'My Beloved Poilus'

These letters open a window onto the first months of the Great War, written by a young American nurse who found herself on the French front almost as soon as the conflict began. From the moment she arrived, she threw herself into Red Cross duties, tending to the wounded in makeshift ambulance stations and field hospitals. Her words are intimate, never polished for an audience, which gives the reader a raw, heartfelt sense of what it was like to work amid the constant roar of artillery.

The correspondence captures everyday moments that reveal both hardship and humanity: cold, exhausted nights, the frantic rush to treat injuries, and brief respites of joy such as a Christmas ward decorated with holly, paper flowers and a modest tree. Through her observations of surgeons, fellow nurses, and the soldiers she calls “Poilus,” the letters convey a blend of sorrow, compassion, and quiet courage. They also served a practical purpose, with each copy sold to fund the very care described within, making the collection both a historical record and a testament to the solidarity of those on the home front.