Extracts from a letter written by Sister E P Wright with the
Army of Occupation.
Germany
Courtesy of Jennifer Wright
3rd A.C.C.S
2ND Corps
2nd Army
Germany
15-2-19
Now what do you think of that for an address and who would have thought I would come here?! Just when we were expecting any day to hear we were to go to “Blighty” there to await embarkation Matron came in one evening to find me toasting myself by the mess-room stove and told me that Sister Buchanan and I were chosen to come up here. Of course there were very many others who were hoping to come up too and they poor things felt it a bit of a “wash-out” being left behind. Of course we were very pleased to be coming. Matron was awfully nice, said she knew our “work was good” etc etc. Two other Aussie Sisters from another hospital turned up for the same destination. The order to start came just as unexpectedly, we were starting to bed with hot water bags in our arms when a flustered Corporal appeared at the door with the information that we were to be on an ambulance train at Wimmereux (sp) in 20 minutes time. Never was there such a rush, the car was at the door waiting but we did it, only to fine (eventually)that the train had no intention of leaving for a couple of hours and eventually did not leave until 6.30 in the morning! Such is the way of life in the army!!
We went to bed in one of the long wards of the ambulance train. Something like a ship’s cabin 3 berths one over the other – six beds long containing 36 beds in one ward or coach, and were awakened by the train moving off in the early morning and gazed through the windows at the familiar old landmarks. It was a white world, snow everywhere, when we arose we just shivered all day. During the morning we passed through the ruined towns of Arras and Valenciennes, finally stopping in Mons. Being anxious to see the town, which is not ruined at all, we sent along a message to the O.C. of the train asking permission to go off for a time. A message came back to say he had no control over us “do what we liked but leave instruction concerning our kit in case the train moved off without us!” With this we went up to the engine driver who was quite ready to join in the sport promising he wouldn’t go out if we would report back to him within ¾ of an hour. Good, so off we went thro’ the beautiful cathedral and took snaps of the town which I hope be good. Reporting back to the engine driver as promised and “squared him” with cigarettes and a cigars.
We reached Charleroi at 4pm where our engine driver and staff deserted us. They had been on duty 40 hours without any rest, so left us while our train settled down to freeze on the lines for hours. Meanwhile we amused ourselves in various ways explored the town and suburbs and played Badminton on the frozen snow. The Belgians have systematically painted out all German notices and sign posts, the paint they used is thin, the names are still readable underneath! Here too we found an infernal looking Bosche machine of war, a gigantic thing something like a tractor engine. We couldn’t find out its exact use, when questioned the Belgians would only say “Bosche” and walk away. It was evidently an armoured car of some sort run with gas engines.
To our delight at 10pm we felt the jar of an engine coupling on. The R.T.O. (traffic Officer) had run one to earth at last, So we meandered out of Charleroi. Sometime at midnight finding ourselves in the big old station of Namurin the morning. Here our ambulance train began taking on patients so we were put off and were sent to the 48th C.C.S till we received further orders. Such comfortable quarters the sisters have, all furnished with German loot being formally occupied by German W.A.A.C.s or their equivalent for same. Their pictures were still on the wall and their pretty curtain in the windows. The English Sisters were most awfully nice to us making us so comfortable. In the afternoon we went out exploring, climbed a steep hill behind the town where the Citadel is. I looked out for miles and miles over the beautiful valley of the Meuse. In one place over the Meuse is a great stone build bridge, two arches of which the Belgians blew up to prevent the advance of the Bosche. I got a snap of this bridge.
At 9pm the other three were in bed and I making preparation to get there when we received word to be on the Cologne Express at 9.30pm: the military delight in hurrying us! The others would hardly believe me when I told them to arise and be off and we were all so tired and all had awful colds. However once more we did it! But not without holding up the Cologne Express – which by the way is an ancient “while” (?) ambulance train, and nearly as frozen as the one we had left. This time our fate was to sit up in the best way we could in stiff backed chairs and narrow seats and try in vain to keep warm and arrived in Cologne at 7am. Getting a Hun and making him drag our luggage into place with a jock M.P. to guard it, we repaired with the office of the R.T.O. who rung up an ambulance for us and we were whirled off to the Sister’s Hostel, such a very nice building with lovely baths and every comfort. After the long night’s journey we turned into bed for the day arising in the evening to go to a concert by the Royal Scot’s Guards.
Next day as there were still no orders for us, the Matron-in-Chief, who dwells in the Hostel, sent us on duty to the 36th C.C.S. in Cologne. They were desperately busy there and welcomed us with open arms and – into full wards. Influenza was raging there worse than ever, in the Boshce form. Such a splendid New Zealander died about two hours after I got there. He was so pleased to see one, (I said) saying “I seem to know your face, your are a New Zealander aren’t you?” I believe he was the brother of my dear little N.Z.er who died at No. 2 France and I believe this is the boy who was with him there when he was dying.
