There two letters were sent to my aunt Freda Edgar who was training to be a nurse with the RAF. They are from her older sister Betts who was a nurse with the Army and had been transferred to Egypt. I have copies of other letters sent to Freda as well including from someone who was at Arnhem.
19th General Hospital
Forces of Middle East
October 31st 1940
To: Nurse F.M. Edgar, St James’ Hospital, Leeds
My Dear Sis
You must be wondering, after all these months whether I am still in the land of the living or not, and I often wonder the same about you. So much seems to have happened since I last saw you. It is so long ago that I have forgotten when it was. We missed each other the last visit home didn’t we? However Mother told me that you had had a week at home in her last letter, and that you were ready to sit your prelim. If you have not done so yet, may I wish you jolly good luck.
It is a great pity that you were not finished training before war started. You might have been out here with me. Actually, although we have a jolly good grouch now and again, we do get quite a lot of fun out of our life here.
Our hospital is now all under canvas. Everything is tents. Wards and quarters and dining rooms are all big marquees, erected on nothing but sandy wildness, but after our first week we have become quite accustomed to it all.
At present I am doing night duty and feel a veritable Flo. Nightingale tripping from tent to tent with my little oil lamp. The nights are much more pleasant for work actually. Although it is supposed to be the late autumn here, the days are very hot. It is almost impossible to sleep during the day, because we just lie in a bath of perspiration, but as soon as sunset comes it is glorious. The sunsets and sunrises are absolutely marvellous, there is nothing more beautiful in the world. About a mile away from our camp is a large lake, through which a canal runs, and we see the sunrise every morning about 5 o’clock, over the water. Such beauty helps to compensate for lots of other little discomforts with which we have to put up.
First and foremost are the flies. Not dozens but hundreds absolutely swarm round the place, due to lack of sanitation. I think because we have a very primitive type of this. It is hoped to be improved upon however when we get our new hutted hospital in a month or two’s time.
Until a month ago I was living in Cairo, which is quite a good spot, with plenty to see and do in one’s off-duty. I had just made quite a few friends when we were packed of into the desert, but they will always be there to visit when mu leave comes along. During my stay in the old city I managed to se most of the interests. The Pyramids are really wonderful, and one has to see them to believe how marvellously well built they are. Our little journey from the Pyramids to the Sphinx was made by camel, and a more fantastic ride I have never had. To be sitting astride the old animal, miles above everybody, jogging backwards and forwards like a ship in distress, is most weird but laughable. You would love it and also the expedition to all the new excavations. The latest ones, discovered in 1938, are wonderful and consist mainly of tombs and temples, the walls of which are still in a state of comparatively good condition. The colour of some of the figures are almost the same as when they were built and so very life-like. Sometimes I can hardly realise that all this present phase of my life is time. It seems almost a dream sometimes, that I can have travelled ½ way round the world, seeing on my way Cape Town, Colombo, Ceylon and Bombay and finally to be living in a tent in the desert, 30 miles away from any form of civilization. To even have thought of nursing under such conditions would have seemed ludicrous a year ago. Yet strange things are happening and will happen – before this old war is over.
Often my thoughts stray to you and all the folk at home, wondering and worrying as to your present existence. How awful it must be to live in constant dread of bombers overhead, and having to rush down into shelters umpteen times in the day. Each convoy which comes out here gives us news of fresh attacks on our dear little country. How I long for the day when we shall all meet again and talk about our different experiences.
I heard my first bomb drop the other night, but it was a good few miles away, otherwise everything has been very peaceful.
You have most probably heard of Mother’s cousin Hannah, who lives out in Egypt. Well I have been fortunate enough to find her and she is living in the town to our camp, to which we go on our days off. She is very kind to me and if I go to her house any time and am always welcome. I am actually very lucky indeed with regard to the filling in of off-duty time. There is always something to do. On my last night off, the Colonel took my friend Betty, and I to a party at an Officer’s Mess in the neighbouring town, where we met two very eligible young subalterns. We are meeting them again this Sunday, all going as arranged, and a sail in a yacht and a picnic lunch is suggested. It ought to be grand fun. Anyway I will tell you all about it in my next epistle.
No doubt you will be working very hard in your hospitals at home, getting heaps of experience with shrapnel wounds etc. All our scope at present appears to consist of malaria and dysentery, which, are two of the most common diseases out here, which is of course all to the good. We must not wish for casualties.
