Hobbes, Florence Narrelle Jessie (Sister, b.1878 - d.1918)

Collection relating to the First World War service of Sister Florence Narrelle Jessie Hobbes, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, 1915-1918. Collection consists of a number of original handwritten and typed letters (some incomplete) written by Hobbes to her friends and family at home; a diary containing two postcards; a small captioned photograph album; 12 loose photographs; and a carbon copy book that contains copies of further letters. The letters, written between March 1915 and February 1918, discuss her feelings regarding the war, her emotions regarding the men she treats and her nursing work, the people she works with, the locals and the landscapes of the countries she has been in. The diary contains notes on local languages and observations on her surroundings. The photographs taken between 1916-1917 are of Hobbes, her colleagues and her surroundings. Also included in the collection is one annotated letter written to Hobbes by British serviceman 1331 Pte H. Clarke of the Lancashire Fusiliers, whom she nursed after he was significantly injured and lost his right arm.

• Letters and typescript copies from Florence Hobbes to her family, 1915-1918
• Notebook and postcards written by Florence Hobbes, c 1916-1917
• Typescript copies of letters from Florence Hobbes to her family, c 1915-1918
• Photographs relating to Florence Hobbes, c 1915-1917