Notebook and postcards written by Florence Hobbes, c 1916-1917 - Part 2

Notes for letters

Did you ever get snapshots

I sent of Sicily? (Mother)

I love to listen to the 

"Retreat" sounding at

5 "pipemma”,  & the call of the 
Muezzin Muezzin by an Indian

at the camp just next to

the Hospital, its every note

as clear as a bell, & the

sustained notes are 

wonderful, Re Hockey -

I wish someone I knew

could be sent over here, it

would be so nice later on

to be able to compare notes

and talk over things. & Im

so glad that Ive seen Cairo

& Alex etc for I will be

able to understand what 

you are all talking about

later on when we happen to 

run across one another at

odd times. in Australia.

The new moon, glorious orange

glow in sky & quaint huts & palm

trees showing up against it in

the soft purple light & the little

silver shape, hanging in a 

pale creamy soft opaque sky above the

orange, & the church bell, an

old shell case, clanging out

for the 7 oclock service, later

on, at 9 p.m. it will be dark,

so dark that you can almost

feel it, with the stars shining

like so many million diamonds

in a deep violet sky, & the 

"Last Post" will be sounded by

a bugler, each note clear as

the note of a bird, & the last

three notes, rising, clear &

sustained, I don't know why,

but to me it always seems

like the Benediction, & instinctively

one bows ones head, as the

last note, hangs in the still

air, clear & flute like. I came

across a few lines today in

an old book, the words were

by Ruskin on the quality of feeling

The ennobling difference between

one man and another - between

one animal & another - is 

precisely this, that one feels

more than another. If we

were sponges, perhaps sensation

might not be easerly got for us;

But being human creatures

If we were earth-worms liable

to every instant to be cut in

two by the spade, perhaps too

much sensation would not

be good for us. But being human

(beings) creatures, it is good

for us; nay, we are only

human in so far as we

are sensitive, & our honour

is precisely in proportion to

our passion - Ruskin -

& now, from the sublime to

the ridiculous, I wonder why

it is the army thinks its

R.A.M.C. workers - orderlies

etc - need little food, and 

very ordinary food, but so

it is, & its a sort of point

of honour with the Sisters

that if ^an extra dinner is

sent along, the Sister pushes 

it aside & says "that need

not go into the ward", & 

then after meals are served

she retires inside, and

on going to the kitchen again

you never dream of asking

where the dinner is, unless

you wish to cover your orderlys

with confusion & blushes, its a truly

wonderful thing is "tharmy"

If you badly want a thing, 

& you know someone else

has exactly what you want,

you "comandeer" or "borrow"??

it, but if any one else comes

along and just sees what 

you have & wants it and

takes it, why that is quite

another question, they have

stolen it from you.

(gay insouciance) what?

write for those books -

Last night it was rather sweet in the

Anti tent - I went in after dinner & the

lights were just going out - no oil - only the

little stove, & in the dim light you could just

see the various objects in the tent, & outside

it was brilliantly moonlight, across the

river you could see the desert ending

in a most exquisite mauve purple light

& a cluster of date palms in the edge of

the river, with white dazzling tents &

lights here & there, all reflected in the

river which was just like a mirror.

I put "onI'll sing thee songs of Araby" on the

gram, & sat back in the tent looking

out into the moonlight, & could, in

imagination see the whole thing.

Our lives up here are filled up with little

things like these, its all the little things

that go to make up the whole - and

unless you have imagination you miss all

the beauty of the place, some of the

people up here see nothing of it all,

it is to them simply a rotten place where

we must work (as little as possible) & play

(as much as possible)

Sisters & Staff nurses are

requested to provide

their own bellams -

watches - ? bath?

