Finding Themselves: The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in FranceStimson, Julia C. (Julia Catherine)
History
Finding Themselves: The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in France
Stimson, Julia C. (Julia Catherine)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
It is now almost eleven and Miss Dunlop has been in to tell me the
latest instructions she has received from her Majors. We always have to
compare instructions and see which of us knows the most about what is
going to happen. If we have the same experiences as the nurses of the
two previous Units, we are to be much fêted in London, and are to be
reviewed by the Queen. We have been trying desperately hard on shipboard
to learn how to march and keep step and to right about face without
falling over ourselves, but I fear we won’t be much on looks when it
comes to being reviewed. I trust we are not expected to curtsy. And now
I must hustle to bed, for to-morrow will be an exciting day. Good night
and so much love to you all. If only you were all having this wonderful
experience with me nothing more could be desired.
J.
Wednesday, June 6, 1917.
Dearest Family:--
I have not written since that day in Liverpool, and now we have been ten
days in London. If only I had the ability to write what we have seen and
what we have felt. The contrasts have been so great some of us have
almost lost our mental equilibrium. We are fêted and cheered and taken
from one entertainment to another and made much of by people of every
class; and then between such social affairs we visit hospitals, military
hospitals, because it is necessary for us to see how such hospitals are
run. First we see 1700 men, young men with faces or arms or legs blown
off, and then we go to a tea at a fancy club; next we see 500 blinded
men fighting their way back into normal life by learning various
occupations, then we are taken in a body to the silliest musical comedy
that was ever staged. Again we see thousands of crippled soldiers
brought out to see the King give decorations to 350 heroes and heroines,
soldiers and nurses, or “the next of kin” all in black, and we nearly
choke when a blinded officer is led up to the King by his orderly who
directs his every move, and lame men go hobbling up to receive their
medals, and we watch the King use his left hand to shake hands with one
man, because the man’s right arm is gone, and then we go to St. Paul’s
and see the Stars and Stripes carried up to the altar with the 64
British flags to be blessed at an “Empire day” service, while thousands
and thousands of people sing “O God, our help in ages past.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account