Matron Dorothy Cotton in the Great War

Doss

Born into a distinguished military family as the daughter of Brigadier General William Henry Cotton, Matron Dorothy Cotton became one of the famed nursing Bluebirds/Oiseaux bleus (so-called because of their blue uniforms) during the Great War. One of 37 nurses who served in Russia, Doss, as known to her family, met members of the Russian Royal Family many times while serving at the Anglo-Russian hospital in Petrograd.

“Everyone admires my uniform so much so all the Counts Grand Duchesses & so forth came up to inquire about it.“

• Letter from Dorothy on 6 February 1916 to Mrs Mary Peck

In group photos with the Russian Royal Family and staff of the Anglo-Russian Hospital, Dorothy always given a prominent place next to the Grand Duchesses. Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, along with the rest of the Royal Family, executed by the Bolsheviks on 16/17 July 1918, following the Russian Revolution, shortly after the Anglo-Russian Hospital’s service became untenable.

Cotton Family

Born in Kingston, Ontario, 2 August 1886, Dorothy MacLeod Penner Cotton graduated from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montréal, Quebec. Her story, and experience, is truly unique among the Canadian Nursing Sisters.

In 1876 William Henry Cotton married Jessie Penner (1855-1942) and they had eight children. The Cottons’ eldest son Private Henry (Harry), a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment died 30 April 1900 in the South African War (Cenotaph Cimetière Mont-Royal). Two other sons died during the Great War; Lieutenant Charles Penner Cotton of the Canadian Field Artillery died on 1 June 1916 and Captain Gordon Ross Penner Cotton of the Canadian Infantry Brigade died two weeks later on 14 June 1916. Other children Miles Penner Cotton (Cimetière Mont-Royal), Elsie Knox Cotton (Cimetière Mont-Royal), and Mary Eleanor Cotton Rosamund (Cimetière Mont-Royal).

Custodial history

Dorothy Cotton’s memoirs of the Anglo Russian Hospital presented in December 1916 to Mildred White, who trained in nursing with Cotton and also served overseas, and later head nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. The memoirs and biographical notes (volume 1) presented in 1984 by the sister of Mildred White, Mrs. C.H. MacLaren of Ottawa, Ont., also a nurse.

The correspondence, the clippings and the other material (vol. 2) presented in 1987 by Barry W. Roxburgh of Ottawa, Ont. Additional material presented in 2005 and 2014 by William E. Stavert of Montreal, Que.

Throughout the war years she had kept detailed diaries and written copious letters home, many of which are in the Robert C. Fetherstonhaugh Collection of World War I Letters and Diaries in the McGill University Archives.

After graduating from Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital in 1910, she was one of the 3,000 Canadian nurses to join the Canadian Army Medical Corps. In her case, this was No.3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill), Lieut-Col John McCrae’s unit.

CEF Service Summary

• Nursing Sister Dorothy Cotton Appointed as Nursing Sister Canadian Active Militia Oct. 1st 1914
  • Appointed to the Canadian Expeditionary Force
• Jan. 15 – 1915 Proceeded Overseas for duty with MOS
• No. 3 Canadian General Hospital May 1915
• Served in England, France and Russia
  • Served for duty, for a period of 9 mths with the Anglo Russian Unit 2-11-15 Dec 1916.
    • The authorities of the Anglo-Russian Hosp later asked for her return to Petrograd.
      • Canadian Authorities approved the request.
• N S Cotton rejoined the Unit from Jan to Aug 1917.
• On return to England, appointed Acting Matron & detailed for duty at the I O D E Officers Hospital London.
• Aug 1918, transferred to the CEF for duty as Matron, Camp Hill Hosp. Halifax, NS
• Struck off strength of CEF on General Mobilization 8 – 17 – 19

1915

Enlistment of Dorothy MacL. P. Cotton

Lt-Col Henry Brydges Yates, and Major Allan Campbell P Howard, Canadian Army Medical Corps, accepted her attestation papers on 4 May 1915 at Montreal. Dorothy should be easy to identify in group photos, standing 5′ 10″ tall, she would tower over most men of this period. Fair complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. Birth mark on upper lip.

Yates Cup – LCol H B Yates

The Yates Cup first presented in 1898 by Dr. Henry Brydges Yates of McGill University, to the Toronto Varsity Blues, winners of the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union. The Cup the oldest continually played for football trophy in North America, predating the Grey Cup by 11 years and also the Little Brown Jug, the trophy awarded to the winner of the University of Michigan – Minnesota game in Division 1A, first presented in 1909.

During the war, he rose to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, served as a doctor in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and was the second in command of the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) in Boulogne, France.

Lt-Col H. B. Yates

While overseas, Yates organized football and baseball games for his unit, making him very popular among the troops. After active service in France, Yates fell ill, suffering from bronchitis after a fierce storm on Nov. 13, 1915.  He was admitted to the very same hospital he administered but failed to improve during the next few days and evacuated to England where he died at Ramsgate (near Kent) on Jan. 22, 1916.

22 April 1915

On the day of the first mass-gas attacks in Belgium, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital inspected by the Duke of Connaught in Montreal. Dorothy somewhere in this photo.

News soon received that the Germans, using poison gas, had driven against the Canadian Division during the Second Battle of Ypres. Finally, No 3 General Hospital (McGill) summoned by the War Office – they would proceed overseas early in the month of May.

On 4 May 1915, John McCrae, already serving in Belgium, composes In Flanders Fields. After attending the funeral of his good friend Lt Alexis Helmer, McCrae motivated to compose a bitter, angry, pro-war poem. Ironically, his writing today, the most concise, and poignant example of the futility of war.

Voyage to England

During the voyage, at 4 p.m. on 7 May 1915, Private Stanley Herbert Blyth 59076, of the 21st Battalion, operated upon by Lieut-Col J M Elder, in addition, Lieut-Col Anglin, of No 5 Stationary Hospital, assisting. Operation revealed a gangrenous appendix and peritonitis, a serious condition, despite which the patient doing well as METAGAMA neared England.

When near the coast of Ireland the METAGAMA altered her course and swung far south. Owing much to activity of German submarines which some days previously had sunk the LUSITANIA. METAGAMA then turned north and, under escort of four destroyers, entered Plymouth Sound. Finally, docking at Devonport early on the morning of 15 May 1915.

Moore Barracks

After transferring their ordnance from the hold of the METAGAMA to the vans of a goods train, they travelled from Devonport to Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe. Finally, this destination reached early on the morning of May 16th. When the men established barracks at Shorncliffe, Col Birkett and Lieut-Col Elder proceeded to London to discuss the unit’s future. Then early in the third week of May, the men moved from Moore Barracks to camp on St Martin’s Plain.

Southampton

Southampton, reached about 8.30 am, 15 June 1915, the unit detrained and marched to a rest camp. Two days later Col Birkett held a muster parade of the unit on deck. Then at 4 pm, tugs towed HUANCHACO into the stream. Shortly thereafter the tugs castoff and the HUANCHACO headed for the shore of France.

France

Cotton proceeded with No. 3 Canadian General Hospital from England to France on 18 July 1915. Early on the morning of 18 June 1915, HUANCHACO docked at Boulogne.

Camiers

At 10 o’clock next morning, the men of No 3 Hospital paraded at the rest camp. Then marched through Boulogne to the North Station. The unit entrained later for a run of approximately twelve miles to Dannes-Camiers.

Cameras Forbidden

On 1 July 1915, 28 other ranks of the unit paraded before Lieut-Col Yates. Disobeying standing orders regarding possession of cameras. However, he realized the men had offended more through thoughtlessness than deliberate intent and refrained from sharp punishment. Guilty N.C.O.’s received a reprimand only, and the privates seven days’ C.B.

7 August 1915

On 7 August 1915, the staff of No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) rehearsed, with dummy patients, the arrival and disposition of a convoy of wounded. Having rehearsed admission procedure, under direction of the Acting Registrar, Major J. C. Meakins, the personnel of No.3 Canadian General Hospital stood ready to receive patients.

At 2 pm on 9 August 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel John Munro Elder performed the first operation in the Hospital’s overseas history. X-ray localization of foreign bodies, under the direction of Capt’s A H Pirie and Walter Ashby Wilkins, also proved highly successful, and the gas-ether apparatus, presented to the unit by Mrs Danforth, of Boston, U.S.A., used by Capt W B Howell in a thoracic case with excellent results.

8 September 1915

September 8th an official call from the Matron-in-Chief of the Canadian Nursing Service, Miss M C Macdonald. This lady, born in Nova Scotia, had graduated from the New York City Training School for Nurses in 1895, served in the Spanish-American and South African Wars, and in the Panama Canal Zone, and joined the Canadian Permanent Army Medical Corps in November. Her appointment as Matron-in-Chief of the CEF dated from September, 1914.

On the day of MacDonald’s inspection, No 3 Hospital welcomed as a guest Lieut-Col Sir William Osler, whose son, Lieutenant Edward Revere Osler, serving as Assistant Quartermaster on the Hospital’s establishment. Considered to be one of the greatest physicians of all time, William Osler born in the small town of Bond Head, Ontario in 1849 and received his medical degree from McGill in 1872.

29 September 1915

On 29 September 1915 the staff of No.3 Canadian General Hospital bade farewell to two nurses, who had sailed with the unit from Montreal. Nursing Sister Jennette F Duncan returned to her home in the United States and Nursing Sister Dorothy McL P Cotton also left to represent Canada on the staff of the Anglo-Russian Hospital, Petrograd.

Anglo-Russian Unit

Dorothy served with the unit as the Canadian Representative on the Staff from 2 November 1915 to 1 July 1916, when she returned to CAMC Training School at Shorncliffe.

During 11 months between November 1915 and October 1916 more than six thousand patients received treatment in the Anglo-Russian hospitals (and field camps) in Russia, including at the base hospital in St Petersburg.  It closed in January 1918 as conditions became too difficult following the revolution.

Creation of the Anglo-Russian Hospital

The London Committee on the establishment of the Anglo-Russian Hospital in Petrograd created in August 1915 under the patronage of HM Queen Alexandra. Lady Muriel Paget appointed Honorary Organising Secretary. The hospital proposed by the Foreign Office, funded by public subscription, and supported by a large donation by the British Red Cross Society (BRCS) and other organisations. The British Red Cross Society supported the hospital but, not considered an ‘official’ BRCS hospital.

The staff was volunteer and included several prominent London surgeons. Two large wards arranged in the Music Room and two adjacent sitting rooms. Those adjoined by the patients’ dining room, bathrooms, toilets and a large wound dressing room. The operating, narcosis and sterilization rooms, an X-ray room and a bacteriological laboratory located on the same floor. There was also a staff room with two surgeons and two orderlies on duty, a dental office, a kitchen, a laundry room and a carpentry workshop.

Advance Party

An advance party left Newcastle for Petrograd in October 1915. The party included Lady Muriel Paget and her colleague Lady Sybil Grey, the two key people involved in organising and running the hospital.  The Dmitri Palace formally offered as the ‘base’ hospital in Petrograd on 24 October 1915. The Palace then converted into a hospital during November and December 1915. The official opening of the hospital by the Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna would take place on 1 February 1916.

5 December 1915 – Letter to Captain Ross Penner Cotton

This is a copy of a letter sent to Ross last year, by a friend of his Mr E.T. McCarthy a consultative Engineer, he knows Russia well and in the summer of 1915, was there on business, while there he says he was allowed not only to visit but to inspect the prison camps and to take photos. Quoting from one of his letters he says, “All I can say is their kindly treatment of their War prisoners is far beyond anything I conceived”.

Toneo

I thought this also might be of interest. I came home via Sweden and Norway and at Toneo, saw prisoners being returned. Re my trip to Russia. The latter part of August I left England on an inspection visit to the Spassky and Atbasas Copper Mines in Central Siberia. As one could not go through Berlin one had to cross by way of the North Sea to Bergen, thence to Christiania and on to Stockholm. From there one travelled up to the North of Sweden and crossed the boundary line into Finland at a place called Torneo, which is about 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Thence through Finland to Petrograd a journey that now takes 7 days to complete.

At Torneo I met the first evidence of the War, as there I met a large contingent of the wounded German prisoners of war who being past any further military duties were being returned through Sweden to Germany. The Red Cross train they arrived in was beautifully fitted up, well officered with orderlies and nurses, and all that could be done for them had evidently been carried out.

Petrograd

In Petrograd I thought the number of wounded I saw about was great, but not until I arrived in Moscow later on did I realize the enormous numbers of wounded there are in the latter city as compared with the former. Petrograd it seemed to one that as much as possible they were trying to hide the evidences of the war, as the contrast between the two cities is great.

In Petrograd again one’s environment seemed to he that of pessimism. Moscow quite the contrary. In the former everyone was on the surface gay and going on much as usual, but underneath there was a deep dread of the Germans, and that ultimately the Germans would be in Petrograd.

At the time it looked very much as if Riga must fall, but now for over three months the Russians have been able to hold the Germans back and have even pushed them back beyond their most advanced lines of attack so that it looks from the present point of view as if Riga has been saved.

Moscow

In Moscow an appalling sight met one there. The number of hospitals something enormous, for every large block of buildings had been turned into one. At the time I arrived the refugees from Poland and Galicia were pouring in, not by hundreds but by thousands, one of the saddest sights you can conceive.

At the 5 very large railway stations crowds kept pouring in, while upon every available space on the platforms, in the stations, and outside on the porticoes these people had taken up their residence. Along the line for miles on the sidings freight cars crammed with these people 38 to 40 people on an average being about the number in a car. Most of them stood up in the clothes they had fled in; some had bundles, but the majority were without anything, while a very large number were in their summer clothes, and as it was already getting cold you may fancy the suffering.

Hunger

None of these people had anything provided for them but a loaf of rye bread. The first hot meal they had had for weeks, and in some cases months, was provided by the English community organizing soup kitchens and sending them round to the 5 central stations. I was at one of them when a soup kitchen arrived for the first time. It was difficult to make the people understand that by going out into the street they could get a litre of good hot soup and an extra loaf of bread. They could scarce believe in such kindness as apparently they had received none except in isolated cases of charity which was but a flea bite as compared with the whole.

As far as I could find out where Russian charity had provided them with more than their quota of rye bread, it had been in the form of a cold sausage. The English communities charity in this respect was more of an object lesson as to how to organize relief than in the amount they dispersed as compared with the whole. The Russians themselves are a sympathetic people but are not good at organization when left to initiate it themselves. Hence nothing done for these refugees in the way of giving them hot food.

Russian Central Moscow Committee

The Russian Central Moscow Committee were working hard never the less to do what they could, but after all it was but as a flea bite compared with the whole, and which mainly consisted of seeking quarters or shelter of some sort for these people and the contribution of bread and a cold sausage per loaf.

These poor women and children without their husbands or fathers, the only men available being aged, all of them sympathetically patient. No “grousing”, no complaints but on their sad faces visible suffering seen on all sides. Heaps of them has lost their children and crowds of children were orphans belonging to no one.

In one morning alone they collected, when I was there, 1000 babies from small girls who were mothering them. Their stories of woe and how they had been treated could only be dragged out of them. They seemed apathetic and to have lost their vitality.

It is difficult to describe what a throng of this kind is like, but when you see it for yourself it brings forcibly before one all the horrors of war much more even than seeing the maimed and wounded soldiers. Some of their stories were too terrible to ever write about and from what we could make out their stories agreed if you traced up the districts they came from.

Drunken orgy

In some apparently the Commander of the German troops had held his men in check and simply driven them away, or they had fled on their own account. In others the Commanders must have been friends as they had allowed both officers and men to get on a big drunken orgy. So you can picture to yourself what awful horrors crowds of them has been through. Later on I met on the Siberian line these people still travelling in freight cars all bunched together to keep each other warm, and who were gradually being distributed to the villages through out Siberia, and on my return, having crossed the country from Omsk to Tashkent in Central Asia.

I met along the railway about three months later the same freight trains of human beings, passing at the rate of eight a day with forty carriages to a train. At each station 3 and 4 corpses put out on an average per day. As the winter had already set in severely I do not know how they managed to exist, but the Russians are hardy people. Our peasant class of people would soon die under such hardships. Although the majority of these are made up of peasants, yet amongst them is a good sprinkling of all classes of people.

