Correspondence relating to Mary Anne 'Bessie' Pocock, pre-1914 - Part 10

[*framed now & on
my mantlepiece.
It is an awfully 
good one of you.
Much better than the 
ones you had taken
at Meaford. No
more news now -
with best love
From
G.S.W. Parker-Ferris*]

 

Floriana
17^th Jan^y 1903
My dear Sister Bessie,
Very many thanks for your
last letter which I got yesterday.
I'm sorry to hear that you are
getting rather bored of London,
personally, I can't stand the
place, & get out of it always
as soon as I can - I very
much prefer country life -
I'm glad to hear that your you are
getting stronger though - I'm
afraid you must find it very

 

slow work - at times one does
get so low about onesself -
I wonder if you are having it
as bitterly cold in London as
we are here - It is too awful
here, dressed in khaki drill,
& the wind going clean through
one. I have been rather seedy
since I wrote last - a touch
of low Maltese fever & a
bad cold - It has been an 
awful bore as I have missed
so many nice dances and
other shows which I should
have liked to have gone to. I am
 practically all right again now
though, Im glad to say, although
my cold has not quite gone -
I went to a dance last night
again & quite enjoyed myself
although I did not attempt
to dance very much. We are
having great festivities this
week as Mr Brodrick, the
Secretary for of State for
War, & his bride, arrive
here today to spend a week
of their honeymoon - He is
the guest of the Governor,
Lord Grenfell, of course, &

 

there are to be receptions, parades
& goodness knows what in
his honour. It is true about
Sister Winder - Mr Kennedy
heard from her last week
from Johannesburg, & she is
married to that man. How
funny, isn't it! We go out
for three months training on
the 27^th of this month, to
the other end of the Island, &
none of us are looking forward
to it much. It will fall so
very flat, I think, after S. Africa
Nearly all our officers have come
back from leave now, & we
are quite a squash in this
little mess. Have got your photo 

STATEMENT of the Accounts of No. Nursing Sister A B Pocock ANA
Discharged on the 5^th
day of May 1903.  G.O. No..............

Particulars.	Debt.			Credit.
By user Pay 17/1/00}                            5/5/03} = 1204 days @ ₤40 pa				131	18	11√
“      “ Gratuity                       56    “       @ ₤40  “				6	2	9
To Payments Self                9   17  10}
“            “           Order           66   13    4}	76	11	2
To Balance due user Pay  55. 7. 9}  “ user Gratuity   “                  6. 2. 9}	61	10	6
TOTAL  …   …   ₤	138	1	8	138	1	8

I hereby Certify that the foregoing is a correct Statement of the Accounts of No.
Nursing Sister A B Pocock AAR Discharged
on the 5^th day of May 1903.

81678
Sydney 28/5/03

 

(1)
Linnholm
The Thicket
Southsea
Seper 3^rd 1903
My dear Sister Bessie
Ever so many thanks
for your nice long letters,
one written from Naples,
the other telling me of your
safe arrival home, and
your hearty welcome which
indeed you more than
deserved. I was getting
very anxious about you
as I thought I ought to
have heard, but, can quite
understand how difficult
it was for you to find

 

(2)
time on first reaching home
for letter writing. I do indeed
feel glad to know you are
pretty well and enjoying
long home chats. I quite envy
you having dear Father &
Mother, they are always ready
to sympathise, and help
one bear sorrows and ups
and downs which come to
nearly everyone. You must
have felt quite overpowered
with all the speeches and
entertainments, but it was
nice to have a little reward
for all you have gone through
for others. How you must
have enjoyed the dear
sweet flowers! I can quite
picture you admiring them.

 

(3)
You must be feeling much
stronger or you would not
have been able to get
through as much travelling.
I have no doubt the voyage
did you good. We should
all be very pleased to see
you pop in, and have a
game of Bridge with us.
This would be just an
evening for it as we are
having a most fearful
thunder storm and torrents
of rain - it began at 4.30
this afternoon and seems
likely to last. The poor
Colonel is at the Club and
I can't think how he will
get home.  He always plays
 

(4)
Bridge now as there is nobody
at the Club who cares
for Whist. A week ago we
had a nephew staying with
us. Then after dinner we
had a game - of course Gracie
and I talked - I do so hope
you will have the good
luck to win the £10,000
you would indeed be rich
and able to settle comfortably.
You must let me know
all about it. I think you
are very wise not to begin
work yet, you must take
a real rest. The £100 a
year is good pay, still, nursing
is very hard work and
great wear and tear.

 

Mrs Dowding The Vicarage
Fareham Hants Sept 11^th 1903
My Dear Sister Pocock
First I must thank you
for yr delightful long letter
which was most interesting to
hear of yr voyage and particularly
of yr grand reception, which
was only right & proper after all
you had gone through & very
gratifying to you & yrs. I can well
fancy how more than delighted
yr dear Parents were to embrace
you and of course they could not
keep their eyes off you much now
you are now with them. You were
rewarded for all you have gone
through for the benefit of others
& I am sure you will not regret
the time you spent in The Cape
altho' a very sad one with nurses;
you have the satisfaction of
∧ knowing in death you comforted many of

 

those who had no loved ones
near to speak a kind word
to their absent ones and who
will always remember you

for all kind attentions. Thanks

also for the paper you sent I

think you will be wise not to

take up yr. work for a few

months but take a thorough

rest among yr friends so that

you may regain yr strength

thoroughly & having the choice

of several hospitals mind &

take the best. I do think

you had a lovely time upon

the voyage at some of the places

you saw so much and I hoped

as such that it really did you

good after you got over sea sickness

& I daresay it was all for the

best that the gentleman I used

to imagine & tell you about, did

not turn up. Perhaps there is a 

better one instore - if not there ought

to be
We left Kingswood. In June & then

went to the Gordons for a month
Emily was there & very well she is a
wonderful lady & I am so proud of

her and wish her every success it

is a trying position I think she

is fairly well suited with servants

& if the present set only do their

duty & remain it will make the

work much easier for her Miss

Cuthill is well & a comfort to Em The

children are at home One leaves 

on the 18^th March & the other goes on

25^th Em will feel lonely without them

but she is so brave and sensible the

hard work agrees with her for she

looks handsomer than ever if she

could only keep the house full

she would be satisfied Edgar also

looks well & works like a slave he

sticks at nothing & often works very

late helping Em so do hope that 

all will turn out well for them

The truth is it will be years before

they can save fortunately they are

so happy together & love makes

work lighter. I have now got
lunch soon with my daughter .We

 

think the family are well as we have

Mauds 21^st birthday on the 17^th Lots
of presents expected so many friends.
have written to know what silver
she requires for her dressing
table Jean is in Wallsend the family from
from Morsley are coming also & my

sister. Fred & Fam are unable to
join as he is expecting Mr Davies
today They are to miss Church to day
both well. Iain is very busy They                             
are going to live very near Franks
It is such a pity she is so nervous of 

herself because she really looks in
perfect health like myself.

We have had a disappointing
summer so much rain & high
winds it is at the present moment
raining in torrents & blowing
great guns The girls have just
returned from Southsea drenched
They with Mrs Dowding join me
in Cornwall Good wishes trusting
you and yrs are all well & shall hope to
hear from you I have just [[?]] Yours

[[?]] [[?]] Mary J Elliott.