Winter rains in Mesopotamia

Muezzin calling the world 

to prayer -

The potter making chattis out

of clay - watch him, fascinated

by his wheel & deft kneading

of the clay, &, as each new

vessel finished, is set in sun

to dry, & he began on another

& the shapeless dough was

moulded into form under

the guiding thumb of the 

potter & I wondered the 

power of the man to fashion

these pots from the clay.

not always in the same

form, but each new form

gaining beauty of its own &

as I gazed, the words of Omar

came to me from afar

for in the market place (of day one dusk

I watched the potter moulding his soft clay

Miss Page - Brown - Wilson -

Re Frank & my holidays, oh dear

life if I only could, if I only could get 

over there & see them, the temptation

is almost too much, and I would

give worlds to. Why didnt I get his

letter a week ago. If I had only
known before.

Tell Smithie re the "Euphritis"

cases.

The church tent - noticeboard

or prehaps you have heard bell

& pass in through the open

doorway at the side.

I.E.F Indian Expeditionary Force.

British& Indian Troops, selected to

open up the new holiday resorts

of Basra - Kut - & Baghdad.

There is some delay in the

completion of arrangements at

Kut & the pioneers work at

Baghdad, but Basra is already

known as the Brighton of Mesopotamia.

& the first regatta on 

the Tigris can be expected

shortly. The I.E.F. is unanimous

in its opinion of the climate

To popularise Mesopotamia,

visitors' expenses are, until

further notice, being entirely

defrayed by the Government,

Indian Ink - Xmas 1916

Tonie & Jean wound - difference 
made by star

Can’t remember Adamson a bit one of the

many ships - So glad re dear old Geo -

dear old Daddy - I wonder if we were

all too happy & care free in those

dear days, or if there is such happiness

in store for us later on to make up for all

this sadness, there are times when I hear a

tune on the Gram, or by a band one of those
dear memory

haunted things, & it just makes me feel

positively heartbroken, not for myself but 

when I think of those happy days & remember

we were only a few out of the whole world, &

then think of those days in Malta & how

day after day someones happiness

was destroyed, & that has been going on

solidly for the last two years, & its not

right now that every one will feel it but

later on, when others are welcoming their

own back, & they realize there are always 

going to be empty places in their home.

Mother & Els| Miss R. Kirkcaldie -

Bank of N.S.W. Threadneedle St - London E.C.

Willie Tony Plaskett is a nice boy. What is

Dudley Hardys address - theas- 

Jack Hamilton - Trooper-156 - 11^st A.L.H.

dear old Jack, what a pity he had

to go off so soon - Isnt it funny

Maurice Barton came into the

ward to see me yesterday, I got

him into the duty room, & tho just 

receiving a convoy, & most frantically

busy, I had every intention of having

a good long talk to him, all of which

was frightfully against rules, in 
the army ,- when in walked my

blessed M.O. & wanted to go & see the
new patients, he looked at Mr Barton

who promptly rose to attention & of

course had to go, I absolutely hate

my M.O. beastly little snob, Parky

& I both hate him & when I

thought of what Maurice had given

up to join, and how in civil live this

little bounder simply would not

be known by him, eugh - I dont mind

these people looking at me in a pitying

way when I am seen talking to my Aus

but I do resent it for my men - for they

feel it, my lamb you never finished your

letter to me last mail & put in a blank

page - Re Joan & her presents - good

for both Jock & Bonnie to have one another

to play with etc - never got Red X boxes

yet but they will probably turn up at

the end of six months - gave papers

to Mr Barton & young Armstrong -

coloured nighties -

One Impressions of India

One of the most amusing sights 

is the sports ground, during a

cricket match, (the view) in 

passing; one sees nothing but

a seething mass of black

umbrellas with their backs 

to you, looking for all the 

world like mushrooms that

have been blown over by the

wind, or perhaps they are upright,

with a human stem, either

sitting on its heels or cross

legged, or dotted here & there like

isolated mushrooms, every

native carries a huge black

umbrella, even if their only

clothing is a loin cloth,

Cocoanut day 2^nd August,

when the Indians hold it a

public holiday, all shops & banks

being closed, they have most

wonderful processions to the water

& thrown cocoanuts & things

into the sea, to propitiate

the monsoon & make it to 

cease, in order that the small

craft can start trading

with the costal ports, for,

till the end of the monsoon

they are locked up in the 

harbour -

Notes for letters - Mother

Horrid waiting for mail to & from

Poor old Grace, only just heard-

what a day France day

Awful Russians,

Troopships & socks,

Sister Brown lost at Poona,

Box just received not nighties

Poor old masuring & letter. Re Gilbert

Butterflys here - Re war office notice, rotters,

Please write any old day in case no notice

Dear Talbot see strikers devils
Re rather, re Fish xxxx for breakfast,y

What is Wndly Hardys address - Re Cooks??’