We stayed here four days. People did stare so at us, gazed at us as though we were animals escaped from a menagerie. Many of them turning round on the pavement to watch us as far as possible. In shops most of them are quite over anxious to please and are over polite, grovel to one something like the Indian Coolies. They almost run to get what you ask for, and all the time we know they hate us. On one occasion we encountered a more stubborn individual. I had been trying to remember what German I used to know but of course only French came into my head. “You must learn to speak German” he said, “I will not speak English it is “schade”. I looked him steadfastly in the eye saying “nein I have all German forgotten and French learnt.”
Such slim figures they have grown, I have seen only two fat men – wonderful for Germany isn’t it, when we saw them here before the war they were all fat. Little children now look thin and pale. There is an old English woman who comes daily to the Hostel to interpret. She has been here 30 years and all through the war. Her sympathies are German I’m certain, tho’ she says she is not a naturalized German. I asked if she suffered hardships during the war. “No” she said, they were very good to me, we were hungry, but what of that? That is nothing”.
Fashions here seem quite a thing on their own while Paris is cut off, Vienna too must be out of the running. The smartly dressed wear collars up to their ears and are mostly dressed in black. The men are a mixey medley lot, half soldier half civilian, tho’ they are supposed by Armistices terms to be quite civilian.
While in Cologne I had a good look at the beautiful Cathedral again, went inside too. How I remember Dorothy running round it with her camera when we were here before the war, and actually losing herself.
At length orders came through for us and we were all four packed off here in an ambulance car (Gunskirchen). It was a cold misty day. I had not realized Cologne was so big, we drove at a good bat for ½ an hour and still were running thro’ the heart of the town: Magnificent streets beautifully kept and almost all the streets have a double row of trees down the centre. You remember we saw but little of Cologne when here before.
This C.C.S is a little place called Euskirchen not very far from Bonn. You remember we saw Bonn from the Rhine. This is a huge building, we are occupying a deaf and dumb asylum, well heated with steam pipes and hot water laid on everywhere. Still it is not nearly as nice as the British C.C.S. in Cologne. It is so warm up here after France and Belgium, an amazing difference, no snow at all left now.
Since writing this I’ve been away nursing at a field ambulance. Sister Giles and I were packed off post haste to look after some very sick staff officers who were too sick to be moved. Two English Sisters also came, they to do day duty and we night. Everyone were more than good to us, we quite enjoyed our week away. They wanted us to stay longer but as things were so busy at the C.C.S. the authorities there kept agitating until we were sent back, and we were sorry to go as we were being quite spoilt out there. They gave us their best cook and a special batman to clean shoes or do anything we wanted, including the certainty of hot water for baths. We messed with the officers the first night and had no end of a good time, the; they enjoyed the novel experience as much as we did.
A few days ago we went such a lovely trip up into the Eifel Mountains. Our cars climbed up and up a curving road until we were right up among pine forests and deep silent snow, like it was at Oberammergau the day we went to Linden do you remember. We were a party of six Sisters and six Officers and two unit boys. Such fun we had fighting battles in the snow. We explored a lovely old castle in a pretty little village called Heinback. I just loved the whole day.
Yesterday some of the Sisters who were off duty went for a trip of the Rhine but they were a party of poor sight seers and came home disappointed and headachy. We are to go next week.
On trams and trains we ride free, the Huns have no right even to ask for fares. It is sometimes very amusing in trams for a Hun will never rise, or move rather as standing is not allowed in trams out here, on these occasions our men just tip them out into the street while the Sister takes his, the Hun’s seat. The Bosche is a never failing source of interest to me. I love to watch him with his sly ways and am afraid even to go out of my way to make him step in the gutter or to show our superiority in any way I can. Our privilege to travel 1st class without a ticket on all their railways in a carriage “Reserved for Officers” is one of our delights. When the train is full they try to come in but we heartlessly drive them out. Last day one Sister held the door while I informed the Huns of their mistake tapping on the notice the while. Sometimes their looks could kill and sometimes they are nervously apologetic. A train runs thro’ from Cologne to Berlin every night, it is with difficulty they get their tickets. They stand for hours in a queue and have to fully satisfy the authorities that all is as it should be before they can get a ticket. There are two English guards on each door who go with the train and if anyone alights at a wrong station they are forced back on the train at the point of a bayonet, all very excellent discipline for the wily Hun.
A small Scotch M.P. stood talking to us thro’ our window at the train a few days ago, keeping an eye on the Hun all the while “H’m” he said noticing a German hand a frauline into a carriage “first time I’ve seen one of them let a woman get in, in front of him; I generally catch them by the coat tail and hold them back while their women get in”. Our policemen get a good deal of amusement out of the Hun, in their own way.
We have two German Nuns cooking for us now, they cannot speak a word of English. I am the interpreter in chief and every day trot off to order the meals, tho’ we are very busy in the wards. My German is coming back, am always surprised to find how much I must have known before. One has to use it, tho’ I did tell them at first that “I had all German forgotten”.
Well this is March 24th and snow falling all day. The old English people say if March comes in like a lamb it goes out like a lion and vice versa; it seems to work out truly. This year it came in like a lamb, with bright sunny days, so still and fat swelling buds came on everything. The poor buds have burst open only to be bitten off, but I think this is the winter’s last effort and we shall soon be landed into the tender beauty of one more northern spring. I do so love them and have been so glad to see each spring as it came. I don’t believe the spring is half so lovely here tho’ as in France or England. There is a big wood about a mile away with no single sign of primroses or wild hyacinths; not even ?cowslips or primulas as in France. The trees of course are always lovely when the leave come in their very varying shades. I must sail up the Rhine once more between its white blossomed banks, when the trees are in blossom.
