OUR NURSE AT SEVEN O’CLOCK

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 98, 31 March 1916, Page 7

OUR NURSE AT SEVEN O’CLOCK

The following versus were dedicated to Sister Deere, Matron in charge tu ; the jiecl jduspWM, ckegaess, England, by a wounded “Tommy," j whom she had been successful in nursing back to health. Sister Deere is the only Sister of Inspector Deere, of the Stock Department, and Mr L) 1 Arcy Deere, oi the Stratiord Dairy Company. I'm only a poor simp*© Tommy, 'ln my hospital tunic of blue: But along with the other “blue- ; bottles/’ ■ I’m etermuly gratelul to you. i We’re ail of us v.ctims of fortune, With an eye, or a head, or a leg; And some oi us hobble on crutches, 1 And seme of us still lie abed. jYou have.been gentle and hind to i us Tommies, Patient, and tender, and grave; Alu| no matter wiiat trouble v»e g-ve you, You have always been cheerful anc brave. ! . Gentle and soft as tne zephyrs ; That whisper the leaves of the trees; Tender and sweet as the lettuce ! vVe munch for our cuppers and teas. Brave through the weary night watches, When the long ward i.s silent ana dim; Brave when the surgeon is busy, With ids knife on a poor shattered limb. A'space, too, for our good doctor, i He’s patient and kind with us all, And his smile is ever cheery, When on his round he doth call.

And now the time comes for our parting, And we’re off to our depot once more, With thoughts of the trenches and dugouts, And visions of death and of war. ~ It’s only a grin and a “Thank you, A handshake, an awkward “Goodbye 1” But we carry a memory with us, A memory that never shall die. When the cold, weary winter is on us, And we’re keeping our watch in the trench; With the blood, and the mud, and the cu- ass, And the thoughts cf our home parting wre As we fitfully dose in our dugonts, lu the mud, and the blood, and the “slosh,” In my dreams I shall hoar your voice calling: “Seven* o’clock, Tommy!—get up and wash!” Fte. R. HARDY, 2nd Devonshire ißegt. A “Bluebottle” at the Red Cross Hospital, Skegness.