Inside front coverPasted-in Certificate from British Red Cross Society
for Miss Ethel Conybeare, no. 25129, 6th January 1916 is a member
and may wear the regulation uniform.
Loose paper: postcard from White Star Line, postmark may be "15"
handwritten: "on our way home"
Awaiting money from Dad, down to 2 pounds, fees are half up-front
Best wishes to friends etc
Elaines coat great but only one pocket
Enclosing sprigs of plants as gifts
Pleads with Dad to write "Uncle Crawford", as "Phyllis" says he never writes.
Platway, Shaldon
Moving to Cambridge 29th
Has been sea-bathing with "Cousin Marion"
"Ted" and "Charlie" both in Dardanelles, as is Humphrey Edgecombe
Uncle Crawford pessimistic, his analysis of Russian and German positions
Concerns about Constantinople and cotton blockade
Reminds her of Punch cartoon
Uncle Crawford is nice, but clueless about children.
Bernard is home just now; is to be a doctor eventually.
(Cousin) Marion is happier married; has freedom compared to life as a daughter.
1915 September 25 - Platway, Shaldon
Cousin Marion left to visit parents: Sir Robert and Lady Edgecombe
Ethel in company by Marion's friend Eveleen Lucas
Yard has mulberries, hazel-nuts, apples
Off to "cinema" (quotes hers) at Teignmouth
1915 September 25 - Platway, ShaldonNo more sprigs - letters must now be 1 oz if a penny stamp.
1915 September 26
Bruce has been gazetted 2nd lieutenant, 10th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
at No. 3 O.T.C. Dover
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1098548
Has picture of women in standard nursing dress, note "will shortly look like this"
Got mail from home, including allowance
1915 September 26 - Platway, ShaldonTwo postcards pasted in, B&W
Houses of Parliament from across Thames
The Horse Guards, Whitehall
1915 September 26 - Platway, ShaldonPhotograph of Mr. C.A.V. Conybeare
Prospective Liberal Candidate, for the Wells Division
Handwritten notes: Charles Augustus Vansittart Conybeare
and "Florence was wife of Charles"
(Tense indicates was written after her death five months later)
Neither seems to be her handwriting. Looks childish. My Dad, years later?
Pasted-in biography of Charles Augustus Conybeare, dated July 1914
appears to be for his standing as MP.
A thorough bio, I'm not going to re-type it all, but he really was an
activist for the Irish in 1887, fought for them in court and parliament;
and he and his wife helped found the "International Women's Franchise" society.
Both have their own Wikipedia entries:
Charles Augustus Conybeare
Florence Annie Conybeare
Flabbergasted at being "tipped" 10 shillings by an Aunt.
I guess people wanted to support anybody doing anything.
1915 September 30 - Leaving Platway
Augustus helped her transfer at Paddington to St. Pancras
Now with Cousin Frances and Dorothea, who is working a VAD Hospital part-time
Got letter to report to the "Home" for nurses, 27 Queen's Gate, S10, 6pm Oct 18.
Letters should go there, not hospital
Joke Poem about killing a snoring wife "for Fish" (her sister's husband...)
Describes inauguration of new vice-chancellor.
Complains about the undemocratic "beastly line-drawing" about the
Master of Queen's...
...because the Vice-Chancellor married a non-Lady who was merely a servant
that had become his nurse. That Ladies whispered about it, that she was
a "person" not a "Lady" to them.
Getting chilly, dependent on fire in grate.
"Propriety forbids me to wear my red sweater which goes over my head" (why?)
Nothing's happening and nothing is "exciting, (except the soldiers)".
Library, favourite room in the house. "Thank goodness I shan't be wearing mufti this winter". (Nursing outfit counted as a uniform..)
Spent time in London on way from Cambridge, just loved it.
Found CPR offices in Trafalgar Square, happily, also Dominion Express.
Found CPR offices in Trafalgar Square, happily, also Dominion Express.
Stood outside Westminster Hospital, where she will work, for a while.
Spent time in Westminster Abbey listening to choir and service. "I think I shall take up religion again".
After contemplating London, caught train out.
1915 October 7 - same letter, added-to:
Please correct previous address from Queen's Gate to Queen Anne's Gate, 27.