2ND Corps
2nd Army
Germany
15-2-19
Now what do you think of that for an address and who would have thought I would come here?! Just when we were expecting any day to hear we were to go to “Blighty” there to await embarkation Matron came in one evening to find me toasting myself by the mess-room stove and told me that Sister Buchanan and I were chosen to come up here. Of course there were very many others who were hoping to come up too and they poor things felt it a bit of a “wash-out” being left behind. Of course we were very pleased to be coming. Matron was awfully nice, said she knew our “work was good” etc etc. Two other Aussie Sisters from another hospital turned up for the same destination. The order to start came just as unexpectedly, we were starting to bed with hot water bags in our arms when a flustered Corporal appeared at the door with the information that we were to be on an ambulance train at Wimmereux (sp) in 20 minutes time. Never was there such a rush, the car was at the door waiting but we did it, only to fine (eventually)that the train had no intention of leaving for a couple of hours and eventually did not leave until 6.30 in the morning! Such is the way of life in the army!!
We went to bed in one of the long wards of the ambulance train. Something like a ship’s cabin 3 berths one over the other – six beds long containing 36 beds in one ward or coach, and were awakened by the train moving off in the early morning and gazed through the windows at the familiar old landmarks. It was a white world, snow everywhere, when we arose we just shivered all day. During the morning we passed through the ruined towns of Arras and Valenciennes, finally stopping in Mons. Being anxious to see the town, which is not ruined at all, we sent along a message to the O.C. of the train asking permission to go off for a time. A message came back to say he had no control over us “do what we liked but leave instruction concerning our kit in case the train moved off without us!” With this we went up to the engine driver who was quite ready to join in the sport promising he wouldn’t go out if we would report back to him within ¾ of an hour. Good, so off we went thro’ the beautiful cathedral and took snaps of the town which I hope be good. Reporting back to the engine driver as promised and “squared him” with cigarettes and a cigars.
We reached Charleroi at 4pm where our engine driver and staff deserted us. They had been on duty 40 hours without any rest, so left us while our train settled down to freeze on the lines for hours. Meanwhile we amused ourselves in various ways explored the town and suburbs and played Badminton on the frozen snow. The Belgians have systematically painted out all German notices and sign posts, the paint they used is thin, the names are still readable underneath! Here too we found an infernal looking Bosche machine of war, a gigantic thing something like a tractor engine. We couldn’t find out its exact use, when questioned the Belgians would only say “Bosche” and walk away. It was evidently an armoured car of some sort run with gas engines.
To our delight at 10pm we felt the jar of an engine coupling on. The R.T.O. (traffic Officer) had run one to earth at last, So we meandered out of Charleroi. Sometime at midnight finding ourselves in the big old station of Namurin the morning. Here our ambulance train began taking on patients so we were put off and were sent to the 48th C.C.S till we received further orders. Such comfortable quarters the sisters have, all furnished with German loot being formally occupied by German W.A.A.C.s or their equivalent for same. Their pictures were still on the wall and their pretty curtain in the windows. The English Sisters were most awfully nice to us making us so comfortable. In the afternoon we went out exploring, climbed a steep hill behind the town where the Citadel is. I looked out for miles and miles over the beautiful valley of the Meuse. In one place over the Meuse is a great stone build bridge, two arches of which the Belgians blew up to prevent the advance of the Bosche. I got a snap of this bridge.
At 9pm the other three were in bed and I making preparation to get there when we received word to be on the Cologne Express at 9.30pm: the military delight in hurrying us! The others would hardly believe me when I told them to arise and be off and we were all so tired and all had awful colds. However once more we did it! But not without holding up the Cologne Express – which by the way is an ancient “while” (?) ambulance train, and nearly as frozen as the one we had left. This time our fate was to sit up in the best way we could in stiff backed chairs and narrow seats and try in vain to keep warm and arrived in Cologne at 7am. Getting a Hun and making him drag our luggage into place with a jock M.P. to guard it, we repaired with the office of the R.T.O. who rung up an ambulance for us and we were whirled off to the Sister’s Hostel, such a very nice building with lovely baths and every comfort. After the long night’s journey we turned into bed for the day arising in the evening to go to a concert by the Royal Scot’s Guards.
Next day as there were still no orders for us, the Matron-in-Chief, who dwells in the Hostel, sent us on duty to the 36th C.C.S. in Cologne. They were desperately busy there and welcomed us with open arms and – into full wards. Influenza was raging there worse than ever, in the Boshce form. Such a splendid New Zealander died about two hours after I got there. He was so pleased to see one, (I said) saying “I seem to know your face, your are a New Zealander aren’t you?” I believe he was the brother of my dear little N.Z.er who died at No. 2 France and I believe this is the boy who was with him there when he was dying.
