Description
Object description
125 ms letters (731pp, together with ts transcriptions) written by a Nursing Orderly in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) to his parents and sisters, [Florence] Hilda, Dorothy ('Dorrie'), and Eunice, in Ashford, Kent, starting with letters written while in No 1 Coy RAMC, Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot (April 1934) following a 'flu epidemic, embarking in HMS DORSETSHIRE (3 October 1934), describing the journey down and through the Mediterranean, hammocks, the temperature rising, tropical kit, going ashore at Port Said, descriptions of Port Sudan and Aden, and thoughts about the country and people, shopping and haggling, sailing on to Colombo, arriving in Shanghai (12 November 1934), his first impressions and exploring, being confined to the British settlement, joining No 27 Company, RAMC, Military Hospital, Shanghai, descriptions of the hospital, the colder weather in China, learning Chinese, seeing a lady with bound feet, Christmas (December 1934), nursing training and starting a junior course for promotion (January 1935), being in charge of a ward, tensions between the Chinese and Japanese, and between the Indian Police and Chinese, not receiving letters from his now ex-girlfriend, a 'flu epidemic affecting the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Hart also being in hospital with 'flu (February 1935), drilling soldiers, working in operating theatres (March 1935), inspected by the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS), a visit to Chinese temples, being impressed with the Japanese barracks and machinery he passed, learning King's Regulations, thoughts of possible future war (April 1935), writing of a visit to a Chinese village (May 1935), playing tennis, visiting the Bund gardens, preparing for a holiday to Wei-Hai-Wei, learning to swim (June 1935), being recommended for his second nursing qualification, holiday to Wei-Hai-Wei, sailing in HMS DORSETSHIRE and going on sea trials with HMS CORNWALL (July 1935), the ship firing guns, a trip to HMS MEDWAY a depot ship supporting the 4th Submarine Flotilla, being allowed on a submarine, descriptions of the submarines, drills, and crash diving, moving back to medical division rather than surgical, working night shifts (November 1935), Christmas on the wards, talking about the fighting in the North of China, but it being quiet in Shanghai (December 1935), the birth of a nephew, being able to go out in regimental uniform rather than khaki and puttees, Christmas presents, DORSETSHIRE arriving bringing more troops and work (January 1936), his dislike of 'swingers' who fake illness, a Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers coming to Shanghai, preparing for his first class tradesman examination, Chinese New Year (February 1936), the Chinese not liking him taking photographs of them, reactions to the news of the death of King George V, visiting flying boats in Shanghai harbour, a trip to Jessfield Park (April 1936), putting in a transfer request for Hong Kong, busy with cases and exams, disliking the French part of the International Settlement, meeting a Russian lady, Garlia, a former aristocrat working as a teacher, a trip to Wei-Hai-Wei being postponed, hiring a car with friends and having birthday trips outside Shanghai (July 1936), visiting Woosung, his thoughts on Chinese roads, the differences outside Shanghai, being aboard HMS FOLKESTONE for a trip to Lian-yun harbour (August 1936), FOLKESTONE establishing the right for any British man-of-war to enter the harbour without interference from the Chinese authorities, journey to Wei-Hai-Wei, holiday at the port, boarding HMS SANDWICH, cleaning the ship for an inspection by the C-in-C, trips ashore, and the island of Liu Kung Tao, typhoon warnings in Shanghai (September 1936), flooding in the hospital, tensions in Shanghai as Japanese tighten regulations, two British soldiers being arrested for crossing into the Japanese areas, transferring to the British Hospital in Hong Kong (November 1936), the contrast between the two cities, descriptions of the city, taking over senior orderly's job on the major surgical works, starting as a candidate for Trained Nurse, going to a Christmas service at the Union Church (December 1936), a train trip to Canton (January 1937), choosing First Class travel due to the conditions in the other carriages, descriptions of the City, seeing a procession to celebrate the release of Chiang Kai Chek, seeing Chinese troops including very young boys, Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong (February 1937), preparations for the Coronation of King George VI, leisure time, having a spinal injury patient in his care, a military exercise for the defence of Hong Kong from land, sea and air (March 1937), British warships lit up for the coronation, attending the rehearsal but missing the actual parade due to his duties (May 1937), proceeding to the island of Cheung Chau to be in medical charge of the troops on holiday there, pride in the cleanliness of his ward in Hong Kong, trying to send all his photographs home (June 1937), news of the war in the north of China and thoughts on his possible involvement with casualties, telling his parents that Marion Collins, a Scottish Nursing Sister he had been corresponding with, was likely to become his girlfriend when he returned (August 1937), a description of a powerful typhoon hitting Hong Kong (September 1937), news of tensions mounting between the Chinese and Japanese, the letters ending when he left for the UK, with throughout details of money, particularly fluctuating exchange rates, sights, sounds, smells, descriptions of locals, geography and Chinese culture, weather, his photography, wanting to stay on in the Army but considering various options for his nursing career, sending post via Siberia, conditions in Shanghai, news of people he worked with in Woolworths department store, playing tennis, jokes and poems, murders and kidnapping in Shanghai, his dislike of Chinese music, jazz, and crooning, friendliness with the nursing staff, Sergeant Major, MOs, and Matron, and family news, including another sister, Yvonne, getting married. Together with: Three ms descriptions of China aimed at his youngest sister, Eunice, so that she could take them to school to show her geography class (15pp, n.d. [late 1934]).