Now, my dear, much as I have to tell you I must needs close, as we are only allowed 5 pages airmail, so cheerio and good luck, and do write to me very soon. Send airmail if possible, because boat mail takes about 3 weeks longer.
Parcels of love
Bessie (Betts)
19th Field General Hospital
XXXXXXXX
Middle East Forces
January 10th 1941
Dear Freda
You will almost die with the shock of it when you receive this epistle, because I haven’t written to you for months. I think of you often nevertheless. And wonder under what conditions you are living in dear old England. Here we are as safe as houses were before the war and hardly know what an enemy plane sounds like. You will know of course that I am now living in the desert, not far from Aunt Hannah’s and go down on my half days and days off.
I wonder, do you have any off-duty or are you too busy with casualties. I am writing this letter on Daddy’s birthday. Wish him many happy returns for me in your next letter. I know it will be too late, but I always am with everything, so they will understand. There have been great victories won and marvellous feats performed by our men out here, but the 19th Gen. Hosp. are still sitting quietly in their quiet spot of desert, carrying on in the same old way. I have been on the British Officer’s Ward for the past month and life has been most pleasant. At the present moment however I am in hospital myself as a patient, with a slight touch of gastric trouble. It came on very suddenly and was just as quickly better again. I am now recuperating, as the saying goes, and expect to get out tomorrow, to stay for a couple off days at aunt Hannah’s before resuming duty.
I must tell you about a little affair which I am having at present, with a lieutenant of the Royal Engineers. He is an awfully sweet boy and frightfully keen on me, I am afraid, for what reason I know not. He spoils me immensely and, of course, I love it, but I am not so sure of my feelings towards him. I almost feel sometimes that he will ask me to marry him tomorrow, so to speak, but if he did I should be stumped for an answer. At Xmas he bought me a lovely bedside rug of camel hair and on New Year’s he gave me a little silver bracelet. He has since bought a little Ford two-seater so that we can get about easily.
He came to see me last night here at the hospital, laden with a very impressive bouquet of red roses. Its all very impressive. It may last, but if it doesn’t it will be yet another happy memory of my sojourn in the East. Please do not say a word of this to Pop, because I know he would be very, very annoyed and think that I was wandering from the straight and virtuous path. I don’t mind about mother. She would enjoy it.
Well, Freda, Xmas came along and we had a fairly good time. Oh! Here comes my lunch, and as I haven’t had any for two days, I am ready for it. Continue later.
I’ve eaten half my first course. It was a bit cold so I have left it. I wonder what comes next. Probably the old favourite, rice pud. It is strange that when in this country rice pudding follows one round like a faithful pup.
As I was saying, we had a fairly good Xmas, with the usual turkey, mince pies and plum pudding, but the whole show lent itself to making us all feel a mite homesick. However things took a turn for the better on New Year’s Eve when we gave a little cocktail party to the officers and had a little dance afterward. Now that the holidays are over we are content to trip into town once a week to do odd bits of shopping and go to the Y.W.C.A. for a spot of food.
There is a gale of wind blowing at present and the sand is over everything. Even my jolly old rice pudding was gritty. Sand is very nice once in a while at the seaside but not to live with always. It’s not a bit friendly at times.
Now I have nothing of note to tell you up to press, but I will leave this open until tonight, to tell you whether Ron, the R.E., comes 25 miles from the camp to see me or not. Now I am going to have a snooze. Cheerio!
New start!! It is now 6 o’clock, the wind has gone down, I am in the ward on my own and no Ron has arrived yet. He may have been too busy today and it takes almost an hour to come in from the camp, so I will excuse him this time. I haven’t told you about the exciting times we have up at camp when a real wind blows, a ‘khamseeka’ as it is called out here. It is a warm wind from the desert, which brings with it great whirls of sand, which penetrate into everything, even our food and beds. The last time one occurred I was sleeping in the tent on my own. Betty Chappelles shares one with me but she was away overnight. It rose about 12 midnight and almost took the tent away altogether. Our lockers were upset, the lamps dashed onto the floor and our clothes absolutely lost in sand. I think I had a quiet weep on my own, and gathering up my hot bottle and blankets went to sleep in the tent next door which was not in such a bad state. It is all most tremendous strain, because it goes on and on for a couple of days or more without ceasing, and it takes us all our time to keep the ward tents up sometimes. When we look back on it, it seems terribly funny, but at the time we almost weep with vexation.
I must say goodnight now, chickabrides and hope and pray that you are safe and sound, now, and when you receive this, 6 weeks hence.
Lovingly yours
Bessie
