1915 Letter 32
August 11th, [1915]
Dear Aunt Teddy -
I should have written you before but though we put off mail at Malta it had all to be censored on board and we were absolutely forbidden to mention the name of any place. So there really was very little to tell you about.
I wrote you about our leaving France. We left Folkestone at 7.15 am Sunday and sailed from Southampton at 3.30 pm. It certainly was rather sudden - wasn't it?
We had a rough day in the Bay of Biscay but otherwise it has been wonderfully smooth.
We passed Gibraltar at 2.30 one morning and several zealous women rose to look at it. I went out on the lower deck for a minute or two but you couldn't see see anything for the search light was turned on us. On the African coast we could see the lights of a large city - possibly Morocco.
We did not touch at Gibraltar and it seemed strange to be within sight of land so often and yet not to go into port. We reached Malta Sunday morning about 2 a.m. and lay off shore drifting with the current till about 10 am. No [one] was allowed ashore and no natives came out to see us [lace] - but as we drifted along we had a splendid chance to see the general outline of the island.
There was a rumour that one of our units might stop off at Malta and we were all sort of upset and very much relieved when word came for us to report at Alexandria for further orders.
We all rejoiced at the thought of two more days on board - for it has been a most delightful trip. There are 85 Can. Sisters, about 60 M.O.'s - 24 English sisters and 7 R.A.M.C. men besides the ships officers - and we have all enjoyed every minute. Every one has been so extremely kind to us - and the days have been scarcely long enough for all there was to do.
We have had several cricket matches and shuffleboard is always popular. There is a piano in the dining salon and some one is always playing or singing and we have an unusual amount of talent on board. We have had 4 concerts - we gave 2 and the staff 2 - I am enclosing a programme so that you can judge the style for yourself.
This is the largest hospital ship afloat and such an up-to-date one - Of course all the cabins had been done away with so we are all together in a huge ward.
We reached Alexandria early this morning & came into harbour about 6.30. It is now noon - and our eyes are tired with gazing on the varied scenes. Of course a great deal of the shipping of peace times is absent but its place is filled with hospital ships - troop ships, transports and occasional battleships. There are dozens of little native boats bobbing around - manned by natives wearing the red fez and dress of the Turks. To the left as I sit here - I can see a long strip of land which forms one side of the harbour - There are a number of palm trees, and a tram car line runs along the water front. The country is absolutely flat, and therefore our outlook is limited and little can be seen of the city itself. Pompey's Pillar is not visible.
On the right is a palace - quite a grand affair - which on the map seems to correspond to a harem - there is a yacht club near it - and farther out a fort - and light house -
There's a delightful breeze blowing and it is simply heavenly.
Later -
Just then a naval officer came out with the news that two of our units - we and #3 are to got on to Lemnos and Queen's is to stay here. Lemnos is about 4 hours from the Dardanelles and it will mean roughing it - but we'll have good work and will be practically right at the front - One unit is to go to Imbros - some miles further on and as we've seen active service and #3 hasn't - it's likely we'll be the ones to go.
We are going ashore in the morning and sail by another ship on Saturday, as we simply have to have a day in Alexandria to get a few things. Lemnos is a bare island with very little vegetation, population or civilization - and plenty of bugs and fleas - It's not pleasant but we're going farther up than sisters have ever been sent and we're the 1st Canadian unit out here so we feel we shouldn't "grouse" as the English say.
We are sorry we're not going the rest of the way on the Asturias. This is only their second trip down here as they were on the Southampton-Havre route all winter. Last time they went right up to the peninsula and saw the Battle of Acha Baba - but this time they are going back from Alexandria with wounded another ship brought in this morning. They are all so disappointed.
This afternoon eight of us went out sailing in a felucca - as we weren't allowed to go to town. We are all half soaked and sunburned but it was simply glorious. It is a such an undulating movement - The sails are large but have no boom and can be reefed in a minute. We tacked here and there across the harbour and simply flew along. Our boatman did a turkey trot - at least I suppose that's what it was - and tried to upset us - that being his idea of humour but in spite of everything we are back in safety.
Will write again later when we know our fate.
Yours lovingly,
Helen
Address.
#1 Canadian Stationary Hospital
British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
Please thank whoever sent those gramophone records and the magazines - they will be a godsend.
H.