A Canadian Nursing Sister
Luella Euphemia Denton
The story of a woman who finds herself in the middle of the Great War is told at the Grey County Archives. Luella Euphemia Denton volunteered her services as a nurse in the First World War. It is through her letters to a friend and neighbour from Annan, that her story is told. The Lorna Towler Collection contains 21 original letters written to Mrs. Isabella McArthur spanning the course of Miss Denton's service from 1916 through to 1919.
As with most wartime correspondence many hardships are described in detail. She decided to join the British Expeditionary Force shortly after she arrived in England. This moved her quite close to the action, serving at various Casualty Clearing Stations in France and Belgium. In a letter dated October 27, 1917 she writes,
"The guns have kept a terrible roar all night. The earth shakes with the explosions. All day yesterday, it was the same. The fighting is stiff alright and our boys are doing splendidly. Flanders fields are seeing terrible things and we, all of us, are sick, nauseated with the horrible sights. I love my work, the opportunity which I have here. To me it is a sacred place, men everyday giving their lives here. Oh it is cruel. We who have seen will never forget; you who have not seen be thankful."
She also speaks of many events and personages including: the sinking of the H.M.S. Llandovery Castle, William Avery "Billy" Bishop, various bombing raids which she endured, the deaths of Captain David Howes and Nursing Sister Gladys Wake, the declaration of peace, and the Influenza epidemic.
However, as Miss Denton's service as a Canadian Nursing Sister was lengthy she also speaks of more pleasurable times, including her leave time in London, the Scottish Highlands, and Paris. As well, she writes of the general happenings at the camp which includes her comments on the church services offered, the games played by hospital residents, and even the contents of packages received from the Homeland.
The letters of Miss Denton offer a unique view of the events of the First World War. Her letters show the declining progress she makes towards not only homesickness but also her personal views of the war. The correspondence is generally uplifting, in some fashion, as her support for the boys never wavers. Writing to Mrs. McArthur, August 6, 1917, Miss Denton writes,". . . our Tommy is always first. Our splendid Tommys, they are of the best. I would not have missed this experience up here for a great deal."
The letters are also complimented by a selection of snaps, or photographs, taken of Miss Denton and others while serving overseas. In addition, the collection contains postcards from Miss Denton's subsequent travels to the Near East, and newspaper clippings detailing other life achievements such as her acquirement of the Order of the British Empire award.
Miss Denton's Letters
November 11, 1916
December 31, 1916
January 1, 1917
March 4, 1917
March 25, 1917
May 28, 1917
July 14, 1917
August 6, 1917
September 7, 1917
October 7, 1917
October 27, 1917
November 20, 1917
February 6, 1918
April 17, 1918
May 26, 1918
June 12, 1918
July 7, 1918
July 30, 1918
October 13, 1918
November 1918
January 26, 1919