Please don't send sweater; they'll supply sweaters for nurses because it will be so cold in the hospital (!)
1915 October 7 - same letter, added-to:Details purchase of uniforms, total cost 5 pounds, 3 shillings 8.5 pence.
Includes comments "3 horrible grey-blue overall things which look like
poor-house night-shirts: 1-2-6" (i.e. 1 pound, 2 shillings ,sixpence)
Have heard from "Dickey Bird" (friend of Elaine, as well) that she has gone to
Egypt.
Working in recruiting office until hospital job starts. Supporting National Registration that started in August.
Describing paperwork she does in recruiting office, manually copying registration cards. Already faster at it than most peers.
Does a few hours a day after a mile walk into Dartford.
Florence thought it would occupy her well. She's spending a lot of time with Florence. Tells a joke from recruiting poster.
Met a friend, Billy Burnett, advises family to tell his mother he's well.
Florence is keen to go to France and do "canteen work", right behind lines.
Passports hard to get because so many want to go. Florence trying YMCA and Church to get sponsored.
Willing to get Elaine a coat, will cost 2-3 pounds. Can always spend change on Xmas presents. Currently writing in front of fine fire in library.
Can't wear light clothing in house unless near that fire.
Have two vaccinations. Cost half a crown.
Bruce working hard, pleased with himself. Came to supper on Sunday, but had
to run right back.
Have two visiting Canadian soldiers. Sergeant Frank Whitehead, 19th Battery,
and Private Frank Godfrey of the 5th. Florence met latter through Florence Ambulance. "He's really a very nice boy - not a gentleman. But nice. (That wasn't meant in a snobby way, like I tisked about my last letter [about vice-chancellor and nurse] but I make no doubt you'll understand what I mean."
(This really is pretext for her marrying my grandfather, who came from a middle-class family, but also no "gentleman" from the right schools and accents.)
Frank Leopold Godfrey, b. 1891-May-17, of Toronto, served in a 5th battalion,
and survived.
War Record for Frank Godfrey
Photograph page with pictures of Ethel posing with August and Florence,
Frank Whitehead, at Oakfield Park.
1915 October 11 - Oakfield Park, DartfordLeft to right: Frank Whitehead, Ethel, Florence Annie Conybeare with pet,
Augustus Conybeare.
1915 October 11 - Oakfield Park, DartfordLeft to right: Frank Whitehead, Florence Annie Conybeare with pet,
Augustus Conybeare, Ethel
1915 October 11 - Oakfield Park, DartfordAugustus Conybeare.
Left to right: Frank Whitehead, Florence Annie Conybeare with pet,
Augustus Conybeare, Frank Godfrey
Florence also met Frank Whitehead and asked him to visit. He's 21, seems older.
Frank Clayton Whitehead is in War records, correct battery and battalion and
home address:
War Record, Frank Whitehead
...he survived the war and the Spanish Flu. Made Lieutenant.
Awarded Military Cross. London Gazette 1919 Feb 1. Went to Vancouver.
...older from having "knocked about a bit". His father is an architect in Winnipeg and Sergeant Whitehead is really an engineer.
Mentioned jokes about army doctors and pills, grumbling about food, unit
rivalries
More army joke stories about food.
Many garden flowers in England are Lethbridge wildflowers.
Augustus proudly showed off his Maple tree, and the three Canadians laughed
at it for being so miserable compared to ours.
Have no family pictures, or dog pictures. Please send.
Very ready for hospital move, imminent.
Visited "Chappelow", who is 20196, 10th Battery, now in No. 3 General Hospital
Wandsworth Common, London.
Photograph page with four photographs, all of Ethel, in her new Nurse Uniform.
1915 October 17 - Oakfield ParkUpper-right photograph of Ethel from Scan 036, facing camera in uniform,
label: "My, my, gracious Good Goodness!!!"
1915 October 17 - Oakfield ParkUpper-right photograph of Ethel from Scan 036, in uniform at a garden gate
label: "Lanky Lizz"
1915 October 17 - Oakfield ParkLower-left photo from scan 036, Ethel in uniform in garden,smiling
Label: "Military Annie".
