Elsie Inglis - The Woman with the Torch by Eva Shaw McLaren
page 109 of 118 (92%)
page 109 of 118 (92%)
|
At last the release of the division was effected, and on November 14 a
cable was received by the Committee from Dr. Inglis from Archangel announcing her departure: "On our way home. Everything satisfactory, and all well except me." This was the first intimation the London Committee had received that Dr. Inglis was ill. She arrived at Newcastle on Friday, November 23, bringing her Unit and the Serbian division with her. A great gale was blowing in the river, and they were unable to land until Sunday. Dr. Inglis had been very ill during the whole voyage, but on the Sunday afternoon she came on deck, and stood for half an hour whilst the officers of the Serbian division took leave of her. "It was a wonderful example of her courage and fortitude. She stood unsupported--a splendid figure of quiet dignity, her face ashen and drawn like a mask, dressed in her worn uniform coat, with the faded ribbons, that had seen such good service. As the officers kissed her hand, she said to each of them a few words, accompanied with her wonderful smile." She had stood through the summer months in Russia, an indomitable little figure, refusing to leave, until she had got ships for the remnant of the Serbian division, and then, with her Serbs and her Unit around her, she landed on the shores of England, to die. |
|