Letter from Louisa Garrett Anderson to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Undated, probably Wednesday 16 Sep 1914. Written from the Hotel Terminus, Gare St Lazare. Transcription:
Dearest Mother
We have had a very comfortable journey, reached the Hotel in Paris about 10.30pm.
There were scarcely any porters and no waiters left and we had to carry our luggage up 3 flights of stairs and they cd not give us supper, but this was all the trace of trouble here. Everyone most kind.
We thought we saw aeroplanes in the sky as we approached Paris and the huge search lights swept over the sky but it shd not like to swear to them.
We are probably to stay in the hotel tonight and to begin work at Claridge's on Thursday or Friday. We were met at Dieppe by a Representative of the Red Cross, the English consul and the Harbour Master - all said it seemed a pity that we shd not stay there as help was desperately needed there - especially for the wretched German wounded for whom v little help was forth coming.
The corps is in the best of spirits and everyone is as fresh as possible after a good night's rest. We have sent them all out this morning in charge of the orderlies who are taking the nurses and men out to learn their way about. The women orderlies are going to be a great success I think. 3 very attractive capable girls who speak French well and know how to look after themselves.
Dr Murray and I are waiting at home until Madame Perouse the president of the [French Red] Cross arrives. She is due at 11am and may turn up any time now.
Much love dearest
Yrs always, LGA
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