Omsk

On my way out to Omsk I visited one of the large prison camps at Tumen and afterwards two more at Omsk. Each camp contains 10,000 prisoners-of-war. At Tumen, the Commander in Charge is a man of the name of Riabzoff who up to the outbreak of the war had been in our employ as one of our principal Russians at Spassky. He it was who obtained permission for me to visit and make a thorough inspection of the camp which was most interesting.

The prisoners have a large compound fenced in with a row of twenty large huts each containing 500 men. Each hut supplied with a large Russian stove and kept thereby well warmed. In their stores they had large supplies of overcoats lined with cotton wool for each man, together with a scarf which I should call a shawl, besides large stocks of well made boots, socks, and under linen.

The bakeries were producing as good a bread as any you would find in a first class hotel. The camp supplied with hot water, which is more than our soldiers camps have at home. Their food I consider not only nutritious but excellent. In addition they have large Russian baths which are built on the lines of a Turkish bath, the hot rooms being vapoury instead of dry heat.

Sympathy for Austrians, Hatred for Germans

With the exception of the Germans, the Austrians were allowed to to out to the towns and villages and work, receiving 1 shilling in cash and 1 shilling credited to them which they will get at the end of the war if the Germans are treating their prisoners better than in the past. Until recently they only received 5 pence in cash and 7 pence on credit at the stores to buy extras.

The Germans formerly allowed to go out but were brought back again as they behaved so badly. I told Riabzoff that I thought the Russian sympathy towards the Austrians and their hatred to the Germans had made the difference, but he assured me on his word of honour that he having made the fullest of investigations found that the Germans behaved to the women folk in the villages, who were denuded of their men, in the most atrocious way, and save sporadic cases this did not happen with the Austrians.

Omsk prison camps

At Omsk the prison camps were simply a copy of those at Tumen. They even allowed us to take photographs of the prison camps and prisoners. From Omsk I went up the Irtish River, two days, and called at Ekkebustus where they were putting up big smelting works. From there I went up to Spassky to find things less upset by the mobilization than I had expected, but still upset by it, and from there on to the Atbasas mines.

On the way up we got caught in the first “boran” (blizzard) of the season and had a narrow escape, as we had lost our way and had no house within a hundred miles of us, when we struck a [[??]] winter hut made of mud. Into this we escaped with a crowd of [[??]] who travelling in the district and seeing the storm coming had made tracks for it. So we were all bunched together for the night, and a very unpleasant one it was.

Next morning about eleven o’clock the storm having abated we started afresh, and at about 30 miles out ran into a snow drift and down went our car into a hole. After vain attempts to dig it out and having given it up, we made one final effort at my persuasion and fortunately that just succeeded in getting it out.

1919 Omsk Massacre

During the winter of 1919, British troops uncovered over 4,000 White Russian soldiers, massacred by Bolsheviks at Omsk. Officers, including General Oushakoff, the Commander of the Chechoslovak Legion had been tortured to death.

Atbasar

The journey from Spassky to Atbasar, which in summer time can be done in 2 1/2 days took us 6 days, so you may imagine we had a hard trip of it, a distance of 670 miles.

At Atbasar some of our young men wanted to be allowed to come home to join the Army which I was enabled to arrange for. From Atbasar we made the Tashkent lines of railway about 250 miles distant, and after a short visit to Tashkent itself, I left for Moscow, meeting as I have told you about the refugee trains en route.

At Moscow I found that they had about 800,000 refugees under shelter though many were still sleeping out in the open notwithstanding the cold, everything in the way of vehicles being on runners. Over 50% of the wounded are commonly reported as being in Moscow. The city is one huge hospital. One thing above all others that the Russians have done has been to effect a magnificent organization of the Red Cross. Russia is full of anomalies.

Red Cross

That organization is an apparent contradiction to everything else in Russia. In Government circles there seems to be no correlation between one Dept. and another, yet there they are carrying on the feeding and equipment of a stupendous army, and in the midst of all actively mobilizing another 6,000,000 of men, beginning in October and to be finished by Jan. 13th; the end of the Russian year, these they intend to train for five months.

Ammunition is coming in well now and there appears to be no fears in this respect for the future; the only fears are German influences at work endeavouring to dis organize wherever they can. make their subtle influence felt.
The trouble with Russia is that as she has so many thousands upon thousands of subjects of German extraction, it is almost impossible to deal with this element.

The spirit of the country is fine. The soldiers are magnificent. In the earlier parts of the war, for want of the bayonets and rifles they often fought in the trenches with sticks only. What other soldiers in the world could they get to do this, unless at least supported by hand grenades? The feeling in the country is that if every man has to be sacrificed they will do it. The only centre where there is a feeling of pessimism is Petrograd itself where German influences are great, but the whole nation outside Petrograd as far as I can define are one.

Propaganda

The German methods of frightfulness have united the nation, I believe, and in no other way could it have been done. As all These stories which the wounded and refugees are bringing home have permeated Through every village in the country, into the depths of Siberia and if you ask any villager if they would like peace, never so long as the Germans are likely to attack them again.

On my way home I passed through Sweden and Norway and found those of the Swedes I came across openly pro-German while similarly the Norwegians were pro-English. But all expressed their opinion that Germany would ultimately win, as they say Germany utilizes the best brains of the country. While England muddles by her mixture of incapables with those who might be capable if left to themselves. In conversation they admit we have brains, but our form of Government does not permit their best use.

Sober Nation

I have forgotten to mention one thing and that’s perhaps the most marvellous of the whole. Russia’s have always put the most drunken nation in the world, owning to the cheapness of their vodka probably, and our own nation a good second but to-day it is the most sober one and as a whole is a nation without drink of any kind. In the fashionable hotels, by squaring the lead porter you may be able to get some brought up to your bedroom, and in the clubs, and amongst some of the rich there are still stocks in their wine cellars, But no where can you openly buy a drink The people themselves say if we drank our soldiers would drink and drunken soldiers could not beat the Germans.

This alone will give you some idea of the magnificent spirit that is pervading the country. Wherever I went I found no traces of any one drinking and as I travelled away from the railways, 22 hundred miles. I saw something of the interior of the country and everywhere it was the same spirit. In the villages right away out hundreds of miles from the seat of war you will see the peasant women all working for the war.

Moscow Station Incident

There occurs to me mind one little incident that was most pathetic but typical. I saw a little girl of 5 years old outside Moscow Station, clad only in a thin cotton dress. This particular child and unlike most of the children who are rather plain was one of the prettiest children I think I ever saw. So marked was it that the Russians themselves were coming to look at her. She would have made the most perfect artist’s model. Princess Briantinsky who is doing great philanthropic work, and is a well known Shakespearean actress in Russia, who saw her would have given anything to have taken the child but the mother would not part with her.

the conclusion I am sure that in the country taken as a whole there is only one spirit wispering the ration to beat Germany at all costs, the only feeling of nervousness is least Petrograd might succumb to Germany’s influence.

– December 5th 1915

8 December 1915 – Letter to Els

(COPY)
PETROGARD
December 8th, 1915.
Darling Els,

Your letter yesterday was absolutely the most welcome letter I have ever had in my life. It did seem ages since I had heard what you had all been doing, and you can imagine how anxiously I was looking forward to hearing from you in your new surroundings, and you said so exactly what I wanted you to about the house. I only hope that Mys loves it too, and finds it easy to run. How quickly she was able to get the youngsters settled at school.

Palace photos

I forget where I left off with my last letter, but I think it was after we had been to the Palace to have our photographs taken. We have not seen the pictures yet although we heard they were to appear the next week in a Russian paper. We are at last more settled in the club, and the day before yesterday moved to our new cubicles, so I have a small corner to myself now, which I can assure you I appreciate fully.

Miss Nicholls was with me on the boat and, flattering I suppose!! wanted us to have a room together, as the Sisters had first choice of the rooms. However, I chose a cubicle and am next door to Miss Stevenson, where I would rather be than anywhere – if there is any choice, I am in the nicest one. She comes next and then Miss Stoker and the Countess Olga – I never can get hold of her other name. Both of those three I like better than anyone else – in fact, they are the only ones who really tell me anything at all.

MISS STEVENSON

Miss Stevenson is a dear and I’m glad to say I really see a lot of her. Olga came out with Lady Sybil and is acting as interpreter, so we don’t see very much of her as she is so busy all day, but on Sunday the Matron, Miss S., Olga and myself are going off somewhere for the day, for a long drive into the country, I think. Every day now parties of us, taking half each time, go to the Winter Palace, which is the Czar’s residence when he is here, which apparently is very seldom, and help the people who are working for the Russian Red Cross make supplies. I love doing it; it give us something to do and the idea of rolling bandages and so on for the Russians appeals to me tremendously, to say nothing of the interest of the people there.

Russian, English, French

We are fortunately at an awfully nice table where two of the Russian girls speak both English and French beautifully – one of them looks about 24 and is evidently married and her husband is at the front. She told me she had been rolling bandages at the same table almost every afternoon since war broke out – don’t you think it is splendid of them!

They all had such beautifully manicured nails and white hands that I have been soaking mine ever since and polishing hard. Our turn comes again tomorrow. We work in a huge room that looks as if it might have been a big ball room – at present it has nothing in it but work tables and a couple of machines – Singer’s by the way – and two big looms where a couple of men roll gauze; it is all run on a very systematic way, and all the work looks as if they were turned out of a factory!!

Sunday

Sunday, 12th. Sorry I haven’t written more, dear, but my same old excuse, always so many people about – of course, I love having them but living this way we really hardly ever seem to have a second alone, and it is nice sometimes! We did not go out for the drive this afternoon with the Matron that I told you about, because one of the Sisters who has been very ill since the voyage, has been very much worse these last few days and I think they are awfully anxious about her – two sisters are on duty with her, otherwise no-one is doing any work yet.

Cubicles

We spent the day fixing up our cubicles. We went to a rather fascinating shop the other day and purchased table-cloths and some of them got art muslins and linens and have really made them look most attractive. Still going out for meals and after dinner Miss Stoker, Miss Stevenson and I went for a walk. Petrograd looks much more attractive at night. There are numerous canals and rivers and things all over the place which make it awfully picturesque.

Nevsky

The principal street, the Nevsky, is very wide and brilliantly lit up, and wonderfully handsome buildings on it. No-one with any reputation is supposed to be there after eight o’clock; that probably means “alone”, which I suppose means without a male escort!!! However, not having as yet picked up a Grand Duke, we rather favour it and are always highly entertained with the people.

Your letter some through just as you sent it, opened of course, and censored, but nothing erased, and ever so many have had parts of their letters cut off or scratched out. Sorry you didn’t tell me anything worth censoring. I am hoping that hundreds which I hoped to receive have been destroyed – as they have never reached me! I suppose by now that Jean is with you, and perhaps Charlie at home on leave. Have been wondering if any of the Canadians have been sent to Salonika – we hear very little news here and never see a paper.

Christmas Numbers

Today Lady Sybil brought down the Christmas numbers of some of the English papers – did I tell you in my last letter that she is going to come and live here when it is all in running order? I wrote a letter to Mother last week and told her it was being over by some clergyman who was going home for Christmas, but a few days ago much to our disappointment, they were all returned to us, so I registered it, hoping it would arrive for Christmas, also one to Jean, which I addressed to Canada.

Monday

Monday. As usual, while I was in the midst of my letter Miss S., Tommy (Miss Stoker), and Miss Nicolls all came in and demanded some café au lait. I tried to write on them here, but you see the result was rather a failure.

Today we had our meals here in the club for the first time, and it really was rather fun – we helped set the tables and showed the man, who is eventually to do it, all how we wanted it done – so afterwards, still filled with enthusiasm, I dressed Miss Stevenson and Nicolls up as maids, as two had to assist in waiting, and they looked perfectly killing.

Miss Nicholls

Miss S. wore my black blouse and skirt and with a chic little cap (handkerchief) a little pointed apron (a veil), cuffs and collars, she looked to smart and Frenchy for anything – she holds herself awfully well and was to self conscious and funny for anything! a thousand times too aristocratic for a maid. Miss Nicholls, who is the funniest-looking little duck, had a navy-blue flannel blouse and dark skirt, a hospital apron and some ungodly mop boudoir cap! and looked absolutely in her element. Tommy, who is a champion giggler and a really most original child, sat beside me – and we nearly had hysterics – it reminded me so much of the days I used to dress up when I was a kid.

Well, dear, to try and tell you some sense and something of what I know you want so much to hear, I will try.

Thursday

Thursday. Did not have a chance to write any more to this letter yesterday. In the afternoon Miss Stevenson, a Miss McLeod and I went out for a long walk; our meals here are always such long, drawn-out affairs that we never get started anywhere in very good time, and as we had looked this place up on the map and knew it would take a long time, we dashed out directly afterwards; when I can in, to my delight found a long letter from Martha and also a few enclosed that had been sent to me from No. 3.

By the time I was alone in my room, it took me such a long time to read them that it was time for lights out. After that the Matron came in for some café au lait and a little informal visit, as she often does, because she is very fond of Miss Alexander and Miss S. and usually finds them here, so you see the days go. Att his present moment Tommy and Miss S. are writing here, but we have all promised not to speak a word.

Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon our walk was across the river to a church where the monks make iecons; I want to get one to take home with me; but did not see any that I liked enough. Miss S. invested in on of St. George, but his horse was too killing; it had the head of a fly and the body of an elephant.

Here is left out a page about a visit to the Russian hospitals

ascepis

They all make a great point of the ascepis in their operating rooms, and I must say seem to have all the modern equipment they could want. Most of the Sisters who do the work have just done it during the war, not very many of them seem to be trained – in spite of that, I must say the men all look awfully well cared for. In all the hospitals the men wear white linen pyjama suits and the up-patients over these, dark dressing gowns with long white socks and black slippers.T

he men are all awfully nice-looking but all so dull and heavy – I don’t mean unhappy, because it certainly strikes you here how happy and care-free everyone looks; in every hospital they have a work room for the patients, who can do anything, and this morning we saw a women there teaching them how to make baskets and to do fretwork.

It certainly is a nice idea to give them an interest; the work is sold and the proceeds given to the soldiers. We all purchased a wastepaper basket for a few kopecks – as in most places now there is a lot of paper money – and stamps here – 10, 15, 20 kopeck stamps; we have got quite used to them now. A rouble corresponds to 50 cents in ordinary times, a kopeck to half a cent; so we talk in such sums that one really sounds most wealthy.

Old school house

The second hospital we went to was an old school-house – the wards were larger and perhaps more stuffy – the patients were having their dinners, soup and black bread – the matron of this hospital was a funny little duck. She had been at Warsaw and had her bedroom, which seemed to just open off one of the wards, filled with trophies, about 8 German helmets, water bottles, bayonets, sheets and all sorts of things; one enormous piece of shell which she said fell about 15 feet away from her.

We came back late for lunch and directly afterwards had to hurry off to the Winter Palace to work. I really rather enjoy that; apparently the Czar is hardly ever there and the rooms where we work are big reception rooms, but what pleases me are the lackeys in their wonderful uniforms – and there are always numbers of them to help us off and on with our coats etc., and then they always pass around tea and buns. We stayed until about 5 o’clock, and at out table we made 1,000 bandages this afternoon; then, by way of recreation, we always drop into a café called MEKAP; we call it “Kneecap”, but is really “Pecar”. Almost everyone is taking Russian lessons – Miss S. and I are going to start on Sunday, of all days; I don’t expect to learn much, but feel it rather my duty to.

Hilda Derrick

The hospital does not seem to be progressing very rapidly and still no word of starting – doesn’t it seem dreadful! The worst part of any is that the boat carrying the stores has not been heard of yet and should have arrived in Archangel before we did. I think poor Lady Sybil must be terribly worried. She has not come down here to live yet and we really hardly ever see her. I believe Lady Muriel Paget is coming quite soon, and when she does another V.A.D. who speaks Russian fluently, her name is Hilda Derrick; she has been in the Ballet for a long time and danced until quite recently with Pavlova. Some days have been quite cold but certainly nothing worse than I have ever felt before.

I suppose by this time the boys at at home with you, and Jean too. Isn’t it wonderful! but they will of course have left before you get my letter. Martha told me so much about you all, and I think everything that Baby Mary said; I am so anxious to hear what impression she made. I am sure it could not be anything but a good one – she is a darling. I had a letter forwarded from Auntie and one from Bob F., two people I certainly must write to.

