1915 Letter 21
France
May 27, [1915]
My own dear Mother,
Your letter of the 9th arrived to-day, and Canada seems very far away when I know how you and Papa are worrying. But you need never have an anxious thought about me - for I am living a most delightful life. Civilization is really quite advanced over here my dear and we are within three miles of a city - of some 60,000 inhabitants. We have absolutely no facilities for washing hair so we go to a most up-to-date place in Boulogne where you can have wonderful treatments for 2 francs. Then there is a dear little lingerie shop where we all get things the prettiest nighties etc. all French embroidery for a mere nothing. The girls all have lovely things and they say it is about their only pleasure. You get so sick of uniforms all the time that it is a change to have fussy underthings.
It just comes to this, Mother dear, that the war is going to last a long time and we've got to live somehow and we may as well live as happily as possible and not grow into "battle scarred vets" as we call the first contingent too quickly. A great many of the girls have brothers up at the front, and Ida Smith's was killed at Ypres. She says she'd go crazy if she stopped to think so she laughs and talks just as before and has started a collection of old jewellery as there are good second hand shops in Boulogne and prices are greatly reduced.
It isn't that we are living in a fool's paradise and that we are blinding our eyes to the seriousness of the situation but we are here and we've got to stay here and we can't help the war by grieving, so we have as good a time as we can.
There are great chances to learn customs and see things here if one has the money to spend, and we are probably as unembarrassed financially as any people in the country, so we are spending our money, for it is surely needed by these French people.
This trip certainly has been a liberal education in a thousand different ways, and there is a very great deal to learn. By going around in such droves as we do we know far more about places then tourists coming and going ever would - for every one adds some new information to the general store, and the experiences of [one] help all the rest.
So if my letters are rather airy fairy believe me we all do it - to keep going. You sort of have to forget about the war. It's with us always - like the poor - and requires a strong antidote.
Perhaps I wrote you before about our special friends here - Miss Goodene and Dorothy Winter being of course the ones we go around with most. Then there are four - Pense, Jamie, Squire and Wylie who all stick together and whose tent is popularly known as the Hippodrome. Then there is Ida Smith, rather older than the rest who is a wonderful woman and such a good sport, and a girl called MacCullough who rooms with her. She is rather vulgar but funny and one of the Hippodrome's most popular drawing cards.
Well we certainly had grand times when a few days ago, like a bolt from the blue came the order for Pense & Jamie, Squire and Wylie, Dorothy Winter and two other girls to report at #1 General at Etaples, the hospital they were attached to at Netheravon.
When they first came here - when we did - they were very unhappy and hoped they'd go back to #1 Gen. but when the time came they were very blue about leaving. Etaples is inland - on the sand dunes, as hot as blazes and frightfully dusty. McGill will be there and probably Toronto and # 1 Gen. will be huge - 1400 beds - but it is not nearly so pretty as this place - and besides it is 18 miles from Boulogne and ambulances are the only sure means of transport.
We were broken hearted when they left. Ethel and I knew them all far better than lots of the girls who came over with us, for when we first came they adopted us, and took us right in. You can imagine how lovely it was for us.
When Dorothy left Miss Goodene was very "low in her mind" so we persuaded her to come in with us rather than bring in an unwelcome fourth from among the Queen's nurses - some of which are here at present. It is a trifle crowded but ever so much more fun. At present we are all on night-duty and that is a great comfort - I come off on Sunday and Ethel not till a week from Sunday but I'll be glad to be alone a bit - as I've let a lot of things slide.
Well today Wylie and Dorothy came in for the afternoon and it was like an old boys' reunion.
On Sunday we are going out to see them.
I should have written before but have had a rotten brand of grippe that wasn't conducive to anything that looked like work. I didn't have to go off duty and feel fine again now.
I had a card from Eric today written the 23rd. I am doing him up a lot more stuff. Tell Della the four parcels - supplies, bandages and socks arrived yesterday and that I will write to her to-morrow.
Have heard nothing from George. Of course you know the Canadians are in it right along now - and are meeting with the same losses as the British. I'll cable as soon as I hear from Eric again. After Ypres it was so easy to find out about almost anyone for the whole first contingent seemed to know everyone but now there are so many reinforcements and the battalions are so mixed up that we can find out very little from the men who come down to us.
Eric's birthday will be along now soon and I'll send him a big box, cake taffey and all sorts of "eats".
We are supposed to have a certain number of green envelopes such as I am sending this is but some how or other our O.C. & Matron don't allow us to have them. At least not till recently, when we all began to make a fuss.
I have only one at present but think I can get enough for your letters at least.
Everything is running very smoothly here, and I must say I am very happy. The fresh air is doing wonders for me though night-duty has pulled me down a bit, as usual. It was cold and wet and we had to get back to all our heavy flannels and sweaters. Then in 24 hours it was so hot we slept in our lightest nighties and only a sheet over us - then in 24 hours again it was almost freezing.
I am finishing this at 7.15 am waiting for the day sisters to arrive. We had the easiest night - last night since I came on.
One of the patients, a Canadian, formerly a bartender, and a cook and a waiter on the C.P.R. through the West - is washing up. He is a wonderful man - and makes the patients all kinds of weird but most delightful drinks. Last night he gave a concert - bones and mouthorgan. He wants to transfer to this unit - as an orderly as he says he's had enough of fighting.
I have had a lot of trouble with Eric's pictures. I ordered them a month ago, and had to write a very abusive letter to Harrod's. They say they sent them but I don't believe it - for they kept writing that they'd forward them as soon as I sent the money. But I think I'll get them soon.
Am sending you some more postcards of the summer scenery. It is truly beautiful. As soon as I am on day duty again I am going to walk all over the country.
I must close now, dearest. The bag came yesterday and is much admired. It is hanging up on the side of the tent as an ornament - All the girls say "Well haven't you a wonderful Mother, She's always sending you things."
Love to Papa, and Don. I am so glad he's been moved.
Your own little girl.
Helen