1915 October 17 - Oakfield ParkLower-right photo from scan 36, Ethel in garden, concerned look.
Label: "Bad Man Hurt Ookoo".
[Unknown joke: Ookoo might have been a family pet?]
Chappelowe glad to be repatriated, didn't care for "German Health Resorts",
may have been taken prisoner.
Ethel plays guitar by Florence' request every night. First indication she
ever played guitar!
Charlie Chaplin is all over London at the "Cinographs", little pasteboard effigies, "quite a vogue".
Worst Zepplins yet, two reached London. 70 dead in London, 150 wounded.
Wants nighties and chemises for Xmas. Silk ones about gone.
Would like extra allowance for Xmas presents.
Leaving recruiting office after every day for 2 weeks; they were pleased.
Forms were to "help out Lord Darby's recruiting scheme".
Trying to avoid conscription.
No one dreams of this ending in under two years.
Should I go to Egypt? If Bruce were wounded, I couldn't go to France to help.
New girl! Four new girls at supper tonight, all uncomfortable.
Prayers, hymn after supper in sitting room - and October 18 was a Monday.
Matron is tiny creature with immense capability.
1915 October 18 - 27 Queen Anne's Gate SWPage with two documents pasted in
- permit for her to be absent 5-10PM.
- Receipt for her training, seven pounds, seven shillings.
1915 October 18 - 27 Queen Anne's Gate SWDiagram of her tiny room at the Nurse's Home. Bed, dresser, washstand, chair.
Big window. Will be waking up at 5:45AM.
1915 October 19
Off duty at 2pm, could have wept from sheer fatigue
Shoulders were worst.
Was off for tea from 2pm to 4:30, tea from 4-4:30, back to work
Today was 7AM-8PM, minus 3.5 hours of breaks.
Wasn't bad except for man screaming and howling as a wound was dressed.
Not a "born nurse" very squeamish about even washing and taking temperatures.
Wards are called "Matthew", "Luke" and "Mark".
Hates the medical students who do dressings every morning.
Starting to like the job. Everybody calls everybody "Nurse" at every opportunity.
She is a "Red Cross Nurse" as opposed to a "Staff Nurse", who are senior.
Saw Mr. Hore - advises Dad she will need fees and allowances, both, to get by.
Passed the last place a Zepplin blew up - horrible damage.
Hears a "bang" as she writes, wonders if Zepplin.
1915 October 22 - same letter
Just got evening off, gets one every week; off duty at 4:30, must return by 10.
Wasted that first evening pass to keep as a souvenir, two pages back.
Saw Chappelowe
Saw Chappelowe - in wheelchair. Right leg amputated, left leg will never be
any good. Talks so cheerfully about upcoming prosthesis.
They were holding a farmhouse for two days, retreated when overwhelming German
force attacked. Chapplowe hit with 3 bullets that "pulped" his right leg, and one that hit his left. Corporale got his jaw shot off, most of men mown down.
(The diary uses "Chappelowe" with and without a final "e". No "E.P. Chappelow", with any variation of p, pp, l, ll, trailing-e/not could be found in the Canadian archives for WW1. He remains a mystery.)
Last man left disabled gun, they were all captured. Wounded overlooked for a
day, advised if they couldn't be quiet when carried, they'd be dropped.
BUT - treated well in German hospital.
Congratulations to Henderson boys and Fred Downer
Enjoying job, likes day room at hospital for breaks, lunch with Frank Godfrey
Only goes to depressing Home to eat and sleep. Lucky to be in nice ward.
Signed with new name: Nurse Conybeare.
1915 October 29Photograph, perhaps postcard, exposure of silhouettes, entirely chiarascuro, of soldier standing under a tree, looking down.
Photograph of artillery on wheels in the street, sign in front says "Captured at Loos".
Clipping with the war poem "Now's The Time!" by W.M.L. Hutchinson
Viewed first surgery today (not war-related)
Nurses take names of wards, "Sister King William" like Bishops become "Bishop Toronto".
Awfully happy, enjoying job, no longer so hard.