We stayed here four days. People did stare so at us, gazed at us as though we were animals escaped from a menagerie. Many of them turning round on the pavement to watch us as far as possible. In shops most of them are quite over anxious to please and are over polite, grovel to one something like the Indian Coolies. They almost run to get what you ask for, and all the time we know they hate us. On one occasion we encountered a more stubborn individual. I had been trying to remember what German I used to know but of course only French came into my head. “You must learn to speak German” he said, “I will not speak English it is “schade”. I looked him steadfastly in the eye saying “nein I have all German forgotten and French learnt.”
Such slim figures they have grown, I have seen only two fat men – wonderful for Germany isn’t it, when we saw them here before the war they were all fat. Little children now look thin and pale. There is an old English woman who comes daily to the Hostel to interpret. She has been here 30 years and all through the war. Her sympathies are German I’m certain, tho’ she says she is not a naturalized German. I asked if she suffered hardships during the war. “No” she said, they were very good to me, we were hungry, but what of that? That is nothing”.
Fashions here seem quite a thing on their own while Paris is cut off, Vienna too must be out of the running. The smartly dressed wear collars up to their ears and are mostly dressed in black. The men are a mixey medley lot, half soldier half civilian, tho’ they are supposed by Armistices terms to be quite civilian.
While in Cologne I had a good look at the beautiful Cathedral again, went inside too. How I remember Dorothy running round it with her camera when we were here before the war, and actually losing herself.
At length orders came through for us and we were all four packed off here in an ambulance car (Gunskirchen). It was a cold misty day. I had not realized Cologne was so big, we drove at a good bat for ½ an hour and still were running thro’ the heart of the town: Magnificent streets beautifully kept and almost all the streets have a double row of trees down the centre. You remember we saw but little of Cologne when here before.
This C.C.S is a little place called Euskirchen not very far from Bonn. You remember we saw Bonn from the Rhine. This is a huge building, we are occupying a deaf and dumb asylum, well heated with steam pipes and hot water laid on everywhere. Still it is not nearly as nice as the British C.C.S. in Cologne. It is so warm up here after France and Belgium, an amazing difference, no snow at all left now.
Since writing this I’ve been away nursing at a field ambulance. Sister Giles and I were packed off post haste to look after some very sick staff officers who were too sick to be moved. Two English Sisters also came, they to do day duty and we night. Everyone were more than good to us, we quite enjoyed our week away. They wanted us to stay longer but as things were so busy at the C.C.S. the authorities there kept agitating until we were sent back, and we were sorry to go as we were being quite spoilt out there. They gave us their best cook and a special batman to clean shoes or do anything we wanted, including the certainty of hot water for baths. We messed with the officers the first night and had no end of a good time, the; they enjoyed the novel experience as much as we did.
A few days ago we went such a lovely trip up into the Eifel Mountains. Our cars climbed up and up a curving road until we were right up among pine forests and deep silent snow, like it was at Oberammergau the day we went to Linden do you remember. We were a party of six Sisters and six Officers and two unit boys. Such fun we had fighting battles in the snow. We explored a lovely old castle in a pretty little village called Heinback. I just loved the whole day.
Yesterday some of the Sisters who were off duty went for a trip of the Rhine but they were a party of poor sight seers and came home disappointed and headachy. We are to go next week.
On trams and trains we ride free, the Huns have no right even to ask for fares. It is sometimes very amusing in trams for a Hun will never rise, or move rather as standing is not allowed in trams out here, on these occasions our men just tip them out into the street while the Sister takes his, the Hun’s seat. The Bosche is a never failing source of interest to me. I love to watch him with his sly ways and am afraid even to go out of my way to make him step in the gutter or to show our superiority in any way I can. Our privilege to travel 1st class without a ticket on all their railways in a carriage “Reserved for Officers” is one of our delights. When the train is full they try to come in but we heartlessly drive them out. Last day one Sister held the door while I informed the Huns of their mistake tapping on the notice the while. Sometimes their looks could kill and sometimes they are nervously apologetic. A train runs thro’ from Cologne to Berlin every night, it is with difficulty they get their tickets. They stand for hours in a queue and have to fully satisfy the authorities that all is as it should be before they can get a ticket. There are two English guards on each door who go with the train and if anyone alights at a wrong station they are forced back on the train at the point of a bayonet, all very excellent discipline for the wily Hun.
A small Scotch M.P. stood talking to us thro’ our window at the train a few days ago, keeping an eye on the Hun all the while “H’m” he said noticing a German hand a frauline into a carriage “first time I’ve seen one of them let a woman get in, in front of him; I generally catch them by the coat tail and hold them back while their women get in”. Our policemen get a good deal of amusement out of the Hun, in their own way.
We have two German Nuns cooking for us now, they cannot speak a word of English. I am the interpreter in chief and every day trot off to order the meals, tho’ we are very busy in the wards. My German is coming back, am always surprised to find how much I must have known before. One has to use it, tho’ I did tell them at first that “I had all German forgotten”.
