Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Thomas James WILLANS and Mary nee JARVIE
Of 111 Park St, East Brunswick, Victoria

Married Les McNab ROBERTSON in 1923 in Vic.

Letters from a Nurse.

Mrs A. Robertson, "Glen View,"Yainbuk, has received letters from Nurse Willans (formerly of. the Port Fairy hospital), who is with the A.I.F. abroad. The following are extracts from the letters:-
At Sea, 15/6/17.- At last our voyage is almost at an end. We were seven weeks on the water on the 13th June. I don't think I would care to be a sea-faring man. It would not have the attraction for me that I thought it would have. A week after leaving Durban we arrived in Cape Town. Had a very good time there. West round trip round Lion's Head and able top mountains. It was most picturesque scenery- the sea and breakers on one side and the great rugged mountains on the other. The smell of the gums was perfect. The next day we took a tour up to go to Cecil Rhodes' place. The house is a mansion. Of course we only viewed it outwardly, and then we passed up the hill-side to his statue which is a magnificent piece of work and built tout of rough granite. A bronze statue of himself and his horse stand at the foot of the granite piece. A splendid view was obtained from the point. We could look across both oceans, and the city of Cape Town was snuggled in the centre. It really was a most perfect sight. Afterwards we went through the Museum and a glorious old place called the Town Hall. This place was used by Parliamentarian members about 30 years ago, but it is now given over to the people. The floor was mosaic and the walls of canvas which resembled paper at the top, while the bottom of same was tiled. All the tiles had biblical pictures on them. One thing which held me spell-bound was a ceiling at the top of the stairway. It was arched and like the sky on a bright starlight night-of deep blue is studded with bright stars. The southern cross was very much in evidence as also were a number of other stars, quite familiar to us. That reminded me we left our dear old Southern Cross behind. We watched it as long as we could, but now it is gone till our return trip. We called at Sierra Leone. The officers' got leave so we got shore leave also had a good look round, but a the place:-is only a little native village there is not too much to see, but we visited all the beauty spots, and we were very glad indeed to get away as the heat is intense and sickening. We had to lie in the bay for 4 days too. Most of us felt sick on account of the heat before we got away. Now we are within a few day's sail of England and no one will be sorry when we arrive.
Hotel York, London' 3/7/17- Well we have been here a fortnight now and have been. having rare bustling time sight seeing. I have become quite expert at boarding, and leaving a bus whilst in motion. If you are not smart, you are left behind for none waits in London. We went all over Parliament House, also into the House of Lords whilst they were still-sitting and discussing questions. We were taken all over the place by Sir William Bull, and afterwards had afternoon tea with him. There were 18 of us girls altogether. He was the only man among us, and I think he was very brave. We visited Temple Court and in the middle temple saw the original stage where Shakespeare for the first time played his Twelfth Night. We then saw the garden in which the first roses for the Wars of Roses were plucked, and have also visited Dickens' old curiosity shop. That is the original one, and it seems so strange seeing all those old places - a thing at one time I would have doubted ever doing. One afternoon we went to Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel, where the Royalty worship, and it is magnificent. Then we went over all the State apartments. After that we had refreshments, and shook hands with Princess May of Cambridge, who initialled our cards by that name. She must have been tired for there were eleven sisters and about fourteen soldiers - Australian and Canadian wounded. Then we went over Eton College through the chapel and the school room. A kneeling block and birch is still used in Eton. We afterwards drove to a delightful place called Burnham Beeches and had a real country afternoon tea in a real country house. That was the nicest day I've spent since my arrival. Have also visited Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's and Buckingham Palace. We are expecting a move any day now, and by all that I can hear it is to be Franc.e

Port Fairy Gazette Monday 17 September 1917 page 2