This is a handwritten letter from Freda B[ossy] to Wilder Penfield. In the note, Miss Bossy recounts some experiences of the Montreal Neurological Hospital staff who had travelled to England to work at the No. 1 Neurological Hospital. This includes details regarding a dance and a church service. Bossy then wishes the Penfield Family well. The note was likely written soon after Miss Bossy and other staff members’ arrival in England in 1940, given the details and tone of the note, and that it is written on the letterhead of the Cunard and White Starr passenger ship on which they crossed the Atlantic.

text.manuscript.black and white 17.3 x 13.1

English

Bossy, Freda Jane, 1905-1994 -- Correspondence.
Penfield, Wilder, 1891-1976 -- Correspondence.
Boats and boating.
Cunard White Star, ltd.

Wilder Penfield Digital Collection

Wilder Penfield Fonds P142 -- Series A (Administration) -- Sub-Series A/N (Administration, Neuro)

Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University

Note from Freda Bossy to Wilder Penfield. [Online image]. Wilder Penfield Digital Collection Wilder Penfield Fonds P142 -- Series A (Administration) -- Sub-Series A/N (Administration, Neuro) . Osler Library of the History of Medicine, McGill University . Retrieved April 25, 2024 from http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/penfieldfonds/fullrecord.php?ID=10185

This material has been made available with the consent of the copyright holders and can be used in accordance with fair dealing provisions of Canadian copyright law. For more information, please contact the Osler Library of the History of Medicine.

Bossy, Freda Jane, 1905-1994.

The transcription reads: "My Dear Dr. Penfield, We were told this a.m. that it will be our last opportunity to write letters so I must tell you how much we are enjoying our trip so far. When we get out to heavy sea it might not be so pleasant & we might not feel so well. I can hardly believe that we are at last on our way. After all our writing & wondering we are really started and I think everyone is very happy. We have a lovely boat & good accomodation [sic]. The boat is packed, (?) (?) troops on board beside the ship's crew. I think the men are packed into every nook & cranny on the boat. They pop red from everywhere & at all times. Everyone is as nice as can be to us on the boat& do everything in their power to make us happy. We had a party on the boat on Sat. night which was very gay (?) Master MacDonald shuffled us off to bed before it got too gay. The church service was most impressive yesterday. It was a glorious Sunday morning, the troops were massed everywhere on the deck. The different uniforms and the flag draped piano against the green hills with the old (?) in the background & the gray ships lying and (?) all around made a most colorful and health-turning picture. Just as minister gave the blessing, one shiny plane circled & dipped over the boat. I (?) everyone caught their breaths and wondered how many (?) (?) come back as well healthy (?) as they were then. Please remember me to Mrs. Penfield and take good care of yourself as we will all be so anxious to see you when the boats head the other way & all this business is (?). Sincerely Freda B."

This note is written on Cunard/ White Star stationary.

A/N 11-1