1915 Letter 36
Lemnos
Sept. 13, [1915]
My dear Father and Mother,
The weather has taken a turn for the better and we are all rejuvenated. Last night it rained and I never heard such rain. It simply roared through the hills. This morning the mud was like glue and what it will be like in the rainy season we can only imagine.
One of our sisters is leaving for England to-morrow by the Aquitania which is now a hospital ship and she is taking our mail. She has a bad appendix and they are getting her a transfer. Don't ever worry about me for as you see transfers are possible if one can't stand the climate.
We've all been telling Mae how lucky she is etc. but if I had to leave to-night I'd be rather sorry. We are right in the midst of things out here and if the line advances we ought to see more of the world, and since I have been shaken out of the rut I must say I could keep on moving indefinitely.
I must be aclimatized now for I am feeling perfectly splendid. Our meals are better too and we have ceased to regard men who come for tea simply as a means to an end - and that end - food. Tonight we had Hamburg Steak and French fried potatoes and jam roll pudding.
Our afternoon teas are functions. To-day we had a lieut. and two of the dearest middies from the Glory and officers from most of the thousand odd English regiments around here, and Sundays there isn't standing room. The Capt. of the Blenheim that Kipling wrote about in his "Fleet in Being" comes quite often and the other day we had mostly all the officers of the Empress of Britain.
We have a ripping lot of girls in this unit and the men certainly like to come here.
Sept. 15.
Last night we had our first dose of the rainy season. It was a regular cloudburst and lasted most of the night. You should have seen us at breakfast - mud to our eyes - just going from our tents to the mess and of course no one came ready prepared for this sort of thing. In France we wore raincoats but out here you need oilskins. The mud was about knee deep and as sticky as glue - The wards were a sight and we slid around as if we'd been on ice. About noon it cleared and dried up surprisingly. I am on night duty tonight for my week and it is very mild, though for nights it was cool.
I have 120 patients tonight - half of them fairly bad cases - a few bad wounds and severe dysentery. #3 is having a bad time. Two of their sisters left today on the Aquitania on account of ill-health and their Matron is very ill.
One of our Sisters went to England today too. She went armed with blank cheques from us all and thousands of commissions. If any one had said to me "You may go too" I don't think I'd really have wanted to go. There is a fascination about this life.
Yesterday Myra, Cecily, Clarke and I went to tea on the [Caringowan]. The girls had been out to buy supplies the day before as she is a supply boat and we were invited for next day. It was rather weird but we enjoyed it and the Capt. was "priceless" to quote one of the young officers who went with us.
We met the Capt. of a Sub. Chaser and he arranged a tea on his ship for this afternoon but it was called off as they had to go to sea.
We meet men here and in a few hours they are right in the thick of it. The men in the navy are ripping. Such a nice lot of chaps and so good to us. We could gad a good deal more if we had the time but at present it is hard more more than one or two to go the same afternoon.
Some Sir Stick in the mud inspected us a while ago but didn't let any information slip as to our chances of getting out of this.
I can't imagine what they'll do when it really does rain.
We're beginning to plan for Christmas, as it is more than likely we'll be here. MacCullough the "sport" of the unit - is begging for heavy underwear and a cholera belt. It is a scream if you knew Mac - who wears silk stockings in every weather.
I would like above anything a pair of bandage scissors. You can get them at the J.F. Harty Co. Sta. Toronto - and they will be worth thousands of dollars to me. The English M.O.s and Sisters went into raptures over "those wonderful scissors" - They have a lower blunt point that never jags into the patient when you cut the bandage. Though made by Maw & Son London they are not to be had over here at all; being entirely an American instrument.
I can't think of anything else - unless the Crane's Paper. All sorts of travelling conveniences are fine - but I don't know just what I need. Books are all right too. Cheap editions but it seems hardly worth while to send them from Canada as we can order that sort of thing from England. A little down filled pillow - covered with something dark green would match my rug would be fine too. I have often wished for one.
It won't be a very happy Christmas for you both at home - but happy homes will be rather in the minority - all over the world this year - I guess - Mae isn't ordering any new uniforms because she's sure the end of the world will come very soon. If her Mother wants to buy her underwear of course that's all right.
I often wish I'd left $25 a month or even more at home - as many of the girls do and still seem to have plenty - but it is very unsatisfactory changing your assignment as it is apt to make confusion.
My chief expense at present or rather outlay is on a camera and films. I am getting one like Eric's as I hate to have no good pictures of things down here to show you.
I wish you could look in tonight. The marque stretches from our front gate to about the kitchen and the beds are packed as near together as possible - no tables or chairs & just a narrow passage up the middle - very rough as the land wasn't levelled before the tents were put up.
In the centre we have our kitchen dressings, medicines etc. The kitchen consists of a large packing case [with] two smaller ones on top- and the only piece of oil cloth in the camp - a present from the Cook's assistant who was a patient for a few days. He brought it from France himself and we show it with great pride.
Our stoves are called Primer heaters, they burn coil oil and hum in a strong breeze, but they are contrary things and are always acting up at the most critical times. It is easier to work here than in the tents we had in France as we have everything under one roof.
They say we'll be in huts before long and that will be better. We are to have huts to live in too. I think it will be rather cool later, but as I brought all my heavy things I am quite prepared.
We are going up for supper now as it is midnight and after that I'll try to write to Don and Eric so will close now. We are having a week night duty down here in rotation - so it won't be hard on anyone.
Our meals are very much better now and if we had butter I would have nothing to complain about.
I must stop now - I am feeling fine and don't worry about me - instead let us be thankful the boys are in France for the Peninsula is a terrible place.
Good-night now and God bless you both.
Your loving daughter -
Helen