Badges

We were all given our badges for the Anglo-Russian Hospital the other day. I believe they have been designed by Bernard Partridge, but all awful-looking things, something like this!!

Here was a picture she drew of the badges.

The animal to the left is a very emancipated lion; to the right a double-headed eagle with drooping wings instead of standing up most perkily, and probably the only thing you will recognize is the red cross – my lion looks more like a gold fish! but what I copied from was very poor – that is a flat bronze plaque.

I have had two very cheery letters from Ross, so have started to feel these last few days that I may possibly expect letters. I don’t believe you get all of mine – for one thing none of you, I mean neither you, Ross or Martha, mentioned ones that ! wrote and posted before we landed at Archangel.

With very best love to you all – and by the way, will you send my two photographs of the boys which I forgot – much to my disappointment. I have not seen the groups that were taken us yet, but heard that they were in one of the papers today and were dreadful.

With a great deal of love,
DOSS.
P.S. I have several nicknames from all the different quarters, but from our own group it is always Sister Buttons. Don’t you rather love it?

25 December 1915 – Letter to Mother

(COPY)
PETROGRAD
Christmas Afternoon, 1915
Darling Mother,
Except for below zero weather and lots of snow, this really does not seem very much like Christmas – although I have a table full of the prettiest gifts – the committee gave us each Russian boxes; mine is black with a gold background on the top outlining the figures. I immediately filled it with Russian cigarettes. Miss Stoker and Miss Stevenson gave me a Cossack’s hood; it has a correct name but I can’t remember it; it is made of some wonderful soft white stuff something the shape of a glorified jelly-bag, with long ends that close in front and hand down the back.

The officers here all wear them and put the ends under the strap at the back of their coats, so I intend to wear mine too; sometimes you see darling little kiddies with them, so I will try and get one exactly like mind to take home to Baby Mary. Many of the others gave me little Russian things too, which was awfully good of them, wasn’t it? Everyone has been very cheery and tried to make it as much like Christmas as possible.

Advent

We went to service at 10.30, but in the church here they don’t keep it on our date, so it really was only for the third Sunday in Advent. These last few days have been bitterly cold, in fact on Thursday I had my nose frozen! Some man on the street came up to me frantically rubbing at his own and as I was able to take it in time, so did not have the dire results that usually follow.

Last night we had an awfully nice party at the English club. We all left here about eight o’clock dressed in full uniforms, caps and aprons, and the party was quite different from what we expected; evidently an extremely nice men’s club – there were ever so many nice people there, and several nurses in different uniforms. Two people asked me if I had ever been told I looked like Irene Vanbrugh – so if I do in my calico gown – eh, what.

Irene Vanbrugh

There was a “Balilika” orchestra which played Russian airs full of music and dancing, and at a long table there were all sorts of light refreshments. Some man, seeing I was from Canada, came up and spoke to me; funnily enough he was a friend of Mac’s and had stayed with them in Almonte.

Lady Heron-Maxwell

I also met a Sir Heron and Lady Heron-Maxwell, who invited me to dine with them on Wednesday night. He is at the Embassy here, and they are having their Christmas diner that night, Miss Stoker is also invited; she had a letter of introduction to them – I don’t quite know why they invited me, but it is most awfully nice as they seem charming. Some Mrs. Linley, whose husband is also at the Embassy, invited Miss Alexander to lunch on Monday and asked her to take someone, so she asked me. Miss A. had a letter of introduction to her also. She was one of Lord Lovat’s daughters and so being Scotch you see knew some of her people.

Tonight is Christmas dinner here and some Russians are invited. Tomorrow night is most thrilling of any – we are going to the ballet, and even for the people who live here that is a red letter day when they can go. Through Countess Olga we were able to get a box and seven of us can go – probably the seats will be ruinous but a chance of a lifetime. Lady Sybil was also able, through some friend of hers, to get a box for six; she very kindly invited me to go and the Matron and I think three of the Doctors; however, I had already promised to go with the others.

Finland

We still have no word of the stores and really the prospects for the hospital look awfully gloomy, because we must be such an expense here. I suppose hanging about should begin to pall, but it really has not yet. Four of us have wonderful plans now of going up to Finland for three or four days; we hear it is wonderful and awfully cheap, but will probably never come off; however, we might as well plan as we have nothing else to do.

Later in the afternoon – Just think of my joy receiving yours and Mary’s cable. I have been thinking of you all every minute of the day, and it was just as if you answered. At present I am – (I could not get any further last night but the sentence was to be – dressed in my bib and apron waiting for the party).

Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning. although you never can realize it here. The party last night was a success, I suppose; I found it quite entertaining watching everyone, and quite a few amusing by-plays took place. After dinner, Col. Phenou, who is head here of a Military School where all the nobility send their sons, is also a high official in the Red Cross, so has a good deal to do with us, had several of his musical friends in to entertain us, – one man who played beautifully on the ‘cello and is supposed to be the best in Russia – other people sang. The rooms were icy and everyone sat about in fur coats with rugs around their knees.

Tuesday

Tuesday. Yesterday I went to lunch with Miss A. at Mrs. Lindley’s, which I think I spoke of in the first part of my letter, and enjoyed it very much. Mrs. Lindley is charming and she and her husband were in Canada at the time of the Tercentenary and stayed with the MacPhersons in Quebec; as he is in the diplomatic service, they have lived in such interesting places, Norway, Japan, Belgrade, and have only been here a few months, I think. A Mrs. Bray was also there, so only the four of us.

Mrs. Bray is young and very pretty and lives in the flat across from Mrs. Lindley; they have lived here for some time. When I came in this evening I found such nice note from her inviting me to dinner on New Year’s Eve. Miss Stoker had letters of introduction to her and has been there several times, so she is invited too, and also Miss Alexander and Countess Olga is dining with the Lindleys and I believe after dinner we are all to join forces. so I think it ought to be a very nice party.

Cold

You have no idea how cold it is here – the thermometer is different from ours so I have to go by the tips of my fingers and nose, which usually register away below zero, although I don’t think the temperature is actually lower, but there is so little sun and no warmth in it, that the cold certainly penetrates more. I don’t believe I ever told you about our coats – they are very nice and warm but cheap, heavy and hideous.

Having given up hope of the stores arriving this winter anyway, they have started to buy supplies here, and the hospital, except for the furnishings, is ready, but the grand opening the expected will be very flat, I am afraid – isn’t it all disappointing? Naturally the grand opening is one of the least reasons for being disappointed about the stores – although it did sound a bit that way!

Dancing

We have been dancing in the evenings after dinner and usually some of the doctors come in; they all think I’m a wonderful star at it, so needless to say no-one is very good. One of the doctors, a Mr. Flavelle, is very keen and quite good; he is rather an old boy, but I believe in London he and his wife have some wonderful special ballroom and a professor to teach them the new steps. He is so serious about it; he does make me laugh, always wanting to know exactly what beat I hesitate on! and this like that: me who has no more idea than the man in the moon and improvise as I go along.

We hear so little war news – but things do look most awfully bad, don’t they? On Christmas Day we heard Norway and Sweden had come in against us, so you can imagine what depressing news that was for us, but later in the evening heard there was no truth in it.

Royal Box

We loved the ballet on Sunday night; six of us were in our box. The house was full of people, lots of men in uniform and they always have to stand between the acts out of courtesy to any of the royalty, whether they are there or not, and two soldiers always stand outside the royal box with fixed bayonets. The opera is lovely and the stage is such a pretty proportion, very deep; the colourings and scenery and dresses were too wonderful, much more so than anything I have ever seen, and the orchestra was so pretty, but as far as the actual dancing went, I certainly liked it better when I saw Pavlova.

Gordon the tailor

I am enclosing a bill in this letter which I got from Gordon the tailor in Folkstone, and which I paid, so would you mind bringing it to him and telling him so – the other letter by the same mail was one from one of the Sisters written to me in France and dated August 17th, and I so seldom get others. I had a Christmas card from the Logie Armstrongs and a Christmas present from Eleanor. Wasn’t that nice?

My very best love to you all, darling, and I can’t tell you what pleasure your cables gave me, and what a darling Mys was to send one too. A huge hug for Baby Mary.

Your loving DOSS.

1916

1 January 1916 Letter home

(COPY)
12 Vladernusky Ulitze,
PETROGRAD.
New Year’s Day, 1916
Book from Ross arrived yesterday and after all this letter can go direct.

Darling Mother,
I hope that my cable reached you all safely today and if you all loved it half as much as I did yours and Mary’s, then it would be wonderful. I am always writing in a panic, I think, saying I have a chance to send a letter, but this time I really have and so I am writing to Martha – as I especially wanted to talk to her about something and am asking her to forward yours. It is the wrong way, round, I know, but you will understand, won’t you?

New Year’s Parties

I think in my last letter I told you all about our Christmas parties, and now will tell you of our New Year ones. I was asked to such a nice dinner party at a Mrs. Bray’s, and directly across the hall from her the Lindley’s live; I think I told you about going there for lunch and how much I liked Mrs. L., and last night I met Mr. L. and I think he is even nicer. Mrs. L. was also having a party, so afterwards we joined forces and had a dance.

It was great fun, and there were lots of nice men there from the Embassy. Lady Sybil was also at the party; she sat on the host’s right and I sat on his left, next door to me, a Mr. Greenway, a stepson of Col. Reade’s, who used to be Com. at the R.M.C. This boy was only a kiddie then, but he used to go out for his holidays and loved Kingston – all the girls and winter sports, he was so keen about them all and wanted to know if they had grown up fat or thin!

Caviarre and vodka

Afterwards we went in and danced at the Lindley’s and at midnight has supper, Vodka and Caviarre, truly Russian – drank in 1916 in Vodka, truly Russian, and I know you can guess who else I drank to. The caviarre is scrumptious, but I truthfully can’t say the same of the vodka – it is poison!! Some people who were there motored us home – us being Countess Olga, who dined at the Lindley’s, Miss Stoker, Alexander and myself, who were at the Bray’s. Did I tell you that I was invited to the Heron-Maxwell’s for dinner one evening? Sir Ivor H. is an Englishman at the Embassy here – well, the party did not come off as the hostess suddenly developed German measles! Miss Stoker and I were going together, and we in the midst of scramble to dress when we got the message to say dinner was off.

Sunday

Sunday. This morning Miss Stevenson and I went to church and intended afterwards to go to lunch in town, but found all the restaurants closed. The shops close her on Saturday afternoons about four, and then open again on Sunday afternoons for a few hours.

We wanted to have a real long day out somewhere together but had to content ourselves coming back her again and then went out for a nice long walk afterwards; had tea and then went to the service in the Greek Church, the Cazan, one I told you about in one of my first letters. It was so beautiful – I certainly don’t mean the letter. Almost everyone is laid low with a bad cold, but I’m glad to say it has not attacked me – the Matron is the present victim so I went in to pay her a little visit, then has a nice hot bath and now I’m all nicely powdered and sitting on my bed writing to you.

Russian Christmas

Everything here now is beginning to look very Christmasy as the Russian Christmas is on Friday – such fascinating toys and sweets in the shops; I just long to buy them for the kiddies. At the markets, which are all over the place, they have Christmas trees for sale – dear little pine trees on a wooden base and so neatly tied up with string. Easter is the great festival here, though.

Our hospital looks awfully nice and is almost ready for us to get into and I believe most of the supplies have been bought – so we should start work soon; it will be nice to have work again, but I must say, and I suppose I shouldn’t, that on the whole I am enjoying life very much. If by any chance anyone were coming over and you had a chance of sending me a little evening frock I really would like one!!!! but won’t buy one here because everything is so frightfully expensive.

With all my love to you all, Mother darling,

Your loving Doss.

25 January 1916 Letter Home

If you think Milly [[illegible]] like to see this you might send it to her.
(copy) Anglo-Russian Hospital, Petrograd, 25th January, 1916.
Darling Mother,
This week I have had such a nice lot of letters, and I had been so keen to hear about your Christmas – yours, Mary’s, one from Ross (Captain Ross Penner Cotton) and this evening one from Chas. (Lt Charles Penner Cotton) What a lovely Christmas you must all have had.

I don’t think I have written to you since we have been going over to the hospital to work and get it ready for the patients – which they say we are to get on Tuesday: on Sunday afternoon it is to be blessed and officially opened. I believe only Russians are to be at that ceremony: we did expect both Empresses, but the Czarina apparently never goes anywhere, and a few weeks ago we heard she could not come, and then the Dowager Empress sent word to say she was ill but would come and visit it as soon as she was better.

Linen room

The first few days we just worked in the linen room, unpacking stores as they arrived, and then on Tuesday morning the Matron allotted our respective wards to us, which caused great excitement. I have been put in charge of the biggest ward – it probably is not the most important, but I like it the best, and will try to describe it. It was evidently once the ball room, a huge, almost square room; the walls and ceiling are very elaborate, white plaster, and a boarding has been paround the sides; otherwise it is just left as it was, a beautiful parquet floor: on one side huge windows looking into a courtyard, but fortunately on the side that gets all the sun: on the other side large mirrors, at one end a small alcove, evidently used for the orchestra.

Tiny Chapel

This has been turned into a tiny chapel and the principal icon hangs there with a reading desk below it, and to one side a candle stand: the men will come there morning and evening, in fact all the time, to say their prayers. It is also to have a couple of large palms, so makes quite a “show ward” of the place, apart of that it is nice to have the chapel there, and the different forms of devotion are most interesting to watch.

There are about eight huge gold chandeliers, and as they had not been cleaned for seven years (when the Palace was last used for the marriage of some Princess) we had a great time the last two days cleaning them – hundreds of candles, which meant little glass cups and the electric bulbs to wash – all around the walls in the plaster designs vines with candles are between all the windows and mirrors. It was a big bit of work but amply repaid us; the room looks lovely with all the lights on.

Russian Orderly

We are to have about 70 beds in there and counting myself there are three Sisters and one V.A.D. Russian Orderlies, but I don’t know how many; however, you need several to make up for one real one; they take things so casually, are very willing but slow; they are called “Sanitars” and are men usually from Convalescent Hospitals who can work, and they are under the Russian Red Cross, so you see they are all soldiers. They wear a khaki-coloured uniform, a loose blousy jacket belted in, on their shoulder straps a red cross, baggy trousers and high black boots. Many of them have the black and orange ribbons like Charlie’s; so many of the soldiers here have at least five or six medals – I think they are even given when a man is severely wounded.

Lady Sybil was presented with a very handsome icon the other day, made in the 17th century; it is to be hung in the hospital but for her afterwards. It was given by several of the men of the Russian Red Cross who have been interested and working for our hospital. Of course everyone has been awfully disappointed about the stores not arriving, and buying things here meant a great deal of extra expense.

1 February 1916

On Tuesday February 1st the Anglo Russian Hospital, was formally opened by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, with whom were the two young Princesses, Olga and Tatiana. The Czar’s two elder daughters. They were accompanied by the Grand Duchess Cyril (née Princess Victoria, daughter of the late Duke of Edinburgh) and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlowa and a large number of officers and officials in full uniform.

Medical staff and patrons of the Anglo-Russian Hospital in Petrograd (the latter including l to r: Grand Duchesses Kyril and Maria Pavlova, the Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna, Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, Matron Miss Irvine Robertson and Lady Sybil Grey.

Behind Grand Duchess Kyril is the British Ambassador, Sir George Buchanan and his wife Lady Georgina). Photograph taken at the official opening of the hospital in the Dimitri Palace on 1 February 1916.

Ward Closed

My ward was closed for the religious ceremony on account of the little chapel at one end. The Medical and Nursing staff were drawn up at one side facing the Empress. On our left were the Priests and Choir and on our right all the officers and officials ranged in line, one behind the other, stretching from wall to wall, a gallant array all in their different coloured uniforms, with numerous orders and medals.

Service

The Service lasted about half an hour, at the end of which time we all left and took up our places in our respective wards, so as to be in readiness for the Empress when she made her tour of inspection, proceeded by the Priests who as they passed, blessed every room and its occupants with Holy Water. Tea was then served and shortly afterwards the Empress left. The opening ceremony was altogether a most successful and brilliant function.

The first convoy of patients arrived on Feb. 4th and since then we have had several new relays of wounded with a total of about 150. In my ward there are 50 men some of whom are seriously wounded but on the whole they are not very bad. Most of the patients we have received have come from the direction of Dvinsk and Riga. Amongst the number one small soldier aged 15 yrs. at least that is the age he gives us but I am sure he is not a day over 11. I believe they are used in the Army as scouts. Both his hands were badly wounded by a German bomb, one of which the Doctors are afraid will not be able to be saved.

