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Dr. Copp, - (3).

few minutes today to think the matter over I decided that if [?] coats and hats were not already in process of making or transit, we might do without these and safe the money for some more necessary needs at this distressing time.

As the present time I am working as a Member of the Medical Committee in charge of our Brigade. My Staff consists of Captain B. Lane of the Salvation Army and Miss Hunter our Divisional Secretary, both having been of invaluable service to me. My first Officer did not feel equal to the work, having had a slight operation the morning of the catastrophe, and has left the City until she is in better condition to be of assistance. Mrs. McDougall another of my Nursing Officers has done a wonderful work as Matron of the Y.M.C.A Emergency Hospital which she quickly organized, and speaks in glowing terms of the V.A.D's under her. Mrs. Curry another Nursing Officer at my request, went with fifty six (56) Members to the Camp Hill Hospital. Miss Pickles, Supt. of Nurses at the Victoria General Hospital, Miss Pemberton, Supt. of Night Nurses, V. G. H., Nursing Sister Fraser of Pinehill Hospital, and Miss Bamford, Supt. of the Children's Hospital [marginal note inserted: "also Miss Letts, Supt. V.O.N"] were already on duty at Hospitals and of course remained at their posts there. The few others remaining [marginal note inserted: "Nursing Officers"] have not reported but are doubtless doing invaluable work some where.

I can never express the admiration I have for our girls, who, unaccustomed to the horrors of this kind have shown the greatest endurance. They have not reported what they have done unless questioned and I have had no time whatever praise or discuss work with them. The work they have done has not been reported to me by themselves but by others, but I know of cases where they have stayed on duty twenty (20) hours at a stretch and rendered service which at any other time would have been considered impossible. One member assisted in any way possible at the Morgue where the scenes baffled description. I cannot begin to describe the Hospital work they accomplished during those first dreadful hours. At present they are doing Ward duty.

Yesterday I visited every Hospital and asked of [if?] their services were quite satisfactory and if the Hospitals had all they required. Before this you will appreciate how difficult it was for me to tell you how many we required. I thought I had satisfactorily arranged accommodation for the fifty (50) requested, but I did not know that members of the St. John, N.B. Division were in the City and several from Fredericton. It was after obtaining this information that I cancelled my request. The St. John, N.B. Members have reported to me, the Fredericton Members did not, and I learned accidentally of their presence in the City. Another difficulty in ascertaining the number required was the fact that the trained Nurses were pouring into the City and the Hospitals for some time could not give me a decided answer as to the number they would need. New Hospitals were being opened all the time and accommodation was scarce.

[handwritten top right: MG 1 volume 2124 number 30b]