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Full Title
In times of peril : leaves from the diary of Nurse Linda Kearns from Easter week, 1916, to Mountjoy, 1921 / edited by Annie M.P. Smithson.
Author
Kearns, Linda.
Contributor
Smithson, Annie M.P. De Valera, Eamon, 1882-1975.
Date Added
4 February 2016
Format
Book
Language
English
Publish Date
1922
Publisher
Dublin : Talbot Press ; London : T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.,
Source
Joseph McGarrity Books.
Topic
Kearns, Linda. Prisoners > Ireland > Diaries. Nurses > Biography. Ireland > History > Easter Rising, 1916.
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OCR
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24 IN TIMES OF PERIL.
allowed to sit down! What a blessing that seemed!
And how thankful for very small mercies we become
under certain circumstances! We were brought
to the railway station, and there carefully packed
away for a journey to Belfast. Each pair of
handcuffed prisoners had two soldiers to look after
them, while I-alone in my glory !-had two soldiers
and two wardresses! Four of my comrades and
myself were in a compartment with the usual low
partition between the carriages, and we could talk
to each other. The journey was not too unpleasant,
for the Tommies were ,quite nice and treated our
men as soldiers, as prisoners of war, and not
criminals. They exchanged cigarettes, and sang
songs together, and it was very amusing to hear the
soft Irish accents mingling with the Cockney voices.
As we got near Belfast my companions began to
make a few little preparations for their future ima
prisonment. They put cigarettes in the folds or
turn-up of their trousers, and Professor , W110
had a great crop of thick, curly hair, found space
for quite a number of matches amidst his luxuriant
tressesl I remarked to him that the Tommy was
watching, and he only replied: “ Oh, he won’t split!
He’s a soldier, and won’t give another away!” and
the Englishman smiled, and nodded in assent.
When we reached Belfast I felt suddenly very
lonely, as I knew I would again be separated from
my companions. And so it proved: they were put
into a lorry, and with a handshake and a murmured
“God bless you!” we parted, wondering when and
where-if ever-we would meet again.
I was then placed in another lorry, with a strong
guard, and the officer in charge insisted that I
