1916 Letter 6
Semiramis Hotel
Cairo, (Egypt)
Feb. 27, [1916]
Dear Mother,
We didn’t leave this morning after all and I shall answer the rest of your letters before I go, beginning Dec. 26.
Cecily Galt is back in London and in an interview with Gen. Jones refused to take back anything she had said. Apparently they thought there was too much truth in her statements to make an investigation pleasant for any of them and let the whole matter end. For she was given three weeks leave and a choice of home or foreign service, which is a darned sight more than one usually gets. I admire Cecily or her attitude. Any other girl would have come to terms in a hurry.
We met her cousin Muriel Galt at Mr. Gunn’s. She was in charge of a hospital in France in the early days of the war but now belongs to the 2-A’s.
Why doesn’t Allie West marry that man? And who is he? Myra never heard of any of them, but of course she hasn’t lived in Ottawa for more than a couple of years.
I think Allie wouldn’t get much of the story in Ottawa – not knowing any of the girls who are one of their families. Already its getting to be a case of in the army or not and those who are don’t discuss their troubles with those who aren’t.
We hear that old Col. Casgrain who went back from #3 is making out now that Lemnos was a sort of unknown and unappreciated garden of Eden. Of course he’s looking for backsheesh in the shape of another hospital and is playing into the hands of Jones and Lorny Drum and having a brother in the Gov. at home makes him want to cover up any apparent neglect on his part.
Lemnos at first was all anyone ever said about it and a bit more and a great deal of the discomfort - I won’t call it hardship - could easily have been avoided.
Laomi M. is a very queer girl. We see practically nothing of her. We bore her and she certainly bores us.
You did very well for Christmas in war time but it must have been rather slow for you. It certainly was a good idea to go down to Jessies.
Haven’t had a word from Eric since Nov. 27 when he was still at Luton House. But I know how hard it is to write and he is feeling rather fed up with things in general. I’m sorry Mr. Marryat is leaving.
And is Mr. McPhee still in Hastings. How are Hilda and he coming along?
You say we embarrass the British. Well maybe – but they’re jolly glad of the Colonial soldiers and money. They were prepared to find us crude and in every sense of the word "common Canadians" and when we don’t look and act the part they are sore over their disappointment.
A Canadian with the R.A.M.C. here was saying yesterday that an English doctor also R.A.M.C. was jeering at the "Two star freaks" – meaning Canadian Sisters – said he prayed that if he were sick he’d never fall into our clutches. Goldy said "You forget I’m a Canadian. What hospitals did the men from the Peninsula talk most about? The Canadians." The other chap admitted it but of course was more [ ] than ever. There are heaps of faults and virtues on both sides and probably by the end of the war it will be evened up a bit. The English hate our two stars and so do we. Mrs. Gunn is crazy about them and begs us to show them on every possible occasion. It has become rather an expensive habit covering them up – for now we all run to sweaters – you get beauties in England. And certainly the girls look much prettier. Blue to match our dresses or black – in wool or silk – are the favourites.
We were at Mrs. Gunn’s for tea one day and she had just been lamenting our fondness for sweaters. She is proud of her country naturally and we are the only women in the world with rank in the army – bar royalties. We had just explained our idea to her when two men came in one a Capt. H.A.C. and a Sub. Myra was talking to the Sub a very assured, important person of about 28. At once he began about our Stars. Why did we wear them? What right had we? Of course we’re fed up with that type of Englishman and Myra simply turned to Mrs. Gunn and said "You’ll understand our fondness for sweaters now."
Its very amusing. Englishmen hate to think of women having anything equal to them.
Perhaps you may like the look of Lemnos stationary but my soul longeth [yea] even fainteth for a decent sheet of paper to write the notes that are always cropping up. I make Myra do them for us both as she got some ripping paper with her crest – from home at Christmas. Do send some – like a dear. I tried all over London to get Crane’s but couldn’t and I hate these smooth English papers to write on. Send some every month – and take it out of my money. I always got it by the large box at Tyrrel’s it’s cheaper. A small size and a large would be most useful – but send it in small lots and it would come more quickly.
I’m so glad Don has an increase. It will help him considerably. Is he thinking of coming over?
Well I must stop now. Tell Papa I’ll write him a long letter soon. Heaps of love to you both
Yours always,
Helen