1915 Letter 23
France
June 9th, [1915]
Dearest Mother,
This is Eric's birthday and I am wondering what the boy is doing. It is a beautiful, bright day, not too warm and it is impossible, sitting here, to believe that so much fighting is going on. We haven't been busy for the last week and are having a welcome rest. However it will be busy again all too soon.
I heard from George yesterday and he has been transferred to the 4th Batt. 1st Brigade. He landed in France April 27th just after Ypres and was rushed up to the front. They were under continuous shell fire all day.
He was well but didn't seem very keen about it. I wrote him several times but my letters must have gone astray. I sent him "fudge" the other day and some Saturday Posts, and will try and look after him a bit, now I have him located.
I had a letter from Eric written June 3rd which I sent on to Donald as he says he doesn't hear often from Eric. There wasn't much news in his letter, except that he had been very busy. He said he had never known what "nerves" were but had found out lately. The shelling is continuous and it surely must be terribly trying on the nerves. He seemed in awfully good spirits. I wrote him to find out what he wanted for his birthday thinking of field glasses etc. but found that he had a pair already.
I am trying to write while two women are discussing things in general and nothing in particular in loud and strident tones. We have quite a few lemons with us and they make themselves rather obnoxious.
The Toronto girls have reached France - at least the majority of them. Craddie and Cummings from Grace were out here yesterday, and it surely was great to see them after having rather an overdose of Royal Victoria & Montreal Generals. They are looking awfully well, and are so glad they came. We got all the home news. Craddie turns out to be a distant cousin of Ethel Boultbee's.
After dinner Capt. Johnston offered us an ambulance to go in to see them. We left here about eight o'clock. The ambulance driver was rather peeved at having to go in and he drove till we went around on two wheels. We left about 9.30 - so had quite a visit with the girls. Several of the girls are from the Children's - Bishop Reeve's step daughter being one. You remember my speaking of her.
We have had quite warm weather the last two weeks, and when it is hot it is very hot. However two days ago we had a slight thunder storm and it has been almost cold ever since. The weather can change so quickly.
June 11th
Well nothing very much has happened in the last two days, except that to-day Boultbee, Miss Smith and I went to Etaples by train - a distance of 18 miles - but which takes these trains over an hour to cover. It was rather an unhappy day. Myra Goodene wanted to go in the morning as she is on night-duty and I managed to get the day off. We went at 8.30 am and found the Paris train left at 11.29 and the local not till 1.30. For the Paris train a laissez-passer was necessary - for the other not - The Station-Mistress, women are doing all the railway work - told us we'd get the necessary pass from the Commissaire at the Hotel [Criclot]. Well we asked and were told to see Miss Fletcher -Well we awaited the lady's pleasure outside her door for nearly half an hour. When she came back from downstairs we were bidden into her office and had to state our business in front of three smug V.A.W. women - voluntary aid - She asked if we were to report for duty or were we just joy riding. Well of course we both felt so flat and so mad that we left rather than disgrace ourselves but these damn English females ought to be shown their place. This woman wore a veil like ours and a nondescript civilian suit of blue serge. She is in charge of the Red Cross nurses. Now for her to dare to speak to us like that in the first place was quite unnecessary. We laid ourselves open to it by asking for the Red Cross people are not friends of the legitimate trained nurses - Can. or English - but it seemed a little thing. Secondly it was no business of hers whether we went "joy-riding" or not. The V.A.W. and the Red Cross women go tearing all over the country in motors but of course that's all right. We have no facilities for motoring and when we want to use the train we are criticized apparently.
To tell the truth, the majority of our girls are so sore at the treatment they have received over here at the hands of such officious persons as the Fletcher woman and from Cox's agency where we are authorized to cash our cheques that they vow they'll never go near the place again. But in a strange country where we are a mere handful - we are naturally more dependent on strangers than the English nurses who have all their own people over here and are practically speaking at home in Boulogne. The English nurses the regulars and the Territorials have been unfailingly kind and treat us like humans - but to the others we are "common Canadians". For the English - I'll never say British again for British they are not - to treat us like this is a rank insult. They aren't managing their end of the war without making quite a few costly blunders and they need every man they can get. Canada is doing all she can and they ought at least to shut their mouths if they can't speak civilly.
But you mustn't think we worry over it. The nice English people are wonderfully kind, and there a great many bright spots to make one forget the others, but I wrote you about Begbie's article and now this is our side of it. Of course some of our girls are foolish - but they have some pretty rummy specimens themselves, that they aren't proud of.
Well we finally went at 1.30 but Myra came home to bed in disgust. The journey to Etaples was perfect, as the country is looking its best now, I imagine. The shrubberies are so green and well kept and the gardens are so precise and yet so filled with flowers - the rose especially being in full bloom just now.
I am sending a few snaps I had enlarged and I think they are very good - don't you?
Did you ever receive Eric's photos from Harrods' and if so how many? I ordered them April 23rd and have never received them yet - at least the ones that were to be sent to me.
Had a note from Geordie today which I am enclosing. Poor kid. I guess he is lonely and worried enough at times.
Haven't heard from Eric since his letter of June 3rd. Had a note from Alan Townsend and will try to keep him in socks etc.
We had such a nice day or rather hour in Etaples, seeing the girls. I saw [Stagg] too who is out there with [seven] others from Toronto till their own hospital is opened up - We are not very busy yet but neither are the other hospitals.
I have never for one moment regretted coming over - my dear the experience is wonderful - but there are times when we'd give everything to be back home again. But that is only natural. Homesick I have not been - thank goodness except that at times I fairly ache for a chance to talk everything over with you.
Am feeling fine - never felt better. Heaps of love to Papa - and to Don when you write.
Yours lovingly,
Helen