Friday, 18 February, 1916
Another dreadfully wild & wet
day. Letter from Jack Fitzgerald
saying he met Tommy at Southampton
& lunched with him & Tommy is
sailing on even a bigger boat than
the Mauretania so it must be the
Acquitainia [sic: Aquitania] — He has a state cabin
midship which he share [sic: shares] with
another Capt who Jack says he knows
He is very lucky in his Mediterranean
trips but I hope he will be safe I
think Germany would like to sink
a transport of that size. Anyhow he
has one of the life saving waistcoats
if it should be any use to him.
I have not been out all day Violet
went to the pictures with Girlie.
Had a wire this evening from Gerald
Garlan to say he was coming to Break—
fast tomorrow. We will be delighted
to see him and hear the latest news of
the "Front" 1. I am afraid he will
have a bad crossing as the storm
continues. Good night sweet dreams.
Editorial Notes1Mary Martin is referring to the Western Front and France in particular where Gerald Gartland was fighting at this time.
(No Reference Available)
Jack Fitzgerald
A cousin of the Martin family. Thomas Patrick Martin
Born on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1891 and died in 1954, Thomas Shannon Patrick was Mary Martin's son and was known in the family as Tommy. He served in the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers, a famous Irish regiment of the British Army but survived the war. Southampton
Port on south coast of England and a crossing for British troops on their way to and back from the Western Front. RMS Mauretania
The RMS Mauretania was a Cunard Line ocean liner, making several voyages as a hospital ship. RMS Aquitania
The RMS Aquitania was a Cunard Line ocean liner used as a troop ship in 1915 and early 1916. Tommy Martin, son of Mary Martin, sailed on her to the Mesopotamian Campaign. Violet Mary Martin
Born on 29 August 1896, Violet Mary was Mary Martin's daughter. She worked as a nurse during the First World War and later became a Dominican nun. Girlie Mooney
Louise Mooney, wife of Gerald Mooney, wine merchant and JP, of Killiney, known to her friends as Girlie. Gerald Gartlan
Captain and staff officer in the Royal Irish Rifles, wounded twice in action on the Western Front. Friend of both Thomas and Charles Martin and romantically attached to Marie, Mary Martin's daughter, until 1917. | 
