Diary of a Nursing Sister on the Western Front, 1914-1915 | Page 9

over the sea. Three Padres are
stranded at Pornichet--two were troopers in the S.A. War, and they do
duty for us. The window of the glass lounge where we have services
blew in with a crash this morning, right on the top of them, and it took
some time to sort things out, but eventually they went on, in the middle
of the sentence they stopped at.
A French rag this morning had some cheering telegrams about the
Allies--that left, centre, and right were all more than holding their own,
even if the enemy is rather near Paris. What about the Russians who
came through England? We've heard of trains passing through Oxford
with all the blinds down.
Thursday, September 10th.--Dazzling day. War news, "L'ennemie se
replie devant l'armée anglaise," and that "Nos alliés anglais poursuivent
leur offensive dans la direction de la Marne."--All good so far. No
letters yet.
Friday, September 11th.--It is said to-day that No.-- is to open at
Nantes immediately. That will mean, at the earliest, in a fortnight,
possibly much longer. We five French speakers are again told to stand
by for special orders, but I know it won't come off.
At early service yesterday among the Intercessions was one for
patience in this time of trial waiting for our proper work. Never was
there a more needful Intercession.
Some of us explored the salt-marshes behind this belt of pines
yesterday, up to the farms and to a little old church on the other side; it
was open, and had a little ship hanging over the chancel. The
salt-marshes are intersected by sea walls--with sea pinks and sea

lavender--that you walk along, and there are masses of blackberries
round the farms.
There are rumours that all the hospitals will be getting to work soon,
but I don't believe it. No.-- has lost all its tent-poles, and a lot of its
equipment in the move from Havre. I believe the missing stuff is
supposed to be on its way to Jersey in the Welshman with the German
prisoners.
Saturday, September 12th.--Rien à dire. Tous les jours même chose--on
attend des ordres, ce qui ne viennent jamais.
Sunday, September 13th.--The hospitals seem to be showing faint signs
of moving. No.-- has gone to Versailles, and No.-- to Nantes. No.--
would have gone to Versailles if they hadn't had the bad luck to lose
their tent-poles in the Welshman, and their pay-sheets and a few other
important items.
Had to play the hymns at three services to-day without a hymn-book!
Luckily I scratched up 370, 197, 193, 176, and 285, and God Save the
King, out of my head, but "We are but little children weak" is the only
other I can do, except "Peace, Perfect Peace"! A fine sermon by an
exceptionally good Padre, mainly on Patience and Preparation!
Sunday Evening, September 13th, La Baule, Nantes.--Orders at last. M.
and I, an Army Sister, and two Army Staff Nurses are to go to Le Mans;
what for, remains to be seen; anyway, it will be work. It seems too
good to be by any possibility true. We may be for Railway Station duty,
feeding and dressings in trains or for a Stationary Hospital, or anything,
or to join No. 5 General at Le Mans.
Monday, September 14th, Angers, 8 P.M.--in the train.--We five got
into the train at La Baule with kit-bags and holdalls, with the farewells
of Matron and our friends, at 9.30 this morning. We are still in the
same train, and shall not reach Le Mans till 11 P.M. Then what?
Perhaps Station Duty, perhaps Hospital. There is said to be any amount
of work at Le Mans. We have an R.H.A. Battery on this train with guns,
horses, five officers, and trucks full of shouting and yelling men all

very fit, straight from home. One big officer said savagely, "The first
man not carrying out orders will be sent down to the base," to one of
his juniors, as the worst threat. The spirits of the men are irrepressible.
The French people rush up wherever we stop (which is extremely often
and long) and give them grapes and pears and cigarettes. We have had
cider, coffee, fruit, chocolate, and biscuits-and-cheese at intervals. It is
difficult to get anything, because no one, French or English, ever seems
to know when the train is going on.
We have been reading in 'The Times' of September 3, 4, 5, and 7, all
day, and re-reading last night's mail from home.
What a marvellous spirit has been growing in all ranks of the Army
(and Navy) these last dozen years, to show as it is doing now. And the
technical perfection of all one saw at the Military Tournament this year
must have meant a good deal--for this War.