A Tea-Fight

Winter 1915-1916

A Short Impression by the Matron, of the Party on Friday, November 12th

First thing in the morning the Receiving Hall was cleared of all the beds, and then we began to collect tables and forms from the wards. Very soon the Hall was transformed into a big café; lines of tables up and across the Hall, all of which were decorated by plants and flags, until the whole place was a mass of colour.

Long before tea-time the men began to come trooping in; and in a very short time there was a big buzzing tea-party. All the stretcher and wheeled-chair cases went round to the Recreation Room, and had tea given them there by many willing hands. The boys from Dr. Barnardo's Home played from the balcony, the men joining in the songs they knew, whistling and singing as they ate the many good things provided for them by our good friend Mr. Howard Williams. When everyone had eaten until it was impossible to eat any more we cleared the Hall, and many of us helped to get out the tables and rearrange the room for the concert. In a surprisingly short time the men were all back in their seats listening to one of the finest concerts we have ever had. By this time our Queen Amélie had come, and I am sure everyone was glad to see Her Majesty back again; she has become 'one of us,' and we all love her dearly.

I went up to the gallery and looked down on a blaze of colour. The men's blue coats, the scarlet jackets (which they ought to leave in the ward, and I never have strength of character enough to say they must, because they look so attractive), with patches of white here and there where the Sisters were sitting, struck one as so wonderful. A perfect volley of sound came up, and I can now hear
'Never-the-less I want to go back'
sung as if there were no trouble in the world, as if war with all its horrors did not exist; and one felt with a great thankfulness that Hospital was indeed a happy place - perhaps the only one at the moment, when all around is misery and suffering. Song followed song - several old favourites being cheered again and again - till at last the end came and we sang 'God Save the King.' After the C.O. had called for cheers for our Royal Family, we all gave three very special ones for Queen Amélie. We also had the opportunity of welcoming the Australian Nurses, who arrived in the middle of the afternoon, having come to work in our hospital. Many of them, I was glad to see, stayed for the concert.

Then the men began to file out and go home to bed - just like children tired out after a party - whistling and singing - and I felt, tired out as I was after a very hard day, that nothing is a trouble 'as long as we 'ave the 'eart.'

EDITH HOLDEN