1915 Letter 19
France
May 15, [1915]
Dearest Mother,
This is going to be a letter about nothing in particular - just odds and ends
I may have told you before, but I am not at my best at 3 am. as you know.
I have been on night-duty two weeks and like it - very much - better than
I ever liked night-duty. For one thing we are usually busy and for another thing
we are in the open air so much that it keeps us from feeling sleepy, and then
we have a very congenial lot on at present and have a very good time.
You'll think by my letters we are having far too much fun for "active
service". Well after that awful week when nobody even smiled, we all decided
that we had to brighten up and forget it - as the war is going to last a long
time and worrying won't help much. We are going to play golf as there is a splendid
links and club house near Wimereux and there will be tennis too. I don't feel
equal to tennis but am going into Boulogne to-morrow to get some golf clubs.
Our main excitement is going into Boulogne for afternoon tea. [Carey's] is a
famous rendezvous for all the Sisters and officers and we usually go there even
though their cups are the size of thimbles and their tea pots never pour except
all over the table.
Our greatest enjoyment is in evening parties - just as it is with nurses the
world over I think. We all get together in some one's tent and have something
to eat and MacCullough mimics every one in the place. The padre at No. 8 British
is a remarkably handsome man, young and very much in love. He brings divine
love and human love into all his sermons till it is a regular by-word. He does
a great deal of moving around and hitches up his surplice a lot too - and Mac
can imitate him exactly.
The latest news is that 3 of us are to be on ambulance trains and yesterday
the War Office sent in the names of the first three who are to be taken. Miss
Goodene is one and we will miss her very much indeed for we four used to have
such good times. We have an addition to our family. Six new sisters arrived
the day before yesterday. Two of them came over with us but I did not know them
very well. The rest are 2nd contingent.
Well, Mother, I must close. With ever so much love I am,
Always yours,
Helen