Well this is March 24th and snow falling all day. The old English people say if March comes in like a lamb it goes out like a lion and vice versa; it seems to work out truly. This year it came in like a lamb, with bright sunny days, so still and fat swelling buds came on everything. The poor buds have burst open only to be bitten off, but I think this is the winter’s last effort and we shall soon be landed into the tender beauty of one more northern spring. I do so love them and have been so glad to see each spring as it came. I don’t believe the spring is half so lovely here tho’ as in France or England. There is a big wood about a mile away with no single sign of primroses or wild hyacinths; not even ?cowslips or primulas as in France. The trees of course are always lovely when the leave come in their very varying shades. I must sail up the Rhine once more between its white blossomed banks, when the trees are in blossom.
April 20th 1919
There is an Aussie mail in and no doubt I’ll get some, in a day or two. Some of the Victorians have had mail dated the 2nd March. There is always a sort of rivalry between us all as to who can get the latest date – I’ve beaten them several times. The last mail came in when I was having a day off. There were letters from you all, such a lovely lot. I sat down by the heater with my shoes off and spent the whole morning reading getting up feeling quite a different person. I love my letters, blank despair seizes me when there are none.
We had a lovely day up the Rhine yesterday, a party of us went from here, 3 Officers, five Sisters and eight boys. We went from here (Euskirchen) to Bonn by a special train early a.m. Most of it consisted of cattle trucks full of Tommies who were all part of the picnic. The trips are being run especially for the military. At Bonn the boat was waiting and with us all it was a bit crowed, but in some ways we enjoyed it the more for that. We picnic-ed down in the saloon “Reserved for Officers” so had plenty of room. After dinner the sun came out brilliantly, lighting up the white pear blossom and the tender green of the trees in the fields. I told some of the boys the legends of the Castles and the Lorelei, finding quite an audience of English Officers too. I had forgotten how few castles there were this side of Coblenz, only Drachenfels and a few much smaller ruins which don’t appear in the legends. The others including the Lorelei are all between Coblenz and Mainz. The Rhine is very flooded from recent rains, is out over the fields a good deal in many places. The current is very strong, making our journey up slow. We reached Coblez at 3pm where we disembarked and ran about the town about eight or nine hundred Tommies and ourselves. The town of course is occupied by the Americans, all chewing gum and talking “big”. We Sisters excited great curiosity “Red Cross Nurses?” we kept hearing in nasal twang. One soldier put his head over one of the Sister’s shoulders and said “What par-rt of Australia d’you come from little-one; Red Cross nurses aren’t cher?” One cannot feel attracted by the Americans. They say the Aussies are rough, but there is nothing to beat a rough American this side of the sun – or the other! I often think how right Dickens was in his sketch of the Yanks in “Martin Chuzzlewit” and yet they hated him for it.
Do you remember walking round under the barracks and fortifications at Coblenz across the river and seeing the German soldiers high above. The soldiers were still there but this time they were Americans. Isn’t it wonderfully strange – the ways of God.
No man can understand
We can but wait in awe and watch
The wonders of his hand
He has some hidden purpose sure
For all this blood and tears
It is his will - be still – be still
He is the Lord of Years
From “More Rough Rhymes of a Padre” a beautiful little book. I often think of those words when thinking of the time we were here six years ago and as it is now. I enjoyed this visit every bit of it. Coming home one of our M.O.’s told tales of early history and architecture in the Rhine Provinces and had intellectual arguments with our old Irish R.C. Padre to all of which I listened with much interest.
This week we had a fascinating day on the torpedo chasers in the Rhine. They are little tiny grey fellows wonderfully fast and did a good work in the war. Two of them were in that famous raid on Zeebrugge and Ostend. Sorely against the Boshe’s will our naval authorities have commandeered their lovely yacht club. It is like a big house boat and is just above the big bridge. It is a beautiful dwelling for the Officers, in it is a lovely ball room, the Officers themselves play their own “jazz” band. We are invited to a dance there before they leave for the French area, where they are going to fraternize for a bit. I got a beautiful snap shot of the torpedo chaser which was at Zeebrugge with a N. Zealand Officer under the white ensign. These little boats came all the way up from Northern France through canals and rivers, crossed right over the Vosges Mountains by locks, eventually getting into the Rhine at Strasburg and hence down to Cologne.
We are expecting our Matron-in-Chief, Miss Conyers, from London Head Quarters tomorrow. The rumour at present is that we are all to leave here on -------- but it may not be so at all
There is an Aussie mail in and no doubt I’ll get some, in a day or two. Some of the Victorians have had mail dated the 2nd March. There is always a sort of rivalry between us all as to who can get the latest date – I’ve beaten them several times. The last mail came in when I was having a day off. There were letters from you all, such a lovely lot. I sat down by the heater with my shoes off and spent the whole morning reading getting up feeling quite a different person. I love my letters, blank despair seizes me when there are none.
