose I shouldn't complain but I
think it is too bad we who have brothers can't get up to see them when they
are back in billets as at present. The O.C. from Le Touquet takes the girls
there up to the front with him often. It is hard to be within 40 or 50 miles
of the boy and not be able to see him.
One of the girls here a Miss Smith from Montreal lost her brother April 29,
but did not know definitely for over two weeks. She is terribly cut up of course
and we all feel it too.
What a terrible time this is to be alive in. God alone knows how it will end. However the news is good these days