Mr Andrews - I do hope you are better dear

I dont like your old head going like that

I do hope the Wiltshire got over safely -

Poor Fred - those rotten strikers, of 

course rotten re Germans free in Aus, re ships

where is Keith Waugh - awful Cyclone - Clem

Bate, poor old Geo - re Woollies - re parcels -

Flare July 10^th

MS. Winchcombe - Letters from

Foxie & Mr Willis - Frank & leave -

Am afraid I had not been writing +

very often lately. Re Grace -

Thanks my beloved but Ive had my 2

months in hospital & there with prospect of 8.2

Poor Mabel & the chair - re MrsBesant

Dear old Grace, so glad to hear she looks so

well, such a comfort - dear old wire,fancy it being
 4 years since I was there for shearing, & all the boys. Should

see the flowers here running wild. only odd letters

Josie very cheery. G.G. & things-

Grace & Hospital. Smithie & foot - hope

you make plenty with your stall,

riding astride - re Fairy - Jeans riding

Pearsons - re Norman Strack -

would have done better with juiu - dear old Geo

so glad his leg is better, re £25, & old for action

daddy, old Sinclair - Is Willy a temp

Loot- what is? Write any old day

I do, re strike & Fullers Earth & Civil war

where troops didn't get letters lately

no going mail; long to see it, throat, 
 hardly party -
Strikers - Mr Milne-Glad Ml Mc staying well

& Frank returns, Geo - Garden Keith Webb-

Pearsons, write any old day, G-Berrie

hair growing, Jantie & Rhen, Louise, Kathleen

Kit July 7^th letter

Re mails, M^r Winchcombe, Re Grace, & Kit

poor old dear, am so glad Smithie will nurse her,

& M^rs Shiel - re Franks & Jack Poor Kiddies & colds,

Pet Kathleen & Rona - Dorrine Mitchell.

Bruce & Douglas Mc, Re peaceful, life after war &

coming over here. big game shooting - re returned

men turning out badly. Youngsters & tennis-

Jock must be a dear little youngster - Wasnt it at

the Parks that Lennie stayed ages ago, at Theribri.

must answer Donnies letter & write Jock

Where have Jean & Barbie gone to School -

re women in India - no letters - Can't

resign, & would have to go to England first-

Im all right - but will ask for a trans by 1918-

poor Allen, dear Franks, Do good to have a civil

war, wait till our men return, Mrs Besent &

India, dear old girl, they have quite enough to do

with their money, adored my family as I do -

Jeans letter, the dear writes, loved it, wish she

would write one sometimes, Drought - & snow -

length of holiday, Stan & his engagement Franks

English wife yes/no  send some snaps -

re snaps - Donnie
Murrie

No letters for ages - dressing Jack

Re "face", glad they had things down, how

Ebs loved it - Re Biusar Mrs Martin &

rains - lovely flowers, glad the

lawns panned out - so well Did the Hassells

son die - Prayer on Shropshire - re cable -

Re young Percey - dear old Jack - M C. Birt -
Frances day at Red Hill; Miss Gillespie - are 

they any relation to the Morse G's, just what G. 

needed after her op- re sleeps - re B. Brooke

re "Salaam" Grace says Richard is a lovely child,

longing to see him -
 

Annie

Jaundice brought on by chill??

mion At 125

rried- yes back to Mesopot

have any more lives. Ill ask for a

almost sure to get it, if not Ill

retrying May Norris - re prices

& hankies-