Septic

The others are principally shrapnel wounds and are very septic. The wounds are usually packed tight with iodoform gauze. and when they arrive, have perhaps not been dressed for days, so you can imagine how painful the first dressings are. The general condition of the men is not as good as that of our own Tommies, however in the three weeks they have all improved wonderfully – The “Bandage Room” which I spoke of in my previous report has proved a great success and is very popular with the English Doctors and Sisters, it keeps the wards and patients beds so much fresher and cleaner, and the dressings can be more satisfactorily done.

One day last week the Czar sent some Balilika players, they were picked men from his body guard, about to the different hospitals in Petrograd, ours was the first one visited. Although the concert was for the patients I think the staff enjoyed it equally as much, it was all such a novelty. The men were extremely well built and very smart. Two of the soldiers danced delightfully, and they all sang peasant songs, in parts, as they do here while on the march.

Balilika

The Balilika is an instrument very like a mandolin, and is quite a feature of the Russian Army. Dr Fleming the Commandant has just returned from the front, in the direction of Dvinsk, where he went to see a Russian Field Hospital We still have no word of our stores which are supposed to be ice bound at Archangel.

This report brings the work up to the end of February.

Note: In June and July 1916 there were an estimated 200,000 wounded in the Southern Front. Harmer and Fleming operated night and day for four days. Harmer in his diary, recorded 701 cases dealt with, 80 operations, 28 deaths with a mortality of four percent, for one previous week, but was too busy dealing with casualties to keep up his diary.

2 February 1916

Feb 2nd. Our hospital was really opened and blessed yesterday, so we are ready now to take in patients at any time and hear rumors of getting some this week. All the hospitals in Petrograd have been empty, because refugees flooded into P. and naturally the food supply became rather scarce, not because there is a shortage in Russia anywhere, but on account of the trouble they have getting it here from other places, on account of their poor railways, on which there is awful congestion. However, more wounded are being sent in now and the refugees sent to the country places.

I am enclosing a letter in this for Miss Carlill. Will you put it in an envelope and send it on to her mother for me. I have a chance to get this through some way, so said I would enclose hers; she has so often sent things for me.

Photograghs

Must now tell you all about the opening – splendid photographs were taken and are to appear in the papers, so look for them. I suggested to Lady Sybil that she sent a set to the papers in Canada, so I think she will. I always kept it well to the fore what a handsome gift Canada gave, – I don’t mean myself, you know. The hospital liked lovely – and especially my ward. As the chapel is there the ceremony was held in it.

At 2.30 we all assembled; the Sisters all in white, and the V.A.D’s in dark blue dresses, white aprons with a red cross in the front of their bibs, which looks most effective, white caps like ours, so you can imagine that my blue dress and apron quite stood out!! and as I can claim no further honour in connection with it, except keeping my buttons very shiny and filling it amply, I will tell you that it was very much admired by everyone, the Empress and the two young Princess’s included. The little choir boys and men were there from one of the churches, in their glad rags, which I described to you before, about 50 of them, and picture them all with their little shaven heads. The doctor in khaki, the Matron in her grey crêpe-de-chine, with white cap, cuffs and collars.

Uniforms

All the uniforms from the British Embassy – the Russian Red Cross officials in their wonderful uniforms and covered with medals and honours, the priests and the High Priest in his gorgeous robe of cloth of gold and mitre thickly jewelled diamonds and emeralds – you will see the wonderful candelabra in the photo, and with 750 electric lights all lighted, you can imagine how brilliant it all looked, At 3 p.m. the Dowager Empress arrived; walked down the room alone, followed by the two Princesses, Olga and Tatiana, both dressed alike in plain terra cotta coloured suits with ermine toques with big white ospreys on one side, huge ermine muffs, soft white blouses, rather open at the neck, black velvet bands around their throats, diamond ear-rings; one had a string of pearls, the other a diamond pendant – both perfect ducks, so bright and natural.

This must go so I will finish in another. I am sorry but Miss Stokes, who is sending it with hers, has just come for it. I was presented to the Empress and she was very nice; she looked quite like Queen Alexandra.
My best love to all, darling, and hoping you are all well,
Lovingly, DOSS.

This will remind you of a continued in out next at the thrilling part.

6 February 1916 – Letter to Mrs Mary Peck

Everyone admires my uniform so much so all the Counts Grand Duchesses & so forth came up to inquire about it you may be sure I wore my Canada on my shoulders that day – of course all those people know the difference but as a rule others think “America” and of course to them that implies U.S.A. – even heaps of English people and I can tell you what it gets my goat!

Somewhere in Russia, June 1st Russian date: We left Petrograd at midnight Saturday, and this is Thursday; we have not arrived at our final destination yet

Petrograd.
5th April, 1916

I have decided to go to Moscow.

Transferred to Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe on 31 July 1916.

8 February 1916 – Letter to Mrs Mary Peck

Anglo Russian Hospital
Petrograd
February 8th 16

My dearest Mary –
Ever ever so many thanks for the don’t think I shall ever forget such a thought like you! I only wish I could tell you the [[pl?]]
and for so many reasons – first of all I was Canadian stamp it was years since the handwriting – and to know that you knew Elsie must have told you!

Owna River

One thing about the more I love Canada – in England every affinity I used to feel like kicking everything nine puns and longed for the bigness of seems more like home in many ways – Owna River to Archangel it reminded me and made me quite homesick – but here with cold -There is no nice sun or lovely blue more than anything the last few weeks it much brighter and everyone in is ecstasy I have told them so often that I know they about ours so now I smile in silence! little they know of a real winter – or Recd when we were up at Rock Lake – I’m to Doadie too because I find myself talk live. I enjoyed the book so much did learnt heaps of thing I never knew about!

Questions

I suppose you pictured me being asked thousands of questions by all the English people and not being able to answer them!! like the Raj’s! but I can usually make a pretty good bluff so don’t worry – except when a Miss Stevenson (some relation of R.L.S’s by the way & the second one I have met since I have been away) one of the V.a D’s of whom I see a great deal and simply love – is about because she has traveled all over the globe and knows the Canadian west terribly well and has all such things as statistics & distances down to a fine point firmly enough everyone is always much more interested in the West! or have relations there.

Baby Mary

Wasn’t I too lucky seeing the family before I left – it so easily have happened otherwise – and you can imagine how I was longing to see Elsie and Baby Mary – I thought Els looked well and reports from her in England seem to be good – but I tear so seldom and everything is awfully irregular – I have so much to tell you and know you will be interested in it all Then I must settle down now and no more side remarks – I can’t tell you how often when I have seen [[illegible]] I have wished I had you or Doc or Elsie out although I never write & really really I don’t think hardly a day goes by but I think of you all.

Our trip out and then a huge sort of concert hall divided into cubicles in which we all live. They are really very comfy now and we have made them look quite nice but all I can tell you is that they resemble a box stall more than anything else – There are about 28 so imagine the chaos at night!! The circus isn’t in it. I was on night duty for a few nights with one of the sisters who was ill and used to stand and amuse myself listening to the weird sounds at night.

Snoring

One sister snored so loudly they requested her presence to be removed to another part altogether. Another walks and talks in her sleep – she in ordinary life was an artist and now is the home V.A.D. under an old anvil of a Sister – the assist matron. Nothing have I ever met like her before in the profession! She has such an awful time of it needless to say the work is rather different from what she is accustomed to that she is nearly driven balmy.

Our hospital opened last Tuesday Feb 1st and the affair was a great success – but so far no patients although we are expecting them hourly – just think all this time and no word except get the place ready – however they say everyone will be needed in the Spring. The hospital itself is the second story of the Dmitri Palace – and is a very central place – on the Piccadilly of Petrograd! huge rooms & most beautifully finished I mean the walls – ceilings – floors and chandeliers – several photographs were taken and I asked Lady Sybil to send a set to Canada so they could appear in the Canadian papers, so I hope you will all see them – I appear as a mere dot but will love you know was most important!

Mr. Sladen

Requested to the Dowage Empress who was present and she spoke of the splendid work the Canadian soldiers had done in France!! Everyone admires my uniform so much so all the Counts Grand Duchesses & so forth came up to inquire about it you may be sure I wore my Canada on my shoulders that day – of course all those people know the difference but as a rule others think “America” and of course to them that implys U.S.A. – even heaps of English people and I can tell you what it gets my goat! some one said to me the other day You must be able to go where you want being neutral! Lady Sybil was sending the photographs to Mr. Sladen to show to the Duke and then to send to the papers – will you send me a copy if you ever come across one!

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony was at 3pm, and took place in my ward which has a tiny chapel at one end – half of the beds had to be moved away but when it is full holds over 60 beds – that is the biggest ward and I think it is very nice to have been put in charge and I love having the chapel because the men will always come in there to say their prayers in front of the “ikon” – a tiny light always has to be kept burning and you have no idea how effective it looks – at the opening several high priests were there in their gorgeous robes & mitres covers with precious stones – long hair of course wonderfully narcelled!

Choir

A choir of about 90 senale boys – all with shaven heads – the dressiest cassoets. They sing beautifully and always without an organ. The Doctors & Sisters stood beside them The water used to look so cold those days that I can assure you I am glad the tale was not any more thrilling.

We stayed in Archangel for four days and quite enjoyed it. The first night I went out for dinner with the Matron another sister and 3 of the Doctors – we were escorted by a Russian officer who had come to meet us for the Russian Govt. and I must tell you about it all in detail because it was my first Russian meal – and he had ordered everything to be typically Russian – it was in a Restaurant – for which he apologized profusely but said the best Archangel could produce – never the less it was all most awfully well served.

Wine

We did not have wines of [[illegible]] but And a couple of times anchored altogether for several hours we had very little day light and what that was was only a very subdued two it did only for a few hours – one or two nights the northern lights were wonderful played lit, so many search lights in the skies and in the loveliest flattery patterns – we took just over two weeks – the first cloud we sighted was off lapland a small place!

Called Swete Nov – which consisted of nothing but a light house & signaling station a few sap huts – we saw a coast like that for about two days – but just low barren land – no trees and lightly covered with snow – not a sign of a Sap or a wolf though much to our disappointment. here we came into the mine fields and that part of the coast upto Archangel is [[illegible]] by British mine sweepers…apartments below the Palace – seems very busy but I showed them her work was over now – She must have had a lot to do before we came – and you know everything was so dreadfully held back by our stores being icebound in the White Sea! So an extra supply had to be bought here.

Mr & Mrs Findley

In one way and another I have met several people here and a Mr & Mrs Findley are especially nice. They were in Canada at the time of the [[Dircultivaty?]] and stayed in Quebec with the Macpherson’s. Mr Findley was terribly taken with Sir Joseph Pope and apparently keeps up quite a brisk correspondence – he told me he had written to him the other day after having seen me. Which I am sure would interest Sir Joseph. I had dinner with a Mrs Bray who lives in an apartment across the hall from Mrs S. on New Years Eve and afterwards we went in + danced at the Findleys.

Vodka of course is an almost unknown thing here now – but we drank to Good Luck for 1916 in it – and had caviar for supper in Truly Russian style – at dinner a young Mr Greenways sat beside me his father was Col Reid one time Com at the RMC – he used to go out for his holidays and was delighted to hear of someone who knew all the Kingston girls. Lady Sybil was also at the party.

Bee Hill

I had such a nice long newsy letter from Bee Hill the other day she spoke of having seen you and Dor – yesterday I got a card and hankie from Helena – I wonder if you would mind some day giving this letter to Grace Potter + Mrs Palmer – that is if you think it would interest and would not disgrace me – remember I rely on your judgement!

My very best love to you both and again many many thanks for your book and sweet thought. Please give my love to your Mother and to the Kiddies.
Lovingly Doss

Gladys White

P.S. There is a Sister Ellae MacDonald here who knew Gladys White in Belgium and likes her so much said is so often spoke of Canada and her Canadian cousins. I have gained caste on being able to claim acquaintance. Have just this second read in a paper of Col Yates death (d. 22.01.1916). I can’t tell you what a shock it was – he was always such a darling to me + everyone in France – not having heard one word of it makes me feel terribly far away too.

Mrs. Harry Peck
368 Besserer St
Ottawa
Ontario
Canada –

Death of Lt-Col H. B. Yates

Yates, like John McCrae, dies of pneumonia, Bright’s disease, and finally cardiac failure. His body repatriated to Montreal, where it was buried in the family tomb at the Mount Royal Cemetery on Feb. 16, 1916.

1 May 1916 – Letter to Mother

Anglo-Russian Hospital,
1st May, Russian date.

Darling Traddles,

This, like myself, is going to be an Irish letter, written to Ross, address to Mother and for all of you – but I haven’t written to the darling boy at all and he has always been such a dear to me. I loved the book you sent me, dear, and it has gone the entire round of the unit – that was the First Hundred Thousand – and for the 5 lbs. too, thanks ever so much. Although I write so seldom I know you must surely all feel how often, in fact, always am thinking of you all, and trying to store up everything to tell you.

Trip to Moscow

Before I tell you of my Moscow trip will tell you of the plans: we are still going to the Field Hospital in three weeks and will be there for six weeks – then I have applied for a month’s leave and want to spend some time in Finland – the summer there is lovely – mountains, water, quiet and a nice rest: it will be no distance from here and very cheap.

Miss Stevenson will be leaving then too, in fact only waiting for me to come back from the field, and we are going to look out for some little country place together, then will travel back together, and of course via Sweden and Norway. So what I hope for now is to be at home in August, that is, if Miss McM grants my leave – if not, it will be as soon as I get back from the field – and oh, how I am longing to see you all.

The stores started to arrive last week – most of them are here but still a few boxes yet from Archangel, so the people who are not doing ward work are in the throes of unpacking and repacking for the F. H.

Empress Visits

The day before yesterday was a red letter day for the A. R. H. as we had a visit from the Empress, and four of the girls, Olga, Tatiana, one 15 and one with her hair down her back; she looked about 13, supposed to be the beauty of the family. The two eldest were dressed alike in grey, so simply but awfully smart; they are dears and went about so nicely and talked to everyone; they gave each patient a little ikon to wear around his neck and in most cases put it on them themselves.

(L.-r.:) in centre of 2nd row: Grand Duchesses Marie, Olga, Empress Alexandra, Grand Duchesses Tatiana, Anastasia. N/S Dorothy Cotton is immediately behind Tatiana.

About 3 o’clock the day before a telephone message came to say they were coming, so such a scurrying around I have never seen – floor polished, crimson carpets! dust flying, clean sheets everywhere – so after dashing home for a bite of lunch ourselves and to also clean up, we had to tear back to the hospital again, of course, wrecks ourselves! However, no work was done that afternoon. She arrived at 2.30 and went about everywhere; spoke to most of the men.

Lady Muriel

Lady Muriel introduced me, as the Canadian – she was very gracious and spoke very good English. They had tea and then all was over – two round tables were set; the Empress sat at one alone and then she invited Lady Muriel to sit with her – some G. Duchess and the girls at another.

There were numerous ladies-in-waiting and aides, of course, and the old Cossack bodyguard who has been with them for so long – always goes with the Empress and the little Csarwitch (Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich), in fact sleeps outside their doors.

He was a wonder and impressed me more than anyone – well over six feet, and so broad, like some young giant – had wonderful black hair and a glorious beard: a most gorgeous uniform and about a dozen medals.

Cossacks

As there are two Cossacks in my ward, afterwards he came in to see them, so I had a chance of stroking him and looking at his medals. The Empress did not have nearly such a sad face as I thought she would have, and was a much larger woman, but she must have been lovely. A group was taken as usual, so I hope I will have it to send to you soon.

Easter eggs

Have you received the Easter eggs which I sent to you? They were ones that were given to me – Easter was such a wonderful time here I wanted you to have a little remembrance of it. Everyone gives each other Easter eggs in some shape or form, and even each patient was given a bag with little presents in it. It was more like our Christmas than anything, the shops open late the night before and everyone buying flowers and sweets.

Kazan Cathedral

The services in the churches were at 11 o’clock – we went to the Kazan Cathedral which was simply packed. I must say I was awfully disappointed in the singing and service, but as a spectacular show it was wonderful – the service is divided into 2 parts, first of all in the centre of the church is a coffin with wreaths on it; the priests in the most gorgeous robes and jewels you have ever seen, read prayers there, then carried it, all walking like pall-bearers behind, to the holy of holies.

