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[Page 20]

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me to her home in Grosvenor Square, and it was interesting to hear of a scheme she had afoot for establishing a Communal Kitchen so that all should go out for their meals, and do away with the necessity for cooking.  The servant difficulty was making itself felt owing to the large number of women engaged in War work with its added attractions of higher wages and more interesting work.  Lady Meynell's enthusiasm made one feel that all obstacles could be overcome.

Just at the time the Russian Revolution started I had the privilege to meet Lady Carnock whose husband had been British Ambassador at Petrograd before the War.  She predicted almost exactly what would happen for she said the Russian peasants, so long under rigid control lacked the initiative and stability to act independently and in such a crisis she foretold disaster.

Later, when I visited Lady Carnock, who by the way is Lady Helen Munro Ferguson's Aunt, at her home at Cadogan Gardens I met Lady Dufferin (Lady Helen's mother)

With all these pleasant diversions, I was not unmindful of War work to be done, and at the request of Robert McAnderson A.I.F. Head Quarters, I visited the hospitals where Australian Officers were likely to be overlooked, for some times odd cases were taken to British Hospitals and out of the way of regular Australian visitors.  This I found very satisfying work, for I was able to, with the aid of musical friends I had made, arrange concerts in the wards, and those beside the Australians, seemed exceedingly grateful.

The Overseas Club too invited me to organise the Women's side of the Club on the same lines as in Melbourne I had done as Chairwoman.

This enabled me to arrange for large parties of Colonial wounded soldiers through their respective Red Cross Organisations.  I was fortunate in being able to get Mr and Mrs Massey on the day that we had the New Zealanders, and they enjoyed the entertainment in the cosy club rooms with bright fires burning.

 

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