Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 37]
-6-
a domestic staff. When we reached our destination, two officers of the District Command met us with the disappointing news that no furniture had arrived, so arrangements were made for the night in a billet, so uncomfortable, that the next morning I set about making my own arrangements, and found it was possible to secure rooms in the Quarters that had been taken over in the Arboretum Gardens used as a restaurant. Here we were made quite comfortable and had every consideration from the aforetime proprietor. One of the humors of the War Office was that for twentyfive houses, the first article of furniture to arrive was a hearth rug by post. Owing to the conflicting Authorities, it was heart-breaking work getting things into order. But eventually things began to take shape for my staff were splendidly enthusiastic.
In the midst of furnishing we were required to draft women who were constantly arriving to the various camps, requisitioning for their services and while the Women remained, formulated a scheme of training. Every morning they drilled and had physical exercises and I arranged for them to have lectures on the various subjects that would be useful in their work. Their first appearance in public was at a concert given in the Albert Hall at Nottingham and the Management conceded to me the Organ gallery at a shilling per head.
Their appearance caused a great deal of interest and several of the audience came to me to inquire about the organization.
The concert was a specially interesting one for Madame Clara Butt and Madame Elsa Stralia were the singers. Afterwards I saw Madame Stralia who told me that her brother Lt. Frank Fischer had arrived at Salisbury. He so often sang for me at Patriotic and Charitable concerts in Melbourne. (News has since been received that he was killed in France.)
Having reported on the inadequacy of the Kitchen arrangements an Official from Head Quarters came to inspect and from