Then the ikon of that church which is the Csau Madonne, and covered with lovely jewels, was carried around and they walked outside and blessed the bread and cake which is laid out on tables before by all the people to be blessed, a loaf of bread, an enormous cake, always of a certain shape, very plain and horrible to eat, decorated with a pink paper rose like butchers tile on lambs’ tails and things – a pyramid – shaped thing called the Pascal food, with a cross stamped on one side and X.B. on the other, which stands for Christ is risen; it is made out of curds and looks like almond paste – tastes like a very tasteless cream cheese. Fancy all this time we were all standing!! and most of us suffering from hospital feet!

midnight

Then at midnight bells rang and they all sang “Christ is Risen”, but before this everyone had been given a candle and the priest from one of his lit another and each person lit theirs from each other and I am sure in less than three minutes everyone was lit and you can’t imagine what a wonderful sight it was to look at that sea of faces all lit up.

After the service the kissing started; all the old priests began by kidding each other three times first on one cheek and then on the other; it does look killing to see their heads bobbing. The streets and shops were all wonderfully lit up and decorated – people flying around in motors and cabs and the side walks crowded; I am sure everyone in Petrograd must have been out. Then they go home and have their big feed – until about 7 a.m. They eat all the next day and then are very ill – you see they fast very rigidly through holy week. The patients in the hospital all had a spread at midnight, so slept all next day and were thoroughly upset.

Moscow

Moscow. We left for Moscow on a Wednesday evening about nine o’clock: Miss Stevenson, Mr. Harmer, awfully nice, Dr. Flavell, the X-ray man, a funny old duck, and myself. Had awfully hard work to get a compartment and even in the corridors of the train people stood up all night or sat on a little narrow ledge.

The traffic is so heavy and of course so few trains running. We slept in our hats, as Alex says, and arrived in Moscow at 9.30 a.m. It was a lovely sunny day, much fresher air and warmer than Petrograd. We drove right up to the hotel and had baths and breakfast – then, being no distance from the Kremlin, went for a walk there, and it was lovely: it is really the old original city and is surrounded by a lovely old wall on three sides and the river on the fourth: it is principally full of churches, Govt. buildings, the Palace and places like that.

St. Catherine’s Chapel

St Catherine’s Chapel the final resting place of Nicholas II and his family. The chapel operated as a church until the closure of the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral by the Bolsheviks in 1919.

There is one church where the Czars are crowned, another where they are christened, another where they are married and the other where they are buried is in Petrograd. We were lucky and got passes to go all through the Palace and Treasury, but could not begin to tell you of it all here.

At the present time, there are two crypts in the Catherine Chapel holding a total of 10 coffins:

1. Tsaritsa Marfa Matveevna (buried on 7th January 1716)

1. Emperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich (burial of remains on 17th July 1998)
2. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (burial of the remains on 17th July 1998)
3. Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (burial of the remains on 17th July 1998)
4. The Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna (burial of the remains on 17th July 1998)
5. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (burial of the remains on 17th July 1998)
6. family-physician Dr. Eugene Botkin (burial of remains on 17th July 1998)
7. maid Anna Demidova (burial of remains on 17th July 1998)
8. valet Aloysius Trupp (burial of remains on 17th July 1998)
9. cook Ivan Kharitonov (burial of remains on 17th July 1998)

Treasury

Fancy to go through the Treasury, though – first of all we had to pass our card to the priest and he had to send for a soldier to come and break the seal of the door, which was guarded by two sentries, and afterwards it was sealed up again. This was inside an old building and up a tiny dark narrow staircase, where the door was that was guarded. Ena took a snapshot which I hope will be a success. The jewels and weather there is wonderful; it is principally gifts that have been given to the churches by the Emperors, and such people.

The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra

Another day we went out to a very interesting monastery about 55 miles out; it is of historical interest as one of the oldest, and also at one time when it was besieged by the Poles it was able to hold out for sixteen months. It was truly Russia there and the peasants were so picturesque. We went to a ballet one night: the opera house is supposed to be one of the finest in the world: it certainly was very handsome, but I must say the one here appeals to me more. After living in cubicles as we do, I can’t tell you how the hotel appealed, and breakfast in our bedroom, with an open window and sun streaming in. We did revel in it and I certainly did not begrudge one cent – kopeik, I mean.

Russian cigarette cases

By the way, thanks, Mother dear, so much for having my money cabled: before I got it and when I knew I was going to Moscow, I had some cabled out myself. The peasant shop there is very fine; I hoped to buy you all things, but didn’t see much. I got Russian cig. cases for you, Chas. and Bus and a box for Alex. Travelled back by night again. When we got here found Lady Muriel Paget, five sisters, three V.A.D.’s, two new Dis. and the dentist had arrived. Two of the new Sisters had worked in New Zealand for some years; they are both in Ward A. and are so nice – greatly improved by the Colonies I can assure you!

Lady Sybil is coming down to the F.H. when we go, and I am so glad – she is such a dear and has certainly done good work here. I was delighted to hear of Honor’s marriage, and I am sure he is an awfully nice man. So many thanks for Cousin Annie’s letter. The mails so seldom come in, but I can’t tell you what a red letter day it is when I get a letter – sets me up for a long time. Today I had one from Els and Dorothy Ross: I loved the touch in Elsie’s letter of the Almontonians in kilts.

Alex Cameron-Villiers

Give my kindest regards to any inquiring friends such as Alex Cameron-Villiers, etc. and my very best to Hugh and Willis. Tell Hugh I got his letter and not knowing whether to address him as a Lt. Col. or Col. can’t even send a card – have pondered over one often.

My very best love to you all – a hug for Baby Mary, and my love and this letter to Chas. (Lt Charles Penner Cotton) after you have read it.

Very lovingly, DOSS.

25 May 1916

Since my last report of Feb. nothing much has occured, except the numerous convoys, which came in, keeping the hospital well up to its full capacity.

There is rather an interesting custom here, on the departure of men who are discharged from the hospital. Each one is given a suit of clothes, and a bright coloured shirt called a “rubashta” as well a soap, cigarettes, nuts and the inevitable sun-flower seed, which in this country take the place of pea nuts! If he is a married man he gets as well an outfit for his wife and some articles of clothing for each child. These are presented to our patients by Lady Georgina Buchanan, wife of the British Ambassador (Sir George Buchanan). She and members of the British colony in Petrograd make them all.

Glaucine shrapnel wound

One or two of the most interesting cases have been, first that of a man who had a glaucine shrapnel wound across the chest, about four and a half inches long which at one place exposed the chest wall – so that the heart could be seen, plainly, pulsating. He was discharged at the end of two months. No complications having set in, and his wound was well healed. The second case was that of a young boy of twenty who was admitted about two days after being wounded.

With a bullet wound in his head and a shrapnel wound in his leg just below the [[poplitelal]] space. He was brought at once to the Operating Room, where they examined his head. It was presumably a bullet wound with entrance and exit. The entrance about 1″ above outside corner of right eye and the exit further back, about 2″ and slightly to the left.

Double hernia

They probed and found nothing but loose bone. A great portion of the skull surrounding the wound was cracked in large pieces, which could be easily moved with the forceps. The wounds remained wonderfully clean, but a double hernia very soon developed. The hernia of the lower wound protruded more than that of the upper one. His condition remained fairly good.

The first few days he lay in a drowsy state, and when spoken to seemed dazed, taking a long time reply, but his appetite all the time remained good. His head wounds were dressed with moist lusol dressings, and occasionnally with absolute acohol. Shortly after his admission the leg wound began to discharge pus. He was operated on under a general anaesthetic and a small piece of shrapnel removed, one fairly large tube being inserted.

1 June 1916

Somewhere in Russia, June 1st Russian date.
Darling Mother,

Such a glorious day, after two rather cold rainy ones, the sky is so blue and full of sunshine and lovely white billowy clouds.
We left Petrograd at midnight Saturday, and this is Thursday; we have not arrived at our final destination yet, but expect to leave this place and go by a small railway at six this evening and arrive at 10 p.m. – which in this country will probably mean we leave at eight and arrive at midnight.

Russian Red Cross

We had our own train of forty-one cars in all, and have been living in the train on a siding here, now, for three days. Our departure was uneventful – we left from a station about five versts (a vest being a little over 3/5 of a mile) out of P. Russian Red Cross motor cars brought us out, so several of the Sisters and principally V.A.D’s came out with us.

Two Sisters and myself have a compartment between us and as they really accommodate four we are quite comfy, it has been most peaceful and quiet which I have thoroughly enjoyed, and time for a nice long read, I have amused myself by reading “Anna Karenina” which I enjoyed tremendously and such a true account of Russian life; do read it some time!

The scenery at first was flat and uninteresting, but as we got further it became more undulating, more pastoral ground and we passed some tiny villages. The peasants to me are all so quaint and fascinating with their gay coloured petticoats and kerchiefs over their heads, the men all wear light or very bright coloured double breasted blouses with gay hand-embroidery around the neck, down the opening at the side, and around the bottom.

Austrian POWs

Some are quite elaborate cross stitch patterns just what we call Russian blouses, belted in hight boots, or else, which us very common bare feet, and then of course as we came further, encampments, red Cross tents, and we saw many Austrian prisoners; I don’t think any that had been taken recently; they have all been here for some time. Wire entanglements and trenches, guarded, but of course not occupied have become quite a common sight now.

The first night we arrived the horses were taken out – eighty-four of the dearest little Siberian ponies, they behaved awfully well, , but loved rolling around in the sand I can assure you broke free whenever they got the chance. One of the Sanitars (healthcare assistant for medical staff) was kicked in the chest so that was the first excitement, he had to be carried back to the train and I stayed with him until he came round, it fortunately proved nothing serious but we have to leave him at a hospital here for a few days.

Sanitars

The party consists of 4 English Sisters including myself, 2 Russian V.A.D.’s. The matron Lady Sybil, a Russian Sister who looks after the housekeeping end of it all. three English Doctors, a dentist, four Russian Red Cross Officials, lo& horses, and 115 Sanitars. Last night in the pouring rain, and over the most dreadful roads you could possibly see our waggons, men, and horses started off – they expect to take at least two days to do it.

The day before I left in fact, after I was all packed your parcel arrived by Miss Bewick, the latest V.A.D. who came out from England, I was more than delighted to get them, have brought two pairs of each with me, and will have the others for such a fresh start when I go back. They were just O.K., and exactly what I wanted.

Christmas Present

The last word in fact so what more can I say, and also a Christmas present from the men on the Medical Board from the R.V.H. I can’t tell you how touched I was and terribly proud of it because I am sure they must have send the exactly the same to everyone of us on Active Service – a beautiful jaegar jersey was the principal thing – some cashmere stocking a flash light – new batteries – powder and a couple of awfully nice books.

From now on Mother darling it will be hard to let you know my plans – but we are supposed to be here for six weeks and after that if all is well Miss Stevenson and I are still planning for a two weeks holiday in Finland and then home.
I heard of the fighting in France before I left and have really been able to think of nothing else since. Apparently the Russian papers had news of the Canadians gallantry and splendid fighting, but it many all mean so much more to us.

10 June 1916

His condition improved and his most marked symptom remained slowness of speech. In a about a month he began to run a temperature again, his wounds showed no cause for this, but he complained of pain over the right mastoid region. The surgeon performed a radical mastoid, and the operation was not successful. His recovery from this on was slow but very satisfactory and before I left on June 10th, the patient was sitting up in bed, gaining strength every day.

Easter

As Easter is the greatest festival of the year in Russia it might be of interest to know how it was spent in our Hospital. On the Eve of Paleu Sunday a service was held in the Palace chapel to bless the Palurs, which the men were to carry the next day. Bundles of it wore later or tied over the heads of the beds of those patients who were unable to get up, and in the centre of each bundle was a bright yellow candle. These candles are lighted and the correct thing to be able to do is to carry them home without them blowing out. It looked so picturesque to see all the people carrying these. The “palms” used here are what are known to us as “pussy willows”.

During Holy Week most of the patients fasted very strictly and special diets had to be sent up from the kitchen.

A service was lead in the chapel on Good Friday, at the close of which, a large painted wooden cover of a sarcophagus, on which was portrayed the figure of Christ, was carried round the wards, by four officers, proceeded by the Priests, who sprinkled Holy oil on the patients. The men fell in behind each carrying a lighted candle.

Easter Eve Service

The Easter Eve service began about 11.30 at night and at midnigth, the church bells all over the city began to ring. Greetings were exchanged and after the Russian fashion they are kissed each other three times on the cheek.

A large supper had been prepared for the men in the patients dining room, the food previously having been blessed by the Priest. The Pascal food, consisting of plain cakes, decorated on the top with coloured paper flowers. Also a kind of cream cheese in the shape of a 3 sided pyramid on one side of which was stamped the Lamb, on another the Great Cross and the letters X.C. which stands for “Christ is Risen”.

The patients did not go to bed until the early hours of the morning, with the result that several of them were “hors de combat” for the next few days.

Easter Morning

On Easter morning the patients each received from the Hospital a bag containing one or two small presents and a china Easter egg.

Before a patient can be discharged he has to go up before a Commission, which sits about every ten days at the Hospital, and is composed of Russian Military and Red Cross officials, and the Russian resident Doctor, whose only work is to translate the case reports and other clerical work of the same nature. The Hospital is represented by the senior surgeon.

No man is passed by the Commission unless he is unfit for further service, or else can return to duty within six weeks. with the exception of a few sent to Convalescent Homes, all the convalescent patients have to remain in their hospital until ready for discharge.

Pensions

This Commission also decides on the amount of the pension received by those soldiers, who have been rendered unfit for further service. The amounts received are absurdly small and vary according to the nature of the wound.

The pensions seem small to us but to the average Russian soldier, who has been getting 75 kopeks a month it seems quite a fortune.

During the summer months the Government has been using convalescent patients from all the hospitals to till the fields, as many as possible to the country near their own homes.

These patients are not discharged but are men who the Doctors can promise will be passed for future service by the first Commission on their return to the Hospital after finishing their work.

Greek church

On the first Sunday in June a blessing ceremony was held by the Greek church, for the first Unit of the Anglo Russian Hospital to leave for the field. The service was held, outside, in the grounds belonging to the Corps de Page school. (That school corresponds to the R.M.C. but only sons of the nobility attend).

The Priests in their gorgeous robes, of white satin and cloth of gold, and the choir were grouped under some trees on slightly rising ground, whilst on one side were lined up the small two wheeled ambulances, each having two sturdy Siberian ponies, and also the supply carts. Those carts were peinted Kharki colour with the Anglo Russian Hospital shield in colours on the side. Two sanitars stood at the head of each pony while the remainder of them were lined up facing the Priest.

British Ambassador

The British Ambassador and the Grand Duchess Marie Pavlowa were present at the ceremony, also Madam Sazinoff wife of the foreign secretary and several other well known Russians.

The service consisted of blessing the personnel, and presenting an ikon, which was always to accompany the Field Hospital. Afterwards in procession the Priests sprinkled Holy water and blessed all the sanitars, horses and carts.
A special service in the English church was also held for us before we left.

Saturday evening

On Saturday evening the 10th of June, after many delays the Field Hospital left Petrograd for an unknown destination, in the direction of Polock, a town south of Duiest. We had a special train made up of 41 coaches of which 2 were first class carriages for the personnel one third class for the Lead Saintar while the rest of the train was given over to hope boxes and trucks on which were the field Hospital equipment and Red Cross supplies.

Our party consisted of the Matron Trudy Sybil Grey four English sisters including myself, and three Russian sisters, one of whom looked after the housekeeping. Two English and one Australian Doctor and one English dentist. Four Russian Red Cross officials, amongst whom were M. Ignatiff, and Baron Meindorff. The latter is a member of the Duma and considered to be one of the best speakers in Russia. There were also one hundred and twenty five Saintars, one hundred Siberian ponies, twenty field ambulances, and about the same number of two wheeled carts, besides a dog cart and a wagonette for the Staff!!

Scraparavau

After an interesting journey of five days we finally arrived at Scraparavau a small country village fifteen versts from the front. (a verst is 2/3 of a mile)

On the way we saw many encampments of Austrian prisoners all of whom looked well cared for and they are given a fair amount of liberty. The German prisoners on the other hand are chiefly sent to Siberia and given no liberty.