We had a lovely day up the Rhine yesterday, a party of us went from here, 3 Officers, five Sisters and eight boys. We went from here (Euskirchen) to Bonn by a special train early a.m. Most of it consisted of cattle trucks full of Tommies who were all part of the picnic. The trips are being run especially for the military. At Bonn the boat was waiting and with us all it was a bit crowed, but in some ways we enjoyed it the more for that. We picnic-ed down in the saloon “Reserved for Officers” so had plenty of room. After dinner the sun came out brilliantly, lighting up the white pear blossom and the tender green of the trees in the fields. I told some of the boys the legends of the Castles and the Lorelei, finding quite an audience of English Officers too. I had forgotten how few castles there were this side of Coblenz, only Drachenfels and a few much smaller ruins which don’t appear in the legends. The others including the Lorelei are all between Coblenz and Mainz. The Rhine is very flooded from recent rains, is out over the fields a good deal in many places. The current is very strong, making our journey up slow. We reached Coblez at 3pm where we disembarked and ran about the town about eight or nine hundred Tommies and ourselves. The town of course is occupied by the Americans, all chewing gum and talking “big”. We Sisters excited great curiosity “Red Cross Nurses?” we kept hearing in nasal twang. One soldier put his head over one of the Sister’s shoulders and said “What par-rt of Australia d’you come from little-one; Red Cross nurses aren’t cher?” One cannot feel attracted by the Americans. They say the Aussies are rough, but there is nothing to beat a rough American this side of the sun – or the other! I often think how right Dickens was in his sketch of the Yanks in “Martin Chuzzlewit” and yet they hated him for it.
Do you remember walking round under the barracks and fortifications at Coblenz across the river and seeing the German soldiers high above. The soldiers were still there but this time they were Americans. Isn’t it wonderfully strange – the ways of God.
No man can understand
We can but wait in awe and watch
The wonders of his hand
He has some hidden purpose sure
For all this blood and tears
It is his will - be still – be still
He is the Lord of Years
From “More Rough Rhymes of a Padre” a beautiful little book. I often think of those words when thinking of the time we were here six years ago and as it is now. I enjoyed this visit every bit of it. Coming home one of our M.O.’s told tales of early history and architecture in the Rhine Provinces and had intellectual arguments with our old Irish R.C. Padre to all of which I listened with much interest.
This week we had a fascinating day on the torpedo chasers in the Rhine. They are little tiny grey fellows wonderfully fast and did a good work in the war. Two of them were in that famous raid on Zeebrugge and Ostend. Sorely against the Boshe’s will our naval authorities have commandeered their lovely yacht club. It is like a big house boat and is just above the big bridge. It is a beautiful dwelling for the Officers, in it is a lovely ball room, the Officers themselves play their own “jazz” band. We are invited to a dance there before they leave for the French area, where they are going to fraternize for a bit. I got a beautiful snap shot of the torpedo chaser which was at Zeebrugge with a N. Zealand Officer under the white ensign. These little boats came all the way up from Northern France through canals and rivers, crossed right over the Vosges Mountains by locks, eventually getting into the Rhine at Strasburg and hence down to Cologne.
We are expecting our Matron-in-Chief, Miss Conyers, from London Head Quarters tomorrow. The rumour at present is that we are all to leave here on -------- but it may not be so at all
C/- Commercial Banking Co of Sydney
18 Birchin Land
No date 1915 LONDON E.C.
My Dear Sweet Sister
Can’t remember quite when I wrote last but fancy about a fortnight ago. Since then I have come off night duty today and it is a welcome change. Have been as sickly again as any thing too, bilious attacks one after another, had to have nights off three times. The matron told me if I kept on having them as badly as this on day duty she would have to ask the Matron-in-Chief to keep us in England. There’s one thing, I guess they’d never keep me there, if I was not strong enough for France, I certainly would not be for England – in my own estimations anyhow – and I would ???? things up till I got transport. I did try for transport from her but the Matron said she could not recommend it, “There were no sufficiently urgent reasons” and without her and the Colonel’s recommendations it practically goes for nothing so I did not put it in. Transport is hard to get now, few alight going and many sisters wanting to get home and they will not let you go unless you have “urgent” business reasons like lawyers calling, or if you are not fit to carry on. A member of the family being very ill in a long chronic way, will sometimes take you home and sometimes will not. But ho I can’t tell you how I am beginning to long and long to bet back; to be with you again, to see Sybba and Taffy, to ride thro” the bush of the eucalyptus , and see the sheep running thro’ the grass in the summer, sometimes I don’t even like to let myself think of it I want it so badly. I do want to see Evelyn and Keith and the little child – soon. I’ll know to say the “little girl” and their new home. I was most awfully interested in Sybba’s letters to Evelyn describing the site they chose for the house, they should be able to make it very pretty. I have had no letter from Sybba for a very long time but I then very seldom write to her now. It is quite easy to understand the way Mother gave up writing to her people isn’t it? I should be getting leave again in less than a month’s time under this new 6 monthly propaganda, but I am not likely to get it right up to date, will probably not get it till sometime in September instead of on or after August 16th when I’m due.
