Diary of a Nursing Sister on the Western Front, 1914-1915 | Page 2

lovely calm and sunny
voyage--slowed down in the night for a fog. I had a berth by an open
port-hole, and though rather cold with one blanket and a rug
(dressing-gown in my trunk), enjoyed it very much--cold sea bath in
the morning. We live on oatmeal biscuits and potted meat, with
chocolate and tea and soup squares, some bread and butter sometimes,
and cocoa at bed-time.
There is a routine by bugle-call on troopships, with a guard, police, and
fatigues. The Tommies sleep on bales of forage in the after well-deck
and all over the place. We have one end of the 1st class cabin forrard,
and the officers have the 2nd class aft for sleeping and meals, but there
is a sociable blend on deck all day. Two medical officers here were
both in South Africa at No. 7 when I was (Captains in those days), and
we have had great cracks on old times and all the people we knew. One
is commanding a Field Ambulance and goes with the fighting line.
There are 200 men for Field Ambulances on board. They don't carry
Sisters, worse luck, only Padres.

We had an impromptu service on deck this afternoon; I played the
hymns,--never been on a voyage yet without being let in for that. It was
run by the three C. of E. Padres and the Wesleyan hand in hand: the
latter has been in the Nile Expedition of '98 and all through South
Africa. We had Mission Hymns roared by the Tommies, and then a C.
of E. Padre gave a short address--quite good. The Wesleyan did an
extempore prayer, rather well, and a very nice huge C. of E. man gave
the Blessing. Now they are having a Tommies' concert--a talented boy
at the piano.
At midday we passed a French cruiser, going the opposite way. They
waved and yelled, and we waved and yelled. We are out of sight of
English or French coast now. I believe we are to be in early to-morrow
morning, and will have a long train journey probably, but nobody
knows anything for certain except where we land--Havre.
It seems so long since we heard anything about the war, but it is only
since yesterday morning. (The concert is rather distracting, and the
wind is getting up--one of the Tommies has an angelic black puppy on
his lap, with a red cross on its collar, and there is a black cat about.)
Thursday, August 20th, 5 P.M., Havre.--We got in about 9 o'clock this
morning. Havre is a very picturesque town, with very high houses, and
a great many docks and quays, and an enormous amount of shipping.
The wharves were as usual lined with waving yelling crowds, and a
great exchange of Vive l'Angleterre from them, and Vive la France
from us went on, and a lusty roar of the Marseillaise from us. During
the morning the horses and pontoons and waggons were disembarked,
and the R.E. and Field Ambulances went off to enormous sheds on the
wharf. We went off in a taxi in batches of five to the Convent de St
Jeanne d'Arc, an enormous empty school, totally devoid of any
furniture except crucifixes! Luckily the school washhouse has quite
good basins and taps, and we are all camping out, three in a room, to
sleep on the floor, as our camp kit isn't available. No one knows if we
shall be here one night, or a week, or for ever! It is a glorious place,
with huge high rooms, and huge open casements, and broad staircases
and halls, windows looking over the town to the sea. We are high up on

a hill. There's no food here, so we sit on the floor and make our own
breakfast and tea, and go to a very swanky hotel for lunch and dinner.
We are billeted here for quarters, and at the hotel for meals.
A room full of mattresses has just been discovered to our joy, and we
have all hauled one up to our rooms, so we shall be in luxury.
Just got a French paper and seen the Pope is dead, and a very
enthusiastic account of the British troops at Dunkerque, their
marvellous organisation, their cheerfulness, and their behaviour.
Just seen on the Official War News placarded in the town that the
Germans have crossed the Meuse between Liège and Namur, and the
Belgians are retiring on to Antwerp. The Allies must buck up.
The whole town is flying flags since the troops began to come in; all
the biggest shops and buildings fly all four of the Allies.
Friday, August 21st.--Intercession Day at home. There is a beautiful
chapel in the Convent.
There is almost as much censoring about the movement of the French
troops