Our quarters consisted of a long wooden shed called a “barrack” which was divided into three rooms, two wards and a “bandage room” for it had originally been built for a hospital. We put up here not knowing for how long we might remain. The next morning a Russian doctor from Vocké, 8 versts further on, called and offered us work, as we had no work at the moment. If we accepted this it meant we severed connections with the Guards to whom we were attached. The question was considered and after inquiries it was decided we should remain where we were pending further instructions from the Guards.

29 June 1916

After a week orders came that the Guards had been moved to Maledetchona and we were to follow at once, so on Thursday the 29th of June, at 8 am the bugles blew and the party set out for their 3 days trek of about a hundred and twenty versts.
It was while the party were on this trek that Lady Sybil, so unfortunately was wounded. They had put up near some camp to rest the horses and while there went up to a trench to see a company of bomb throwers at practice.

The trench or dug out was supposed to be bomb proof, but somehow a tiny piece did come through at the moment Lady Sybil was looking through the smallest opening, and the piece of shrapnel hit her in the cheek. They drove her as soon as possible into Maledetchona and from there by special train to Petrograd where she was Xrayed and operated on.

Russian village

Here in this out of the way Russian village the gallantry of our men was being talked of by the Russians. One day when at U__ the general of that division came to pay his respects, he brought news that “the Canadian troops had again been attacking, doing splendidly, regaining the ground previously lost, few losses to themselves and heavy damage to the enemy” This must have been the fighting of June 13th of which I heard later.

The country about U__ had at the beginning of the war, been in the hands of the Germans. Then it was not fortified, but at the present time is a mass of trenches and wire entanglements. There were numerous encampments about, several of which were full of Austrian prisoners. We saw them working at the trenches, and also buying cigarettes and chocolate at the small local “setlad” (store).

Big guns

At the beginning the booming of the big guns was distinctly heard, but later on became less frequent. One day about noon, we heard firing, and saw shrapnel bursting in the sky just over our heads, apparently firing at an aeroplane of which we saw no signs owing to the cloudy day.

Owing to the necessity of my immediate return to England on June 29th my report finished before the field hospital has actually commenced work.

On my arrival in Petrograd, on my way home, I found two Field Units (Dressing stations) were being despatched to the Southern front, where they were to be attached to other Russian Red Cross units. As a matter of interest I might add that our stores eventually began arriving from Archangel, the end of May, seven months after leaving England!

Battle of Mount Sorrel

Dorothy Cotton recalled in June 1916 and returned to England, where she would soon learn of the death of her two brothers at the Battle of Mount Sorrel.

During June 1916, among the dead, brothers of NS Edna Jean Giffin, NS Louise Caroline Stanton McGreer, and also two brothers of NS Dorothy P Cotton.

Lt Charles Penner Cotton

Enlisted in the 5th Battery, 2nd Brigade, C.F.A; reached France 1915; in June he obtained his commission in the 8th Battery. At Sanctuary Wood he was in command of two guns, brought up in a position near the front line to be used in case of emergency; they were discovered and fire was opened upon them; was reported missing; his body was found back 25 June 1916 and first buried in Maple Copse (according to the war diary).

Lieutenant Charles Penner Cotton, Canadian Field Artillery, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia).

Captain Ross Penner Cotton

Youngest son of Jessie and Maj. Gen. William Henry Cotton, of Pinehurst, Almonte, Ontario. Formerly belonged to the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders, Vancouver; appointed ADC to Brigadier-General Leekie in August 1915; commissioned Captain August 1915; at time of death attached for duty to 3rd Brigade Staff.

At Valley Cottages, Killed in action, mortally wounded by a shell while leading a bombing detachment, together with Lt. Sachs (who also died). Captain Ross Penner Cotton, 19th Battalion, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

Leave and Return to Canada

Dorothy took a Leave on Medical Certificate from 30 September 1916 to 30 November 1916. She returned to Canada for several months, following the deaths of her two brothers in France. It was on her return to the Anglo-Russian Hospital at the end of 1916, that hospital staff found themselves in a vantage position as eyewitnesses to the beginnings of the Russian Revolution in Petrograd. 

August 1916

Left England on an inspection visit to the Spasskey and Atbasas Copper Mines in Central Siberia, by way of North Sea, then to Christiania and on to Stockholm.

30 August 1916

Note: by this time there was much friction and bickering between various members of the Anglo-Russian Hospital. Fleming offered to resign as Commandant and left for England on August 30th 1916.

Fleming bore no resentment. In November 1917 the London Committee published a report about the work of the Hospital, by which time the Hospital had treated some 6 000 patients with a mortality of less than one per cent in the base hospital in Petrograd and between four and five per cent in the field hospitals. As the Russians learned to trust the British surgeons they began to send them the more serious casualties and so the mortality rose. Over 50 percent of deaths were due to gas-gangrene.

12 November 1916

(COPY)
Russian date 12th November. Thursday, 24th November. PETROGRAD.
Darling Mother,
I had a long letter in the process of being written to you and either a wet sponge was laid upon it or else tea spilt over it, so this is half copy and partly a new letter. I would have let it go as it was only in this indelible lead it looked too dreadful.
I will begin from the time we reached Petrograd and then go back and tell you about our three days at Archangel.
We arrived here about 4.15 a.m., after three nights and two days on the train – that was Wednesday a.m.

Dr Fleming

There were several people at the station – Lady Sybil, Dr. Fleming, the Medical Superintendent of our hospital, and two Russian officers; one of them was fat and covered with orders; the other was tall and awfully smart and good-looking, revelling in the name of Demetri Ivanovitch.

There were about five motors to meet us – but with all the English people’s luggage!! they had to make several trips. We have been put up at a place called Somlny Monastir; it was probably once a Monastery but it is huge building and has also an orphanage, home for officers’ widows, and a huge church all in one – at present it is being used as a rest home for red cross nurses. We are all in one enormous room, the Russians at one end and we at another; in the centre is a long table at which we were given Russian tea and rolls when we arrived.

Russian Dinner

To tell you the truth I could have done justice to a real Russian dinner, of which I will tell you later. There is no sign of a screen and the floor is covered with these small iron cots with about two feet between each one and in that space a tiny wooden table for our clothes! The wash room is partitioned off in one corner, and it consists of a long tin washstand with about ten taps dribbling cold water, at which we are supposed to wash. I only brush my teeth.

The poor Matron is really terribly perturbed at having us thus housed, but we have all made the best of it and are moving out this afternoon to the Club, which is to be our home. It was a man’s club and has been tuned into a place for us, apparently large rooms which have all been divided into small cubicles – it is not nearly finished but we are so keen to leave here that we are going as it is, and get our own breakfasts and go out for lunch and dinner.

Sleep

Well, when we arrived we tumbled into bed at 6 a.m. and I slept like a log until about 10 a.m. as I had not had any sleep on the train. I must tell you about the meals and life here, because it is really most interesting. At 8.30 a.m. they have rolls and tea, no butter, up here in this big room in the midst of people dressing, washing etc.; then at 10.30 they all go down, two by two, to a big dining room and have some queer meal.

Krass

Yesterday being a fast day, there were potatoes boiled in their jackets and butter to begin with – rye bread, which it too awful, “Krass” the cheap native drink made from the rye bread; it is also villainous, tastes like weak liquorice of some sort – then small raw smoked fish, all slithering about the plate. Up to this point I had eaten nothing although I must say the table is always absolutely clean.

Then some sort of boiled turnips, I think, with a white sauce – after this meal we usually go out for the day, all dividing up in parties. The first day a Miss Mitchener, who speaks Russian and knows Petrograd, took us, but now that we can at least find our way about a little bit, we much prefer going alone and about six of us go together – Miss Stevenson, who is a dear, Miss Alexander, Miss Stoker, the baby of the party and also a dear little thing, Miss Hayes, a sister, and I think the one in charge of the O.R., Miss Nicholls, also a sister and the one I share a cabin with.

Russian Baths

We enjoy going about like that ever so much and we have really seen a lot. The first first day we went out our one object was to have a bath, so with Miss M’s aid we went to a Russian bath place which apparently is quite a feature here, but it looked too awful to tackle, so we marched off to an hotel. They were overcome at the sight of us, but told us of a place where there were Russian baths so we went there only to find that they were closed that day.

By this time our passion for a bath had died down a little, and we began to want our tea, so the best hotel was voted for and we had a wonderful tea. I forgot to add that we were all armed with sponge bags, etc. We came back here about 7.30 p.m.and went to bed – at least, I did, for by some unaccountable reason I was really suffering acutely chilblains. Most of the others went to the English Church to the Memorial Service for Edith Cavell.

Wash me or I die

The anthem was “Wash me or I die”; afterwards they met the rector and he invited them to go the next day and have a bath, so the six of us went after our 10.30 meal and were given the “freedom” of his house. We had a wonderful time – his family are all in England, and he had to go out, but much to our joy left his little maid to look after us. We all manicured and pedicured while we waited our turn and then went downstairs and had a most scrumptious afternoon tea to which I can assure you we all did justice.

Some English neighbour had by this time come in to play hostess; she told us how to walk home, at least as far as the Nevsky Prospect which is the smart shopping district. By this time it was about five o’clock and you know how fascinating shops look then all lighted up; the sleighs are not out here yet but there is quite a lot of snow; it all reminds me very much of home, except I do miss the blue sky.

Uncle Michael

Sunshine and moon the sky always looks so grey, and you have no idea how familiar it all looks from our Russian pictures – the coachmen’s costumes and the sleighs are exactly the same as Uncle Michael drew them. We wandered about until it was time to come in, and one the way back we discovered our new abode and much to my delight found our trunks had arrived, so I got a change of underclothes, and my big brown boots, so the next morning got up feeling a new woman.

Officer Prince

My uniform is certainly very taking!! and all the sisters here are terribly interested in it and call me the “Officer Prince”. I will send you postcards of the Nevsky some day when I can get one, and also one of the Demetri Palace if I can. The street and shops are all very cosmopolitan – they say Moscow is really the typical Russian city to see, and I think a party are going for a few days, but I don’t think I will just yet, anyway, because I am sure it will be expensive, but perhaps will before I leave.

I can’t tell you how sweet the Matron and absolutely everyone has been to me. They expect the hospital to be opened for Christmas at the latest, so I think we will soon be able to get in and get it ready; at present it is nothing but a picnic and isn’t it wonderful for me to have all this – I can assure you I fully appreciate it too; Only wish I could marry a Russian count and bring everyone of you over here to see it all – and all I see I think how Father would love it all or to hear of it all from me, especially my day yesterday.

Hermitage

We went to the Hermitage, which is one of the most beautiful art galleries in Europe; the building and pictures were wonderful and I know it is a place I will often haunt. There are ever so many Rembrandts, Van Dycks and four Raphaels, and many other beautiful and familiar ones. Then I had my hair shampooed and then tea, at our hotel again, and such a killing meal, but this time there was no-one who could speak Russian; however, with the help of a little book, many gestures and a smile, we had an omelette, rolls jam and delicious coffee. Then we went to service at 6, in the Cathedral Greek, and such a wonderful church called the Cazan (Kazan).

Madonna and Child

The whole church was built as a shrine for an Iecon, which was always carried by the Cossacks in front of some regiment – it is a wonderful picture of the Virgin and they are always dressed – that sounds odd! but what I mean, things added; for instance, this has a beautiful ruby necklace and a crown of diamonds; in front of it the candles were lighted and It made it all look a blaze of wonderful lights – the huge gates in front of the holy of holies were huge silver ones; the silver was the loot captured by the Cossacks from the French In that there were six most beautiful paintings; during the service these opened at times and behind was a huge painting of a Madonna and Child and numerous gold candelabra and jewelled icons.

Choir

The choir stood at either side, rows of little boys all the same size and each one’s head shaved; they had alternately blue and gold sort of cassocks, with blue belts on the gold and gold on the blue. The priests all had long hair, but not greasy, beautifully groomed! and robes of cloth of gold – they also were hung with jewels. It was a huge place; stone floors and no seats, everyone stands. You can imagine what an interesting-looking lot of people came in and many different uniforms – they never have any organs but the voices are wonderful.

Dowager Empress’s birthday

This morning, Saturday, is the Dowager Empress’s birthday (13 March 1881), so they have had special services. In the chapel in this building the had service, so we went to see them – after the beautiful church yesterday, I must say this place looked more gaudy, so much gold and pale colours, but all the little girls from school or convent her were too sweet – their hair all in tight pigtails and others with the cleanest, daintiest mob caps; some had plain bright green dresses, the others blue or brown, and all had white muslin capes over their shoulders – absolutely spotless.

About twenty little girls about Kathleen’s size were in the choir; they were dressed like the others only had long, tight, white muslin cuffs just below their wrists and above their elbows, but they all had their hair done up high on top of their heads. You have no idea how picturesque and pretty it all looked with the many candles and their voices were sweet.

Morning meal

We have just gone out for a little walk today; the morning meal was a little later than usual and now I am finishing my letter to you. Yesterday I got a letter, snapshots and collars from Eleanor. Will you tell her and thank her for them and for doing them up; a letter from Mollie MacDermott from France, and one from Elsie, written to the B. of M.

All of our hospital has to be blest before we can take the soldiers and we will all have to be sprinkled with the holy water too. The two Empresses and family are to come to the opening. Our Committees are giving us some sort of big coats, grey padded I think and fur-lined; we are to wear grey veils out of doors like the Russians, with out whites ones underneath just showing around our faces. I am to wear that too, because in Russia unless you wear a veil you have no standing as a Sister.

Street cars

I believe they are also going to give us felt boots of some sort, the kind they all wear here – looks like our carriage boots; everyone of every class wears them, but they say Russians never walk; the street-cars are just like ours only dirtier and I don’t think the are heated – the crowding and pushing in them is appalling.

This morning the Matron and Lady Sybil had to go and see about coats, and then were being taken to see the exchange of prisoners which takes place at stated intervals; she always tells us with so much interest and such a keen sense of humour all she has been doing.

Sister Borlase, a regular old campaigner, who is with us and was for years in South Africa, – perhaps you’ve seen her picture in one of the English papers – has taken quite a shine to me apparently. She went to see some friend of hers here yesterday and they said they knew some people called Cotton living here, so I will find out more of them. At this present moment Miss Stevenson is measuring the room with strides and counting the beds, so I will add it here – there are 92 beds – numerous huge windows, but only one ventilator, which is 8″ x 12″.

Countess Olga

We are waiting here now to go up to the club. It is really a lovely day – more sun than usual, and Dr. Fleming and the Countess Olga something, who came out with Lady Sybil as an interpreter (I rather stuck over that word) came in this morning to warn everyone how cold it was and on no account to drive. The temperature can’t be more that 20 above zero, and sun and absolutely no wind.

My letter is to long to tell you much about our journey from Archangel now, but it will all be in my diary if I ever get a chance to write it up, and I will tell you the most important things. There was lots of snow, and just such a small town as you would imagine – sleds, and such picturesque people, lots that looked like Japs, wrapped up in fur and skins. The first night a Capt. Pinée, a Russian officer who was stationed there and told off to look after us, invited the Matron, two of the Sisters and three of the Doctors to dine with him, and such a wonderful dinner; he ordered everything typically Russian – and apologised for the awful Archangel Restaurant.

Coffee

The Matron took me and Miss Hayes, and such a spread never have I seen, so much and such delicious food. I couldn’t help thinking of the dinner you told me Mac had – Caviarre and all sorts of wonderful hors d’oeuvres, then the marvellous Russian cabbage-soup, which is a meal in itself, but scrumptious – course after course – and a wonderful sweet; then coffee on the table in huge perculators.

Now about our trip. We left the Calypso on Sunday afternoon about six, crossed the river on an ice-cutter, probably a Canadian one – got on the train about eight and started our journey. We had one change – were hours late – no dining car, but at several stations got off and raided the restaurants and such fun – no-one speaking a word of Russian; we simply grabbed the food and ran, and as a rule it was mighty good food, too – delicious cakes – meringues and so forth. Brought Thermos bottles and filled them with coffee – always with the soups they serve little sort of buns filled with meat of rice; most tasty; we were always able to get them.

