The following copies of a wire which I have received from Her Majesty Queen Alexandra together with my reply are forwarded for your information and communication to the nursing staff in your area.
To: Miss McCarthy, Matron in Chief,
Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Services, France
I am more deeply shocked than I can say at the terrible casualties to our dear nurses. Please tell all those at Etaples how truly I sympathize with them in the terrible ordeal they had to undergo. It is too dreadful to think that our brave nurses, whose lives are devoted to looking after the sick and wounded, should have been exposed to such wicked and uncalled for trials as those which they have experienced in that dreadful air raid.
Please convey my deepest sympathy to the relatives of those who have lost their lives. I am very much afraid that the Canadian nurses must have suffered terribly.
Alexandra
CWM 19950037-014
George Metcalf Archival Collection
© Canadian War Museum
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