I shall be almost surely going to Scotland again. When I get off colour as I now am I can’t get my thoughts off the mountains and the mists and the cool fresh air, Know I’d be well “right away” as the Americans say if I could get in it.- It always seems almost a pity to tell everyone at home I’ve not been well because I always notice that by the time I get your replies saying “What a pity” etc I’m awfully well again. It seems as absurd thing to say in these cool countries but I always notice I’m far better in the bitter winters than in the summer time. I seldom get a cold or a cough or influenza like all the rest do (less than at home) it is only these blessed bilious attacks. It seems as funny to always hear people saying “You do look sick” and “What a tine thin thing you are”. These criticisms have always been your privilege my dear, and now you are fatter than I am. I hope Dr Rendall has managed to improve that trouble that you developed, am not going to mention it as to quite likely this may be opened by contact. We are ??? allowed the privilege of censoring our own tho’ the O.C. always has the right to open any among our letters he might think just and see if we are mentioning anything we ought not. I could make these letters more interesting had we a freer hand in these matters but I know I must not.
We have had a little real summer weather again, but it ???? last long without quite a cold turn, last night I once more resorted to a hot water bag, but it is warmer today.
So my income is about (pounds) 72 a year. That money has more than doubled itself since our dear Mother had it. I think she was getting a little over (pounds) 60 a year. Living was much cheaper then, we could not possible live and dress on (pounds) 72 now. I still have hopes that we might someday have sheep thro’ the amount of money we have would do to hang debts on I suppose as Keith puts it.
There should be an Australian main in again any day now., the last I got from you was May 10th and I received it on July 1st, pretty good wasn’t it. I got it about 4 days before anyone else got theirs. It was addressed to my old bank. I also got one from dear old Pittah about the dame date and one form Evelyn not quite so late. I am so glad he is getting along comfortable there. There must be quite a lot for him to interest himself in what with the call of the cow, vegetable garden etc and it must help tremendously with living expenses and how lovely to have such fresh vegetables instead of eternally tinned things and fresh rich mild and butter.
It is just a year ago since poor old Heathcote (Wyndham) was killed out here. Of course Fritz is back all over that country now. Poor Gertrude said one she would come back to find the grave after the war. I don’t think that will be possible now, that country has all been fought once again and will be again yet.
It is Sybba’s and Taffy’s wedding day today, just 19 years ago. Ho hear-o me how our times have gone and how little to show and how little done.
Yes I got that stock exchange report of Mullans and found it very interesting. The C.S.R. Co shares were at (pounds) 21.15 I think, well that would be equivalent to (pounds) 43.10 before they were split up, still considerably under what we bought at. I think I told you I bought some war bonds over here (pounds) 42 worth. I have somewhere about (pounds) 80 odd in Commonwealth Bank now. I think I’ll see about getting some of it sent out to you to invest. I see you say you put (pounds) 30 of mine into UserHoog?? That you could have got better interest but felt you ought to do that. I feel the same about it. If I send some over to you to invest I’ll leave it to your discretion as usual how to invest and you say I now have (pounds) 51 odd in bank.
So Miss ????has gone to Chile. I am sorry to that you have lost her from Sydney. On misses anyone like that. What a help she’d have been to use always if she’d been a sister and could have come out here with me.
Poor old Throsby got turned out of her Richmond Military Hospital. The South Africans took it over and have their own staff. She is furlongking in London just at present and looking out for somewhere else to go. Rob is still with the French, was right up against the line and were being shelled all day long with high explosions till the French authorities thought it was time to move. Wish I were with her. I can talk more French that German now, (am forgetting the latter) but am not studying any more until I have plus bon sante – there’s some for you now, don’t feel well enough to study it at present much to our little teacher’s disgust.
I see you say you’ve have some snaps taken in indoor and outdoor uniform. Hope you’ll be sending some along. I have on that I’;; send you from Blights, can’t do it from here. I will see if I can rake up enough energy and interest to write to Aunt Mary from there too.
So poor old Aunt Sal was in hospital again when you wrote. She seems to spend a lot of time in them.
I wonder if you ever hear anything of Charlie and Max. I often see Tommies from there but no Australians. It’s interesting to talk of those wonderful places with people who’ve been there. A better educated man I saw the other day thought it was a most wonderful country as we did and that with irrigation it should produce anything. Have been thro’ three of your old letters and see nothing more that requires answering and now I must get ready for dinner.
So goodnight my sweet sister, With much best love
Your loving Evelyn
18 Birchin Land
No date 1915 LONDON E.C.
My Dear Sweet Sister
Can’t remember quite when I wrote last but fancy about a fortnight ago. Since then I have come off night duty today and it is a welcome change. Have been as sickly again as any thing too, bilious attacks one after another, had to have nights off three times. The matron told me if I kept on having them as badly as this on day duty she would have to ask the Matron-in-Chief to keep us in England. There’s one thing, I guess they’d never keep me there, if I was not strong enough for France, I certainly would not be for England – in my own estimations anyhow – and I would ???? things up till I got transport. I did try for transport from her but the Matron said she could not recommend it, “There were no sufficiently urgent reasons” and without her and the Colonel’s recommendations it practically goes for nothing so I did not put it in. Transport is hard to get now, few alight going and many sisters wanting to get home and they will not let you go unless you have “urgent” business reasons like lawyers calling, or if you are not fit to carry on. A member of the family being very ill in a long chronic way, will sometimes take you home and sometimes will not. But ho I can’t tell you how I am beginning to long and long to bet back; to be with you again, to see Sybba and Taffy, to ride thro” the bush of the eucalyptus , and see the sheep running thro’ the grass in the summer, sometimes I don’t even like to let myself think of it I want it so badly. I do want to see Evelyn and Keith and the little child – soon. I’ll know to say the “little girl” and their new home. I was most awfully interested in Sybba’s letters to Evelyn describing the site they chose for the house, they should be able to make it very pretty. I have had no letter from Sybba for a very long time but I then very seldom write to her now. It is quite easy to understand the way Mother gave up writing to her people isn’t it? I should be getting leave again in less than a month’s time under this new 6 monthly propaganda, but I am not likely to get it right up to date, will probably not get it till sometime in September instead of on or after August 16th when I’m due.