Has seen Bruce, on way to Shorhaus. Visted Chappelow in hospital, tea at Morley's Hotel. Two pictures coming, of hospital and Abbey
1915 November 4Black and White, postcards of Westminster Abbey, and her Westminster Hospital, taken from island in middle of street between them.
Gotten over dislike of washing, dinners, wound dressings. Loves her professional look. "This is the best thing that has happened to my character" "ages since I've taken orders from anyone".
Will have no break at Xmas.
Westminster Hospital, Broad Sanctuary, S.W.
Happy to be in Matthew ward. Out for a date ("picture show") with Frank Godfrey who gave her following postcards.
10:35 AM, "Big Ben told me what time it is, I can see him from where I sit".
Day room is nice: piano, quiet
Praise of Big Ben. Nurse Halley, "my little red-haired pro", also her boss.
Nurse Stevens, Halley's sidekick.
1915 November 14Two postcards provided by Frank Godfrey
Thames Embankment, modern, with motorcars, looking down street
Thames Embankmeent, from the River, London.
Saw A.McNally in the casualty lists today.
Describes just-instituted conscription system
"The old fellows have been splendid", describes National Guard.
Praise of Home Guard volunteer who lied that he was 45 when he's 61.
Describes day off - sleeping in, secret egg breakfast on not-allowed spirit lamp
Long bath when she normally gets a few minutes
Describes what she gets done before 9 AM on a work day:
Sweep and dust one half ward, second sweep and dust in two more,
wash two sets of lockers, tables, cut up loaves of bread.
That's basic, the rest is taking temperatures, pulses, and endless washing
and sterilization.
She has changed. High appetite, red, working-womans hands and feet now.
Wishes she could remove Red Cross from her uniforms; it's the Scarlet Letter
of being a barely-trained neophyte, and properly-trained Red Cross Nurses
are embarrassed to be in her company.
Heard from "Aunt Clare" this morning, has not been getting letters passed on.
(Mother's sister, or Father's? Unknown.)
Matthew ward has been frantically busy lately; only thoughts at night are bath and bed, skips bathing when her shift runs late. Typically:
2 or 3 men dying;
3 or 4 coming-to from anaethetics;
2 or 3 recovering from "horrible operations" the day before;
a couple of accidents coming up from the surgery on stretchers;
"It's SOME corridor!"
Currently washing a chimney sweep, broken tibia, fell down chimney;
still isn't clean after 30 years of chimney sweeping.
Also, I skipped a number, so there was no "scan 65". When I found out,
I put the cover here instead of "this page left blank by accident".
I'm not a professional archivist. So sue me, grad student who
ends up reading this.
with no hope at all are kept alive on "salines and stimulants" for a few more hours misery. Two men dying now for whom she is very sorry. Good patients.
It's hard doing so much work on them, letting other work go, when you know it
will be useless.
"Nurse Rabbit is a vulgar little thing...but a jolly fine nurse, keen as steel on her work. She's done everything possible...though we know he can't live."
I've been to a few operations, right beside the table.
Will tell "Chappelowe" of Mother's invitation, he won't be home soon.
(All efforts to find any Chappelowe in war records, have continued to fail.)
Hoped to have pictures taken in uniform for her and Bruce, but neither has any
money now.
Two B&W postcards, top is "War Office, London".Bottom is Westminster Bridge, looking east from south side, across Thames to
Big Ben.
Wanting for days to tell about night duty. Could not write as though nothing
happened, and let Bruce tell about new wife first. Very shocked to find
he married so suddenly. Will meet "Mrs. H.B.A. Conybeare" soon. Had no
time to talk to him on recent visit. Having trouble with fountain pen.
(Very visible on page.)
I really like night duty. Put in five days in women's corridor, "Adelaide",
including births. Sick babies sadder than sick grown-ups. Women harder
patients than men.
She is now working a bit in three wards, women's surgery, men's medical,
gynecological, and "incurable women". (Chronic conditions, we'd now say?)
Each ward has a name honoring people - the latter is "Marie Celeste Ward"
- and this is about 40 years after the famous lost ship, so that's weird.
Feels better than a week ago, has met Bruce's new wife Gladys and thinks
things may turn out all right.
Sorry I don't write often enough. I just can't write when tired.