Three nights on train

We lived that way for three nights and two days on the train, the seats pulled out but no bed linen or porters, so we never took out clothes off. Our little party of six were all together and we had really heaps of fun. Miss Stevenson and I used to roll up in rugs and say on the stops of the train almost all the time watching the country and revelling in the fresh air and smoking cigarettes or eating sweets. I do wish I could send you some candies, but I will bring you lots. I think that is where I cultivated my chilblains. There is a French sister here who arrived the morning and she has just come from Germany, where she has been three months a prisoner; she said on the whole she was fairly well treated.

Do tell me all the Canadian war news when you write and what about George Alexander? A Miss Carlill, a sister, has asked me to share a room with her in case we have to have rooms together, but I hope I will be alone. She wrote to her Mother and asked you to send her a picture of the group at the station.

Lady Sybil Grey

In 1906, Lady Sybil and 15 Ottawa women cofounded the Ottawa chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE), a patriotic club to support Canadian troops fighting overseas during the War.

The Hon. Sec. and Mr. Ian Malcolm representing the British Government, accompanied by Countess Olga Poutiatine, one of the V. A. D.’s who acted as interpreter – had already been in Petrograd several weeks making arrangements with the Russian Authorities for our arrival. The Matron – Miss Irvine Robertson (and by the way a cousin of Miss Grace Robertsons) has had a lot of war experience, she worked in Montenegro and Bulgaria for several months during the first Balkan war and in India only this year, 1915. Rest of the Sisters and 3 of the V.A.D’s have seen service in Flanders France or Serbia.

I must say goodbye right away, dear, as everyone is getting ready to leave. With all my love to you all.

Matron Miss Irvine Robertson

Medical staff and patrons of the Anglo-Russian Hospital in Petrograd (the latter including l to r: Grand Duchesses Kyril and Maria Pavlova, the Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna, Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, Matron Miss Irvine Robertson and Lady Sybil Grey. Behind Grand Duchess Kyril is the British Ambassador, Sir George Buchanan and his wife Lady Georgina). Photograph taken at the official opening of the hospital in the Dimitri Palace on 1 February 1916.

Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, England

We left Immingham on Nov. 4th all that day and the next we slowly steamed up the English and Scottish coasts well within the three mile limit on account of the mine field outside. On Nov. 7th we entered the Arctic Ocean – no ships to be seen – nothing but grey rolling seas and grey leaden sky, whilst the Northern Lights lit up the heavens at night.

11 November 1916

On Nov. 11th we were told by the Captain we were at our “Farthest North”, as we were at a latitude 74 – with a temp. of 28 F. It was practically dark all day as the sun !!! rose at 11.20 am and set at 12.40 pm. What daylight there was being only a subdued twilight.

Our first sight of land was on Nov. 13th when we were informed that the low snow covered coast stretching away on our right was Lapland. Next day we arrived at Suxteros, which consists merely of a wireless and signalling station, a light house and a few wooden Lap huts, with an open road stead. Here we were met by four British naval mine-sweepers whose duty it was to guide us through the mine fields which extended from here to the entrance of the White Sea, a distance of nearly a hundred miles. They went ahead, sweeping a passage clear for us and every afternoon at dusk we anchored.

Minesweepers

The Captains of two of the mine sweepers and some of their men came on board and from them we learnt that the British Admiralty patrolled that stretch of coast, with two small cruisers and eight mine-sweepers. Their life is a very hard and dangerous one, as everyone knows and they so seldom come in contact with other people. We gave them a good meal and presented them with papers and magazines all the woolen things we could – and sent them away happy.

The greatest drawing card for them was the meal and afterwards several in the party sang and played for them – all of this being a decided novelty! Our escort left us on the 3rd day after entering the White Sea at what was supposed to be the edge of the danger zone. Much excitement was therefore caused by our ship suddenly slowing down, and giving four sharp blasts on the hooter, very shortly after they had left us.

Mine sweepers depart

Three or four of the mine sweepers which had already disappeared into the mist, returned in answer to our call. On asking what was the matter we were told that we had almost run into a floating mine which had been sighted by the look-out man, only forty yards away, right ahead in out track! We swerved sharply aside and the mine floated past some twenty yards away. We gave the sweepers all information and continued our course, and the last we heard of them as they vanished into the mist being several reports as they fired at the mine.

On Nov. 18th we crossed the bar at the mouth of the Devina River, which at this late time of year was frozen over. An ice-breaker had prepared the way for us and after several hours slow steaming we reached Archangel which is some twenty six miles up the river The scenery on either side might have been in the province of Quebec. Nearly the whole way up the low banks were stacks of timber piled up, and several lumber mills, were the familiar little red brick office was there! Sleighs moved about in all directions and were very similar to ours – only in Russia the horses have a high arched collar called a “Duga” over their heads, made of wood, which is fixed to the points of the shaft.

Official Welcome

We finally went alongside about midday and shortly afterwards a Russian officer came on board to welcome us in the name of the Government. In the evening he invited Matron, me and another Sister to dine with him and gave us a typical Russian dinner which like all their dinners was very lengthy. We remained in Archangel till the 21st. One evening a party of us went over a big Red Cross Hospital, which was crowded with patients, most of whom, with a few exceptions were convalescent.

Later on, some of the men sang Russian peasant songs and one soldier put on his uniform especially for the occasion and danced. Another day we saw Peter the Great’s Hut where he lived when in Archangel and which he is supposed to have built himself. It is a log cabin with several rooms opening one out of the other. From here there was a fine view over the Devina.
To protect the Hut from the weather it has been completely enclosed in a brick building.

Calypso

On the evening of the 21st we said good-bye to the “Calypso”, and left for Petrograd. We went on board a Canadian ice-breaker which took us two or three miles up the river to the railway station, which is on the opposite side of the town and no bridge across! Whilst waiting for the train we saw a small party of German and Austrian prisoners under escort. We left on time, 7:30 P.M. and reached Petrograd in the early hours of Nov. 24th, roughly a fifty-six hours railway journey a distance of eight hundred miles.

No blankets or linens for the berths no dining car! The only water available for washing – was from a tiny tap that had to be pressed continually while it ran. despite all of this we all enjoyed the journey – The first part of the journey as far as Nianboa (which we reached on the following morning the 22nd) was on a narrow gauge, from there on we changed to the broad gauge. Before very long the Russian Authorities hope to have the broad gauge completed the whole way to Archangel. The docks at Archangel were choked up with tons of material, to the value of thousands of pounds.

There were motor cars in huge crates, all covered with snow and awaiting their turn to be sent on to Petrograd, for being a single line the congestion was terrible.

24 November 1916

We reached Petrograd at 4.15 am on Nov. 24th. and were met by Lady Sybil Grey and Dr. Fleming and one or two Russian officers, and were motored off to a big building which had once been a palace, called the Sarohny Monaster one part of which is being used as a Rest Home for Russian Red Cross Sisters. On our arrival here we were met by the Russian Sisters at the top of the stairs, all grouped around their Matron, who after welcoming us, came forward and presented our Matron with a plain round cake in the centre of which was imbedded a glass dish containing salt.

We all later on took a piece of cake and a little salt to show we appreciated their kind welcome – we stayed there until the 27th when we moved into our present quarters in the Vladimirskaya Prospect. (I must add here that the room we all lived in, slept and had our breakfast and tea in!! had over a hundred beds so close together that the little lockers had to be turned sideways – the only ventilation was a small pane which slide open in one of the windows! The accommodation for washing was a corner about 16 x 16 that was partitioned off – along one side a long zinc trough with a row of about eight taps above it tooth brushes, tubes of half used tooth paste and hair combings adorned a ledge!)

Lady Georgina Buchanan

There is a small English Hospital here run by Lady Georgina Buchanan and members of the British Colony which opened shortly after war was declared – which we were invited to see over one day.

We have also been taken over one or two Russian Hospitals which was very interesting, as in many respects they differ so greatly from ours. The Russian “Tommy” is well looked after when ill or wounded. In Russia there are about 5,000 trained civil Sisters and for the period of the war they are supplemented by War Sisters. The Civil Sisters receive a two years training, at the end of which time they have to pass an examination in general nursing.

Civil Sisters

The training varies according to the grade of Hospital, in some it is excellent and in others very indifferent – The War Sisters have been trained 2 – 3 or 6 months. Owing to the Civil Sisters being sent to the front, the Hospitals in other places are chiefly staffed by War Sisters, with one or two fully trained nurses to superintend. Red Cross Hospitals which have been opened since the War, are buildings which have been converted such as clubs palaces, schools etc. with long rooms and lofty ceilings the beds are too closely placed according to our ideas – but the men all look clean and happy.

One point the Russian’s insist upon and where they differ from us is that all dressings have to be done in a seperate room, especially set aside for this purpose. The Winter Palace, the Petrograd residence of the Czar has had a part of it put aside for Red Cross work!

sweets tobacco

Rolling and making up field dressings and bandages – and here most of the Society ladies worked. We were asked if we would help – so every afternoon we went up and assisted. We also helped different people and clubs to pack and send off Christmas bags, containing sweets tobacco – books to the soldiers at the front.

One of the most interesting things we have seen since we arrived in Russia, was a large Polish Refugee camp at Gatchina, just outside Petrograd. Here in a big wooden shed at the railway station (where in times of peace the Czar’s train was kept) were housed some 1,000 refugees – men, women and children, from the neighborhood of Dvinsk and Riga. One part was partitioned off for a dining room with wooden tables and trestles, and an earthen floor, whilst the remainder of the shed was used as living quarters.

No privacy

Each family had a space of 10-12 square feet with a raised platform, at one end, on which they slept. There was no privacy, The only division between the families being ropes stretched from poles on which were hung blankets. The very poor people could not even afford this much and they had nothing to separate them from their neighbors! Altogether there were 500 families crowded into this very stuffy unhealthy building, in which there were no windows that opened.

We saw several sick people, one being an old man of 70 who was dying of consumption. He was lying fully dressed on his bed and was coughing continually. All he had beside him was an old tin tea pot with no lid, and a tin cup with a little milk. His wife had been killed and a daughter looked after him and several younger brothers and sisters.

Dead girl

In another part we came across the dead body of a little girl of 4 years old, covered over with a shawl and lying on top of a chest of drawers, on which had been spread a dark coloured table-cloth. At The head was a crucifix and on either side two small candles. Beside her sat a boy of 10 or 12 yrs (her brother) who was keeping watch, whilst the mother was away trying to get money with which to pay the funeral expenses. This child had died of measles.

Burial of little boy

We also saw the body of a little boy waiting for burial and near by a girl of 12 was dying! Some of these refugees had been people of means, before the Germans drove them out of their homes and now they were penniless with no future before them. We were accompanied by a Miss Violetta Thurston who had been sent out from England to enquire into the conditions of the Polish Refugees. With us went one or two English ladies who live here, and we distributed little bags containing sweets, toys and other small articles to each woman and child.

Dmitri Palace

On January 18th 1916 we started working in our Hospital at the Dmitri Palace, once the residence of the Grand Duke Serge. It is a large building with two beautiful big wards and four smaller ones accommodating altogether 200 beds. I have been put in charge of the largest ward of 70 beds, with three Sisters and a V.A.D. to assist. The ward is about 112 feet by 70 ft. with large windows down one side and at one end is a small chapel, where the opening ceremony is to take place, as the Hospital must be blessed before patients can be received. Each ward has an icon placed high up in the corner of the room and a small one is hung over each bed.

At the opening ceremony which is to take place on Tuesday. Feb 1st. the Dowager Empress is expected with two of the young Princesses and the Grand Duchess Serge, widow of the late Grand Duke the Czar’s uncle – accompanied by several Russian Red Cross officials. Patients are expected to be admitted the following week.

1917

January 1917

Dorothy sent back to Russia as part of a group of 37 nurses sent to a ward of Petrograd Hospital, then under Anglo-Russian direction.

We had the ship (IRMA) to ourselves as we were a party of 37 altogether, 20 sisters including Matron and myself, 10 V. A. D’s, 3 Doctors and four Orderlies. Five other members of the medical staff followed soon afterwards via Norway and Sweden. Dr. Andrew Fleming the Commandant, who has worked for several years in Rhodesia, Lady Sybil Grey who is acting in place of Lady Muriel Paget. Also on board, Mr Ian Malcom M.P.

4 March 1917

Anglo Russian Hospital
41 Nevsky Prospect.
Petrograd.
4th March 1917.

We have certainly had three thrilling days. We have been hearing so much of the rioting, but until the day before yesterday everything was very quiet, that was Thursday and our half day, so squire Hegan, Mabel, Ens and a little Miss Murphy and myself, went out to Scarskeo, it was a lovey day-quite warm and very sunny- we went through the old Palace, which was awfully interesting; it is in that The Empress has her hospital, we were not allowed, as it is only for officers; one if the servants told us there were 50 there now.

Czar’s Church

Then went to the Czar’s church, I think I told you of it before- it is very small- a plain white building with a large dark wood carved door, and above it a lovely mosaic, with a lot of bright blue in it.

The large centre dome is of wonderful gilt, the smaller ones a bright royal blue, so the touches of bright colour on the plain white rough cast building – and surrounded with the snow, you can imagine makes a lovely picture – there are two very smart soldiers there, one took us over. I had seen it before but loved seeing it again. I always think how you would love it. It does not remind me a scrap of anything I have ever seen before, but something from Arabian Nights or my imagination. The upper church is light-white walls with mural paintings about [[illegible]] of the way up, many ikons and little alcoves where there are small stools to pray at. It smelt wonderfully of incense.

Private Chapel

Down stairs in what I should imagine was the private chapel is lovely – very dark- with beautiful little clusters of electric lights – brass chandeliers with orange shaded lights, the walls are covered with peasant cloth like the piece mother likes so much, exactly the same material and the same blue for a background but a different pattern – small all over, little flowers – white, red, and yellow – rather indescribable, and no definite shape. There are ever so many pillars and long narrow passages, something the outlay of a crypt, the walls are literally covered with ikons, brass ones like mine, (some not as nice other silver ikons and small beautifully painted and jewelled ones.

About 9 30 p.m. when we were on our way home, at the corner of the street, we live on, and the Nevsky we saw a regiment of Cossacks however did not think much of it until we got in, and the others told us there had been rioting, then everything was quiet.

Following day

The next day no excitement, until noon, except that as we came over we all remarked on the fact that the long queues of people waiting for bread seemed longer and noisier than usual, and it is pathetic to see the small amount they get after waiting for hours. At twelve I was just putting on my coat to leave the hospital, when they told me a crowd was coming down the Nevsky and over the Antichkoff Bridge, you know the one in the photograph with the horses, and that the Cossacks were out.

I waited on the step for a minute and I can tell you I was glad I did, for I was soon glad to dive in, they just hurled past, and the Cossacks riding in the opposite direction to them rode right into them and scattered them, it sounds as of they would be an angry crowd of roused, but so far wonderfully quiet it was quite quiet that night and again to-day.

Saturday

Saturday, at noon they all came out again, and this time joined by many more mill hands the crowds surged up and down the Nevsky, which is all guarded with soldiers, and at certain corners whole companies of Cossacks mounted carrying their long lances – they are the ones who charge, and in a mighty short time clear the street. Understanding so little of it all, it is hard to tell how or what is going to happen, because the Cossacks are not shooting, the people all seem delighted with them and sometimes it looks as if they were cheering them – at the same time they are there to keep order, but of course they really need “bread” as much as the others.

Sunday

Sunday. Yesterday afternoon it was much more serious, we heard shooting several times – and there were many people – By evening everything settled downagain and was quiet. So far today nothing has happened it is after two o’clock and we did hear it was to begin again at 3 today but whether there is any truth in it or not we will soon know. However today we were brought over to the hospital by motor, stayed here for lunch.

3 p.m. I was interrupted here by one of the Sisters who called me to her ward to look at the Nevsky – we watched the crowds collecting and about 2.45 they started inone place to form across the street – when suddenly every one ran wildly in all directions, most of them falling flat and crawling along on their stomachs. A few of the wounded were brought in here – the soldiers had fired on the people – they were placed across Nevsky higher up and it was quick rifle fire. Nothing more happened near us except the crowd surged all day and h then later in the afternoon hardly a soul was on the Nevsky – and the soldiers patrolled. Did I tell you before that we had a guard at the front door?