I shall be almost surely going to Scotland again. When I get off colour as I now am I can’t get my thoughts off the mountains and the mists and the cool fresh air, Know I’d be well “right away” as the Americans say if I could get in it.- It always seems almost a pity to tell everyone at home I’ve not been well because I always notice that by the time I get your replies saying “What a pity” etc I’m awfully well again. It seems as absurd thing to say in these cool countries but I always notice I’m far better in the bitter winters than in the summer time. I seldom get a cold or a cough or influenza like all the rest do (less than at home) it is only these blessed bilious attacks. It seems as funny to always hear people saying “You do look sick” and “What a tine thin thing you are”. These criticisms have always been your privilege my dear, and now you are fatter than I am. I hope Dr Rendall has managed to improve that trouble that you developed, am not going to mention it as to quite likely this may be opened by contact. We are ??? allowed the privilege of censoring our own tho’ the O.C. always has the right to open any among our letters he might think just and see if we are mentioning anything we ought not. I could make these letters more interesting had we a freer hand in these matters but I know I must not.
We have had a little real summer weather again, but it ???? last long without quite a cold turn, last night I once more resorted to a hot water bag, but it is warmer today.
So my income is about (pounds) 72 a year. That money has more than doubled itself since our dear Mother had it. I think she was getting a little over (pounds) 60 a year. Living was much cheaper then, we could not possible live and dress on (pounds) 72 now. I still have hopes that we might someday have sheep thro’ the amount of money we have would do to hang debts on I suppose as Keith puts it.
There should be an Australian main in again any day now., the last I got from you was May 10th and I received it on July 1st, pretty good wasn’t it. I got it about 4 days before anyone else got theirs. It was addressed to my old bank. I also got one from dear old Pittah about the dame date and one form Evelyn not quite so late. I am so glad he is getting along comfortable there. There must be quite a lot for him to interest himself in what with the call of the cow, vegetable garden etc and it must help tremendously with living expenses and how lovely to have such fresh vegetables instead of eternally tinned things and fresh rich mild and butter.
It is just a year ago since poor old Heathcote (Wyndham) was killed out here. Of course Fritz is back all over that country now. Poor Gertrude said one she would come back to find the grave after the war. I don’t think that will be possible now, that country has all been fought once again and will be again yet.
It is Sybba’s and Taffy’s wedding day today, just 19 years ago. Ho hear-o me how our times have gone and how little to show and how little done.
Yes I got that stock exchange report of Mullans and found it very interesting. The C.S.R. Co shares were at (pounds) 21.15 I think, well that would be equivalent to (pounds) 43.10 before they were split up, still considerably under what we bought at. I think I told you I bought some war bonds over here (pounds) 42 worth. I have somewhere about (pounds) 80 odd in Commonwealth Bank now. I think I’ll see about getting some of it sent out to you to invest. I see you say you put (pounds) 30 of mine into UserHoog?? That you could have got better interest but felt you ought to do that. I feel the same about it. If I send some over to you to invest I’ll leave it to your discretion as usual how to invest and you say I now have (pounds) 51 odd in bank.
So Miss ????has gone to Chile. I am sorry to that you have lost her from Sydney. On misses anyone like that. What a help she’d have been to use always if she’d been a sister and could have come out here with me.
Poor old Throsby got turned out of her Richmond Military Hospital. The South Africans took it over and have their own staff. She is furlongking in London just at present and looking out for somewhere else to go. Rob is still with the French, was right up against the line and were being shelled all day long with high explosions till the French authorities thought it was time to move. Wish I were with her. I can talk more French that German now, (am forgetting the latter) but am not studying any more until I have plus bon sante – there’s some for you now, don’t feel well enough to study it at present much to our little teacher’s disgust.
I see you say you’ve have some snaps taken in indoor and outdoor uniform. Hope you’ll be sending some along. I have on that I’;; send you from Blights, can’t do it from here. I will see if I can rake up enough energy and interest to write to Aunt Mary from there too.
So poor old Aunt Sal was in hospital again when you wrote. She seems to spend a lot of time in them.
I wonder if you ever hear anything of Charlie and Max. I often see Tommies from there but no Australians. It’s interesting to talk of those wonderful places with people who’ve been there. A better educated man I saw the other day thought it was a most wonderful country as we did and that with irrigation it should produce anything. Have been thro’ three of your old letters and see nothing more that requires answering and now I must get ready for dinner.
So goodnight my sweet sister, With much best love
Your loving Evelyn
