Finding Themselves: The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in France — John Shaqi
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’s about time I went up to my room now, as it is after nine and the
doctors are beginning to go to their tents and I must sit here ticking
away on the machine with the door open. Some nurses came in to talk to
me so I was disturbed, even when I thought I had got away from them.
They meant well and only came to inquire if I was not well, because they
thought I did not look well and were worried. Wasn’t that dear of them.
It’s only a lack of proper sleep that makes me look a bit queer. I am
not a bit sick, just a bit “groggy.” I really am quite brown, and my
hair is quite curly! from all this dampness. It rains part of every day
almost.
Good-night for now. It is always fun to think at night, maybe I will get
a letter to-morrow. You just cannot imagine how much letters count. I
never had them count so much before.
Much love to you all.
J.
Rouen, France. July 16, 1917.
I am inclosing a copy of a letter Miss Taylor received to-day, in reply
to the letter she wrote to Private Murphy’s mother, the day after her
boy died here. He was here of a gunshot wound in the chest, one of those
treacherous injuries that seem to be getting along all right and then
knock a man out with a sudden hemorrhage. The boy was not even on the
Seriously Ill or the Dangerously Ill list, and the worst part was that
he died before we could get the priest to him. We have a Catholic priest
as well as C. of E. and Nonconformist padres always in attendance. They
live on the grounds. Of course a formal notice of the man’s death was
sent to his mother through the War Casualty Office, but Miss Taylor
wrote to tell his mother the details, and to explain why the priest was
not with him when he died. Her reply is so typical of the bravery of
English women I want you to see it.
“To Assistant Matron:--
“I thank you for so kindly answering my letter for my dear lad Pte. W.
Murphy. I am quite sure you all concerned did what possibly could be
done for him. I thank you from the very bottom of my heart. I’ve felt it
very keenly, more than I can ever say, but I have the satisfaction of
knowing he was cared for by a woman at the last and given a decent
grave. Perhaps God took him then because he was then fit, he was a good
boy at home to us and I know the last three years of his life he
honestly tried his level best. I think God understands us each one best.
I should like you to thank the nurse personally for me who was with him
at the last, and every night you brave women are remembered in our
prayers. My wee daughter aged three years prays, ‘God bless our nurses
at the front.’ I have not received his treasure bag and am sorry as my
little son aged 15 yrs., who was passionately attached to our dear lad,
hoped to have his rosary, but perhaps I shall get it--only you asked me
to let you know if I did not receive it. I must now conclude, thanking
you once again, believe me
“Yrs. sincerely
“Bell Brown.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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