Monday

Monday. Came on duty at 8a.m. – all quiet – groups of soldiers on the Nevsky and a group at the corner had built up a fire to stand around but they are Infantey – not Cossacks. Not as many people as usual on the Nevsky this morning – but so many more soldiers marching along in small groups and machine guns and many ammunition waggons. About 12.30 Lady Sybil was at the Embassy and they got word that two regiments had revolted – they sent her back at once by motor. The soldiers from the hospital were withdrawn about one p.m.

We went home for dinner today. Thousands of people on the streets about here – but everything absolutely quiet and still – an uncanny stillness in the air. We hear, on getting over here, of fierce fighting on certain streets but nothing to be seen from our windows but people walking along – apparently with no special object in view. It is hard to settle down to anything, the soldiers have all revolted and are with the people – and I believe many officers have been killed this afternoon.

I cannot tell you how it affects me – extraordinarily little – I did not think of it much last night – it is all so hard to understand. We heard today of Bagdad having been taken – that was splendid news. Only two of the patients brought in here remained one was a bullet wound in the side that had pierced his lung. the bullet was removed this morning, rather interesting.

Russian Republic

Monday

Monday 3.30 p.m.
Russia a Republic!

Sunday

Sunday March 18th. I wil start this letter from here as if I had not written previously because as you see I did not write at all on our most thrilling days and I think I could tell you more of interest now, because in the scraps I wrote, it was at the time too close, now one understands what they were about.

We all slept over here for a week, the five of us on mattreses or pillows on the floor, in the Grand Duchesses clothes cupboard, Ena, and the four Canadians – during that time I went over to the Club one day and took a bath, otherwise I have never had my clothes off.

I did not keep a diary – but started to try to do it by writing your letter, but at the time it was too tense. We had very little trouble with the patients or sanitars and absolutely none with them in this ward The first few days as I told you, the people just collected and were kept in order by the Cossacks – on Saturday many of the Regiments came over to the people – on Sunday – the Cossacks were off the street and Infantry in place of them – that day we saw the first firing – several casualties brought in here – Monday – a most thrilling day – the Arsenal was taken – motor lorries and motors dashing around distributing ammunition to every one even small boys were armed.

Alexander Dmitrievich Protopopov

Protopoppoff the hated Prime Minister taken prisoner many senior officers killed – street fighting between different regiments – (that we did not see, it was not on the Nevsky), by evening that day an enormous number of troops revolted and about six o’clock marched down the Nevsky to the Duma carrying a Red flag – that night several of the sisters went over to the club about six as they had last hours off duty, and just at that moment there was terrific firing straight down the Vladirmirskaya, which they had to cross, it is extra ordinary to see the people suddenly throw themselves flat or run for shelter. They all got over safely but had an awful night over there, so much firing all about.

Santa Clause Coat

You see the police made a pretty good fight for it, I believe altogether had 400 machine guns secreted, one was in an old hotel at the corner of the V. & N. and that is why there was so much firing there. For a time they thought one was on the roof of this palace, and two bullets came through one ward and one through another high up through the window, in one case lodging in the cornice of the ceiling, in the other in the wall. The people came about 12 o’clock midnight, searched the palace and demanded we at once hung out a Red Cross flag so we hurriedly ran one up on the machine, made out of a sheet and an old Santa Clause coat. That night we sat up all night, some lay down but I wandered around, did not wasn’t to miss anything.

Tuesday

Tuesday. Everyone was armed and the streets were crowded, motor lorries flying around – everyone’s motor was taken – lots of firing from the bridge, both rifle and machine gun, police were using the Dowager Empress’s Palace directly across from us, so heavy firing on it. Officers swords were taken from them, either broken and thrown away or kept. By this time many officers had come over with the people and “Red” about everywhere, still fighting and hunting for the police.

Wednesday

Wednesday. Wonderfully more orderly, the soldiers had things wonderfully in hand, they are trying to keep down looting and drinking which is splendid. Papers were issued naming the new Duma, and the different happenings, motors would fly by distributing them and the crowds would make a rush for them. that went on allnight. Protopopoff told theDuma where they could get the Czar and he was taken prisoner between Kiev and Moscow, his train having been stopped numerous times before, he did not answer any of his ministers or people until after he was taken whether he did not get the message or not we don’t know.

Thursday

Thursday. Was comparatively quiet it could be seen the people had won the day. Motors were flying about full of soldiers all brandishing swords or rifles tied with red. We went over to the club for meals and I had a bath, but we still had to sleep here. Everything seemed at an awful tension these days. The Czar abdicated for himself and son writing from Pakov on March 3rd. On Saturday all Imperial signs and coats of arms over the shops or anywhere were taken down and burnt and I think there were huge signs on almost every store on the Nevsky, also on the Palaces.

A guard with fixed bayonets came and demanded that we took down the Russian flag. Everyone is wearing Red rosette or ribbon. A red flag is flying from the Winter Palace and the Dowager Empress’s. It has all quieted down and has been so quick and wonderfully orderly, if it only remains so and is well settled means great credit for Russia. Nothing is working yet – more shops open today though, and the price of butter and many things has gone down tremendously, soldiers in many of hte shops seeing people are attended to and not over charged. Still the lines waiting for bread.

Grand Duke Michael

Nothing definite settled yet about the Government, at first the people were going to put in Grand Duke Michael but he refused, saying he would not take it until he was elected by all of Russia. Then they suggested the Czaravitch as heir and the Grand Duke Michael but the Czar abdicated then for the son as well as himself.

Great excitement, word came today that the boats were running, so Squire and Hegan will soon leave. Last night we tried to go somewhere for dinner but could not find a place. The Astoria has been absolutely ruined, the Europe Restaurant is closed – no food – and the other places have all been handed over to the soldiers. However, I suppose it will be soon he settled, and it is extra ordinary how it has all gone back again
P.T.O.

one rather interesting thing that happened the night before last, a student & soldier, brought some cases of wine to the hospital saying it had been taken & they were distributing all the wine they got amongst the hospitals. Don’t you think that wonderful for a Revolution? Food that was storied & corned has all been unearthed & distributed.

31 March 1917

The Revolution has really been wonderful, so well managed for a Revolution, quick, clean & very tidy, little dirty work. Although we hear new & awful stories almost every day. I do wish I could write freely, but I feel so much my letters may be censored.

Photographs of Rasputin, alone, & some in the most of his lady admirers are being sold on the street corners, also stories of his life, which I am sure if I read would be “some” reading.
Don

Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)

Mother of Nicholas II, the last Russian Emperor. Maria and her daughters and other members of the Romanov family managed to escape from the revolution. She later went back to her home country Denmark and she never returned to Russia. Maria died ten years later in 1928, she was 80 years old.

Recalled to England in August of 1917, she had witnessed the Russian Revolution.

When she returned again to England, she was assigned the position of matron at No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington on 29 December 1917.

1918

10 April 1918

Dorothy posted to I.O.D.E., London on 10 April 1918.

17 July 1918

Russian Family Executed

According to the account of Bolshevik officer Yakov Yurovsky (the chief executioner), in the early hours of 17 July 1918, the royal family awakened around 2:00 am, and led down into a half-basement room at the back of the Ipatiev house. Present with Nicholas, Alexandra and their children were their doctor and three of their servants, who had voluntarily chosen to remain with the family: the Tsar’s personal physician Eugene Botkin, his wife’s maid Anna Demidova, and the family’s chef, Ivan Kharitonov, and footman, Alexei Trupp.

The executioners drew handguns and began shooting; Nicholas was the first to die. Anastasia, Tatiana, Olga, and Maria survived the first hail of bullets. They were then stabbed with bayonets and finally shot at close range in their heads.

Bodies burned

The bodies driven on a truck to nearby woodland, searched and burned. The remains soaked in acid and finally thrown down a disused mine shaft. Moscow announced only that Nicholas had been executed and the family had been evacuated to a safe place. After that, Moscow denied knowing anything about the whereabouts of the family for eight years.

In 1979, the bodies of Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, three of their daughters, and those of four non-family members killed with them, discovered near Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg) by amateur archaeologist Alexander Avdonin.

17 August 1918

Granted Leave from 17 August 1918 to 6 September 1918. SoS to the CAMC Casualty Coy upon return, 18 September 1918.

1919

September 1919

Transferred to the Camp Hill Military Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia in September 1919.

She was demobilized in 1919, having received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Postwar

1920

In 1920, on behalf of the Canadian Nursing Mission, she led a team of eight to Romania to establish a training school for nurses at Cotzea Hospital in Bucharest.

12 March 1920

COPY
COTROCENI
May 12th, 1920
Dear Mrs. Pantazzi:

Canada’s generous proposal to send out trained nurses to help create a school in Romania came as a veritable god-send. I have a house and an organization, but the necessary elements of regeneration were entirely missing. I was wondering how I could call English or American nurses to my aid, so as to give a new impulse to an institution that was not progressing as I desired, when suddenly your husband appeared with your wonderful message from Canada, who had already done so much for us and was now again offering to come to our aid. It seemed a veritable sign from above that I must never give up or despair, however hopeless things may appear at times.

All my efforts had been handicapped by our disastrous rate of exchange, making it impossible to appeal to foreign countries. Yet it was foreign aid and advice we had to have; you will therefore easily understand the joy your message was to me.
A son of your country, Col. J. W. Boyle, has by his bravery and by his devotion to our cause, already made the name of Canada known and loved in Roumania, and this new proof of her interest in our welfare comes to strengthen a bond of friendship, which I hope will grow stronger and closer as years pass.

Roumania

Canada has known how to extend a generous hand to Roumania in her time of distress and this the King, I and our people will never forget.

Will you please, in my name, thank all those who are helping to send out the nurses whose experience and advice will be so precious to us, and tell them the joy that it gives me. The thought that you, dear Mrs. Pentazzi, who in the hour of danger have shown a man’s courage and energy, are at the head of this movement is for me the best guarantee of its success.
(Signed) – Marie –
Queen of Roumania

Canadian Nursing Mission to Rumania
Regina Elisabeta Home
Bucurestt, Rumania

Mrs. HC. Peck
368 Besserer St
Ottawa
Ontario
Canada.

1921

4 March 1921

Give Doadie & Niley my love – I forgot to tell you Lady Muriel Paget is here. I have seen a lot of her in fact each morning have talked to her while she gets dressed! She is not staying here but I go down there we are real chummy! yrs Doss
Friday Mar 4, 21
Dearest Mary –

I know I fully deserve all the dreadful things you must be thinking (I hope not saying) of me – but really Mary although I have had just heaps of things almost everyday I wd love to tell you about – but somehow I feel as if I had all the cares of the world on my shoulders and not being about to plan and carry out a definite line of work has been so discouraging and has sometimes seemed almost impossible that I have really had little heart to write at all – however I haven’t lost all my hopes yet and the Red X people from Geneva have so fully approved of even the little that we have done that it has given me fresh courage.

Multilingual

I am sure EB has told you and you have gathered about the situation ste. So I will not dwell on that because that is usually what fills my letters and must make unsatisfactory reading. There is one sure thing this kind of work only needs crazy people like myself to do it if I could only speak three languages fluently. Those are English, French and Roumanian! and had a few more brains for other things.

Because to come up against this side of it and have to approach people and make a plan to work was more then I bargained for – The class of pupils belonging to the school Fitzee and I have been trying to find some parallel to in Canada to describe them – and the best thing we can think of is – daughters of Henrys or Edward Thomas’ at the ROH. if you don’t remember them ask Nilly to bring them to your mind – and still we are interested in them and the poor girls are certainly grateful.

They are the nurses for the country hospitals and needed badly – so perhaps we can improve them ever so little. They certainly learn quietly we give them the practical demonstration and a woman Doctor give them theory. Some day I will try & get a photograph of them before too much of the granets wears off.

Education

Well my education even tho’ late in life is being still carried on I have seen a little of the Roumainian Court and heard a great deal – I have been out to Cotroceni 3 times that is the Palace where they live just out of town and such a lovely old place – it is not much further out then Rideau Hall – it was an old monastry – and quite looks the part it is so beautifully and artistically furnished and looks very livable.

I could feel quiet at home one the tiger skin rugs and would not mind at all looking at the gorgeous Persian rugs forever. One day we were all invited to tea – that day saw the Queen. Princess E. Princess Marie and the little one Ilana while is quite the most attractive just about 12 or 13. She adores Col Boyle and he is teaching her all about the Girl Guides is in England at present and much to her excitement is bring her back an outfit!

Motor Cars

Another morning I had an interview with the Queen – that was just alone of course – another day was to see the Private Siery – and give him a blowing – about the dreadful motor cars they had put at our disposal and its weak point was sometimes never turning up at all – the motor cars are old ambulances used during the war very much weather beaten. but everyone doing any sort of work has one fancy driving up to Buckingham Palace in one of those and giving the Priv Siery Hades!

Our latest excitement was getting Princess Elizabeth safely married off – we were all invited to a really very interesting ceremony on Saturday afternoon the day before her wedding at the Palais Royal in town which is were all the State functions take place – it was at four o’clock in the afternoon – just about 70 or 80 people there and all people representing Sec. doing “good works” – Etc. and I believe representatives of the Colleges etc. old professeurs.

Lots of very smart and beautiful officers – are the ladies in waiting who looked sweet – ladies who had probably done a great deal of Red X work during the war because they had lots of orders on – some people from the country towns probably heads Red X Soe – in their peasant costume or I suppose I should say the national costume and they looked so attractive.

Royal Family

We all sat around the three sides of this huge room and after a little while the Royal family all came in the King, Queen, Princess E. Prince G. of G. Princess Marie young Price Nicholas who has just come home from Eton for the weddings a Spanish Prince – brother in law of The Queen’s a brother of the King of Greece – and his wife who was a Russian Princess.

Each person had to go up and shake hands so of course curtesy and you were supposed to offer felicitations – we were tickled to death being invited to that especially as all 8 were included most soe. they just asked one or two. but the Canadians were there in full force.

Wedding

However at the ceremony the following day we played a very minor part being in a crowd of probably 10 000 to a square inch for over 2 hours – but being taller then the average I really did manage to get quite a good view and saw everyone as they were coming out of the Palais and getting into their carriages the civil marriage took place there at 10.30 then at 12 they left for the church where there was a long ceremony afterwards a reception at 3 oclock a huge luncheon at the evening reception of over 2000 so the poor girl was kept rather busy – we hear now she has a dreadfully bad cold and has to stay in bed – They all go to Allens on Monday for the wedding there.

Everything seemed to be so simply but nicely done so suitable for a poor country. You will probably be interested to hear that most of their clothes are made by a little sewing girl in the Palace! it sounds most incongurous – even her wedding dress! but of course ropes of lovely pearls and jewels! furs do help to take away that home made look – their jewels all seem to be so graceful long slender chains of things.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the dirtiest most untidy town – I hate to think of the smells and sights we will see in the summer – but I can’t tell you what a fascination everything in the East has – even their dirt. The only time I hate it is when it interferes with me and where we are living now is very clean. but the hospital and premises I couldn’t describe! words fail me and I can’t “say it with flowers” – Mary dear I can’t tell you how much it helped me having you in Montreal before I left and knowing you wd be there with Elo afterwards. I can still gaze fondly at the label you printed for my hat box.

Later she worked briefly at the Rockefeller Institute in Paris (1921-1922) and later in Saskatchewan as a public-health nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses.

30 April 1921

Dorothy attended the wedding of Princess Elizabeth of Rumania and Prince George of Greece.

It is not known if she returned to nursing at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. Dorothy Cotton and a friend Elsa May ran a gift shop in Montreal for many years. She died in Montreal on 12 August 1977.

There are three medals awarded to Dorothy Cotton: a Canadian Red Cross Society Medal; an Anglo-Russian Hospital medal dated 1915; and an Alexander Kerensky medal, with inscription in Russian, dated 1917.

More

A must read for more information concerning the Russian-Anglo Hospital.

Michael Harmer is the son of William Douglas Harmer, the senior surgeon at the Anglo-Russian Hospital.

Memorial plaque

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) supports various brass plaques for military memorials across the country, which are part of official national and local tributes. These plaques used to commemorate indiviudals, groups, or events related to service in wars, peacekeeping, and other military operations.

Dorothy’s grave, like that of Nursing Sister Edith Campbell R.R.C., M.M., M.I.D., also buried in the cemetery, not marked by a VAC Memorial Placque. These oversights, in CEFRG’s opinion, should be corrected.

Serving overseas from 1915-1918 and awarded the British War & Victory medals, Dorothy should also have been awarded the 14-15 Star.

Contact CEFRG