Content description
125 ms letters (731pp, together with ts transcriptions) written by a Nursing Orderly in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) to his parents and sisters, [Florence] Hilda, Dorothy ('Dorrie'), and Eunice, in Ashford, Kent, starting with letters written while in No 1 Coy RAMC, Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot (April 1934) following a 'flu epidemic, embarking in HMS DORSETSHIRE (3 October 1934), describing the journey down and through the Mediterranean, hammocks, the temperature rising, tropical kit, going ashore at Port Said, descriptions of Port Sudan and Aden, and thoughts about the country and people, shopping and haggling, sailing on to Colombo, arriving in Shanghai (12 November 1934), his first impressions and exploring, being confined to the British settlement, joining No 27 Company, RAMC, Military Hospital, Shanghai, descriptions of the hospital, the colder weather in China, learning Chinese, seeing a lady with bound feet, Christmas (December 1934), nursing training and starting a junior course for promotion (January 1935), being in charge of a ward, tensions between the Chinese and Japanese, and between the Indian Police and Chinese, not receiving letters from his now ex-girlfriend, a 'flu epidemic affecting the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Hart also being in hospital with 'flu (February 1935), drilling soldiers, working in operating theatres (March 1935), inspected by the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS), a visit to Chinese temples, being impressed with the Japanese barracks and machinery he passed, learning King's Regulations, thoughts of possible future war (April 1935), writing of a visit to a Chinese village (May 1935), playing tennis, visiting the Bund gardens, preparing for a holiday to Wei-Hai-Wei, learning to swim (June 1935), being recommended for his second nursing qualification, holiday to Wei-Hai-Wei, sailing in HMS DORSETSHIRE and going on sea trials with HMS CORNWALL (July 1935), the ship firing guns, a trip to HMS MEDWAY a depot ship supporting the 4th Submarine Flotilla, being allowed on a submarine, descriptions of the submarines, drills, and crash diving, moving back to medical division rather than surgical, working night shifts (November 1935), Christmas on the wards, talking about the fighting in the North of China, but it being quiet in Shanghai (December 1935), the birth of a nephew, being able to go out in regimental uniform rather than khaki and puttees, Christmas presents, DORSETSHIRE arriving bringing more troops and work (January 1936), his dislike of 'swingers' who fake illness, a Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers coming to Shanghai, preparing for his first class tradesman examination, Chinese New Year (February 1936), the Chinese not liking him taking photographs of them, reactions to the news of the death of King George V, visiting flying boats in Shanghai harbour, a trip to Jessfield Park (April 1936), putting in a transfer request for Hong Kong, busy with cases and exams, disliking the French part of the International Settlement, meeting a Russian lady, Garlia, a former aristocrat working as a teacher, a trip to Wei-Hai-Wei being postponed, hiring a car with friends and having birthday trips outside Shanghai (July 1936), visiting Woosung, his thoughts on Chinese roads, the differences outside Shanghai, being aboard HMS FOLKESTONE for a trip to Lian-yun harbour (August 1936), FOLKESTONE establishing the right for any British man-of-war to enter the harbour without interference from the Chinese authorities, journey to Wei-Hai-Wei, holiday at the port, boarding HMS SANDWICH, cleaning the ship for an inspection by the C-in-C, trips ashore, and the island of Liu Kung Tao, typhoon warnings in Shanghai (September 1936), flooding in the hospital, tensions in Shanghai as Japanese tighten regulations, two British soldiers being arrested for crossing into the Japanese areas, transferring to the British Hospital in Hong Kong (November 1936), the contrast between the two cities, descriptions of the city, taking over senior orderly's job on the major surgical works, starting as a candidate for Trained Nurse, going to a Christmas service at the Union Church (December 1936), a train trip to Canton (January 1937), choosing First Class travel due to the conditions in the other carriages, descriptions of the City, seeing a procession to celebrate the release of Chiang Kai Chek, seeing Chinese troops including very young boys, Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong (February 1937), preparations for the Coronation of King George VI, leisure time, having a spinal injury patient in his care, a military exercise for the defence of Hong Kong from land, sea and air (March 1937), British warships lit up for the coronation, attending the rehearsal but missing the actual parade due to his duties (May 1937), proceeding to the island of Cheung Chau to be in medical charge of the troops on holiday there, pride in the cleanliness of his ward in Hong Kong, trying to send all his photographs home (June 1937), news of the war in the north of China and thoughts on his possible involvement with casualties, telling his parents that Marion Collins, a Scottish Nursing Sister he had been corresponding with, was likely to become his girlfriend when he returned (August 1937), a description of a powerful typhoon hitting Hong Kong (September 1937), news of tensions mounting between the Chinese and Japanese, the letters ending when he left for the UK, with throughout details of money, particularly fluctuating exchange rates, sights, sounds, smells, descriptions of locals, geography and Chinese culture, weather, his photography, wanting to stay on in the Army but considering various options for his nursing career, sending post via Siberia, conditions in Shanghai, news of people he worked with in Woolworths department store, playing tennis, jokes and poems, murders and kidnapping in Shanghai, his dislike of Chinese music, jazz, and crooning, friendliness with the nursing staff, Sergeant Major, MOs, and Matron, and family news, including another sister, Yvonne, getting married. Together with: Three ms descriptions of China aimed at his youngest sister, Eunice, so that she could take them to school to show her geography class (15pp, n.d. [late 1934]).
History note
Cataloguer SJO