Met Frank Godfrey, Bruce, new wife Gladys at Admiralty Arch.
Visited Percy Belcher at Endsleigle Palace Hospital. Hit in neck, arm and
voice both damaged. Lunch at Strand Corner House.
Had to get back to various hospitals, Gladys also a nurse.
More married men than single men enlisting. Casual canvass of one regiment
indicated they were "fed up with married life". Liked article that said
"English people being brought up to think of matrimony as a romance rather
than a partnership".
1915 December 15
On duty in King William tonight, a soldier's ward. Temporarily.
"I quite like him, he is never at a loss for something to say."
"It was rather amusing how paternal he was in spots."
(Bennett was serving MP for Calgary at the time, became Prime Minister
20 years later.)
Weight up 16 pounds to 120 pounds.
Signed "The Little Pig Who Didn't Stay at Home"
Page with two B&W postcards:Aldwych, London, (one of the major street intersections, grand buildings)
The Roman Catholic Cathedral, London
Got letters for herself and Bruce.
Got pictures of them in little leather case.
1915 December 21 - 4 AM
Still in "King Billy" (William) ward, and it's "her" ward, temporarily.
Very pleased she is the Red Cross Nurse being given more-difficult work.
Offers recipe and instructions for "Chelsea Buns".
"I received the more gorgeous five pound box of candy today from R.B. Bennett -
he said, you know, that he was going to send me some, but as the"
[next four words water-damaged, then "departure" I think]
I found this at the porter's little lodge - it may have been there for
several days."
Arrive in nick of time - lavatory pipe exploded, she had to clean up,
job is very busy.
[Scanner chopped off 3mm on right side of page. Clipped words are
Christmas, Then, the, least, the, and the "think" part of "thinking"]
Bruce in London for week at Morley's Hotel, showed him Redwing snapshots
(which are in Vol III of the diary, the summer vacation with the Fishers)
Found Xmas parcel had been opened, suspect it a pudding.
Mrs. Barker, Grandma Welsman, Retta. Elaine's express order very welcome,
I was stoney broke. Got a winter hat. Thanks Dad for allowance.
Sorry to hear about Fred McBeth - war is a queer thing.
Looking forward to time off very much, much love to all, asking the "moon, which
is shining over Westminster Abbey, tonight, to carry [smiles] for me".
Pasted-in photograph of baby Bernadette Fisher, spelled 'Bernadet' in pencil.Westminster Hospital, Broad Sanctuary, S.W.
Christmas is over. Gushes about Xmas presents for most of page.
"Now for Christmas - it lasted with me from eight o'clock on Christmas
Eve, until ten p.m on Sunday the 26th. I wasn't in bed for fifty hours,
and only had about five hours of very broken and intermittent sleep."
and decorations. No time for sleep, went around wards providing entertainment.
Bruce and Chappelowe visited.
Night shift took turns napping and working.
Then had Sunday and Monday nights off, spent time with another Red Cross Nurse,
"Duff" girl who "is B.Sc." [in nursing?] Duff family has another sister,
and "big kiltie brother in the Black Watch". Elder brother presumed killed
at Loos, family "wearing mourning".
Then 11 hours of sleep.
Describes labour if "old Maud" has asthmatic attack, half an hour of treatment.
Just finished. Got out with Bruce the other day for show supper
"at Corner House with Hay who is from Ingersoll, Ont and is in Bruce's
Y.O.C. at Shoreham". "Charlie Chaplin was too absurd", describes comic bits.
"Florence gave me the nicest white silk sweater", had been present from
Augustus that was too small. (So, Annie Florence Conybeare, still healthy
in January 1916.)
and run a buffet for the French Red Cross. So her father had a sudden
heart problem, putting "kibosh on France". Florence continuing work
at Charing Cross refreshment stand.
Has not seen Gladys Conybeare since they visited Madame Tussauds.
Hands not doing badly, "feet have three healthy corns"
Don't let me see a sausage again when I get home.
Takes back what she wrote about being governed by Big Ben's voice; it's
the bells of St. Margarets, Big Ben is silent in war, as "he can be heard
ten miles away" and is a target.
