Ella Cooke - Letter to 'Auntie', dated 6 April 1915

Letter describing living and working in France during the First World War. (8 leaves)

Extracts from the text read as follows:

Extract 1

[Page 6]

"Nurses are in great demand in London at present. It wasn’t so when I offered my services at the commencement of war & that is why I came out under the French Government instead of British. You see the 'Ladies' have got tired of things, seeing the war has lasted so long & now they are giving trained women a chance. I blame the British authorities very much for allowing such muddles at first... Many women came over to France who had never done a day’s nursing in their lives. But you see it was all 'poor dear things & the officers' & of course they had to do something. Women went perfectly mad but I’m glad to think some have already recovered from their sentimental desires."

Extract 2

[Page 6]

"The French soldiers make splendid patients but the system of administration

[Page 7]

& working I do not like. However it has given me experience to see different ways & I’ll have all the more to talk about when I return."