1915 Letter 39
Lemnos
Sept. 27th, [1915]
Dearest Mother,
I am awfully worried about the anxiety you must be feeling about us. By the time this reaches you the news of Mrs. Jaegert - the Matron of #3) having died of dysentery etc. out here will be in all the papers and in your usual way you'll have me spotted as the victim and be losing hours of sleep over it.
If you could see me now you would be quite contented for I am feeling absolutely fit. There is no use in minimizing our troubles but they are of the past now and we face the future unafraid. Our only nightmare is that we'll be recalled. Mrs. J. is some relation of Bordeu's and we are afraid that there will be a demand for us to go home. We have done everything we can from this end to ensure our staying on.
It was awfully sad about Mrs. Jaegart (or however she spelled her name) - She was a tower of strength to to her girls when Miss Munro died and went about long after she was run down physically and mentally. #3 had bad luck right from the start. They were an untried unit - and in charge of an old man whose political influence got him the job. He didn't know enough to hold out for reasonable consideration and was dumped on a site that had been formerly used for troop latrines. We were among the first to introduce bucket latrines and to that and the fact that our officers insisted on a uninfected site for the camp - we owe our good health as a unit.
Their land was full of infection to start with and with dust what it was at first - they were sure to feel the effects. Even yet they haven't the same degree of perfection in their sanitary arrangements that we have. Of course its easy to place blame afterwards - and the old man in sick himself now - but I know you well enough to be sure that this goes no further and I am only writing it to show you that because they have had tragedies it isn't a foregone conclusion for us.
This life is taking it out of us, I admit but look what it's putting into us. This is the first real campaigning a Canadian Hosp. Unit has ever done and we are all keen to make the venture a success. Doesn't that appear rational to you? If later on we find that our health is being injured by the climate it will be time enough to talk about transferring.
The girls are splendid, and Canada may be proud of them.
For over a week we have had the most brilliant sunshine - quite cool at night - but our September weather exactly. To-day is rather warm but hazy and around the mountain peaks are tiny misty clouds. It's for all the world like the Kyles of Butte - if one doesn't look at the ground. The same purplish light in the evenings.
I shall never regret that trip to Scotland. I have met so many Scotchmen out here - to whom it is a delight to see any one who has been "home" recently, and I have made many interesting friends and found a great deal in common with them because of that trip. I wish I knew the family history better. For instance I met such a nice man named Meikle from Edinburgh and he was so interested when I told him all the good Scotch names I had among my ancestors - but there I'm lost - I know nothing about any of them - even where they came from.
One dear Scotch boy from Inverness - gave me addresses of relatives of his named Grant and said we must be related - of course it's only fun but he was only 21 and as like Eric as could be and homesick and afraid of the future and Myra adopted him and made a new man of him, and we have the addresses of all his people in case anything happens. He said after this his religion would be #1 Can. Stat. Hosp. instead of CofE.
We have moved into huts and everything is still in a state of chaos. I am sorry to have missed it being on duty with three of the Sisters who aren't feeling well enough to be on duty. They aren't very sick and all I do is cook little extras for them and see that they are comfortable. Myra says I've gained pounds as I have nothing to do but gossip and there has been so much to talk about this past week.
Myra is a dear, and I'll never forget her kindness to me. It's strange we should have come together over here, after being at the Children's. Life is just a series of links with the past, isn't it? We are not friends in the sense that she is always longing for Dorothy and I for Holly - but even that gives us something in common. We are alone now as Jane is tenting with Cecily Galt - a queer combination as Jane is a most ordinary girl but they're both selfish and seem to get along well together. I have made no close friends since I came over. With Myra and me there is a feeling that if the others came down here she'd go to them and if Holly - I'd go to her and that is a very good basis for friendship in such a place as this. She is awfully untidy and I am always telling her about it and she draws word pictures of me at the age of ninety with all my belongings around me at just a certain angle and my cap just so etc. On the Simla the men were asking for characteristics of each of us to use for limericks and primed by Myra - Tom Young - the adorable Scotch boy we met there turned out this :
"There was a young lady named Helen
Whose modesty needed some quellin'
For she cried out in fear when the batmen came near
Till we all were quite fed with her yellin'
(And this for to smooth my ruffled feelings)
Still she was made of the stuff
That has stood by us through thick and rough
She'll be there all the while with some kindness & smile
For our Tommies she can't do enough"
Another about me - because I had a cold: was
There was a young lady named Fowlds
Who constantly suffered from colds
She said "Hell my fate is to live on ferri phosphatis
And horrible arrowroot moulds" -
- Quite English - the arrow root moulds?
Then I turned them loose on Myra and the really good ones were not publishable -
Well I have digressed somewhat haven't I? We do digress a great deal and it's what saves us. We had a wonderful tea yesterday - and owing to Greece and Bulgaria's little side show the conversation was most interesting. I was in charge of the mess - and as Charleson didn't show up for tea had to act as "hostess" and pour tea. About 3.30, Tebb - our batman- came in to make sandwiches as he said the "navy was arriving" -
I am feeling fine now. We had a persistent diarrhoea at first that kept us feeling miserable. But every one had it - people rose from your side and like the Arabs silently stole away and no one asked any questions.
I am quite all right again and enjoying every minute of the time.
I must close now. I am writing Lizzie to let her know about the I.O.D.E. money. I haven't spent much yet as the Bill of Exchange had to be sent back to London and I can't draw much till I'm sure it's to my credit - as our own expenses are heavy out here and so far we aren't drawing as much subsistence as we drew in France. From this distance that sort of thing takes so long to readjust. Besides through some foolish error our August pay was £4 short. So I have been going easy.
I must stop now and get some tea for my patients.
I think of always and wish you were here to see things as I see them.
Love to Papa and everyone - Aunt Hattie sent me some lovely pongee and lace - wasn't it good of her. My pongee pyjamas have been the most serviceable things I ever had - but if I get anymore I won't have a collar - just a band of the material and a V neck, and short sleeves.
Good-bye now - and God bless you.
Yours lovingly,
Helen
I have turned the camp upside down trying to get a cable through but so far have had no luck. I hate to think of what you must be undergoing.