The were four or five "ops" in Arden today, more work in the morning.
1916 January 4Page has hand sketch, perhaps with charcoal, shaded, unlike her other
sketches. Sketch shows the skyline of London: Big Ben, Abbey, Parliament Tower
and all their billowing smokestacks. The page also has deliberate ink-blots
to illustrate the text, about the size of the ash landing in her room.
"The above is a faithful and true representation of the view from my window
at 27 Queen's Gate." Mostly chimneys pouring soot in her window.
Can't keep anything on dresser, soot like regular snowfall.
"Bits this size" (6mm inkblot) "and this size" (4x6mm inkblot) "are quite
common while bits like this" (4mm blot) "may be seen anywhere, and ones like
this" (scattering of many 2mm and 3mm blots, dozens of 1mm in a splatter) "are omnipresent and all-pervading".
Still, almost fond, will miss.
Letter from Aunt Amy requesting visit. Have other arrangements, also fed
up with Uncle Crawford. Crawford angry at Bruce for "doing a thing that renders him liable to 3 years imprisonment, if it was discovered", and "will never again have anything to do with Bruce", and apparently has been great help in past.
Ethel is "almost certain" of going to Egypt.
Miss Roberts, the commandant of "London 30" thinks she is likely to be
chosen to come to Egypt with them. So Ethel will take Red Cross Exams:
Home Nursin and First Aid. Will need coaching without lectures. May
be able to stay in the Home (27 Queen's Gate, now a 1.7M pound flat)
while studying. Was sent by Devonshire House to Mrs. Ross, Hon. Sec. of
the Westminster Division for doctors who could innoculate her, cheap hostels,
etc. (Clearly nursing volunteerism was encouraged.)
Miss Roberts, my commandant, also very nice. It was nice of Westminster
to take her in when she'll be no use after the war. (People do seem to
appreciate the war will take years, but maybe not how many.)
Going to Taplow to see Dr. Mewburn, will be nice visit and she has huge
medical certificate to fill out. Received various Xmas gifts from
Welsmans, from Jean Cameron, and "Edna". Signed "New Member of London 30".
PS: You aren't getting any more of Oly's
letters to read after last one printed in The Herald.
[Refers to scan 097 - "Major Jack Ross Writes from the Trenches" in the Lethbridge Herald -dated October 30, 1915.]
He was upset at you, it was a "bit nervy".
Took 10:42 from Paddington to Taplow, see Dr. Mewburn, (Major, now), at
Duchess of Connaught's Hospital. Heard many Canadian nurses while waiting
and was glad to hear the accent. He was very helpful, complimentary,
took her on tour.
Hospital built around "Mrs. Astor's Estate", now 900 beds, a "nice little theatre" (operating room), X-ray department, all complete. Had lunch with
nurses, called sisters.
1916 January 8
Met Joyce, went to Dominion Bank, met Jimmie Jones brother from Carpathia
in 1910. Joyce off to France on Monday; is certified masseuse, six
month course, Royal Massage Society, 8th in 100 candidates.
Last couple of nights at Westminster in "East Extras" (blurred writing, I think it is:) "such a cosy, compact little set of"
"...little set of wards, reserved for objectionable cases which the other
wards can't stick" Sign on the wall reads "The East Extras are to be used
for the isolation of noisy, offensive, obstructive or other special cases".
Children with TB,
Two men, one dying of a growth, one paralysed
One woman dying, an invalid all her life; the other, getting better from gangrene
Nice long letter from Dicky Bird in Alexandria (photo in back of book)
"Won't it be ripping if I get there?"
pasted-in story from Lethbridge Herald, "Major Jack Ross Writes From the Trenches".
Pasted-in photo of a whole small hospital staff, about two dozen, on stairs,
the way staff pose for staff pictures today.
"Dicky in Alexandria".
("Dicky Bird" may get a proper name in some later volume, I can only hope)
Inside back cover of Volume IV:Pasted-in photo of a whole small hospital staff, about two dozen, on stairs,
the way staff pose for staff pictures today.
"Dicky in Alexandria".
("Dicky Bird" has pictures in a later volume, little further explanation).
Photo has been processed in attempt to make faces clearer.