AUTOGRAPH ALBUM of Pte BERTIE HIBBETT, The Cenacle Red, Cross Hospital, New Brighton, Cheshire.

VISIT of his sister Ida Neal Hibbett on 30th July 1916 & his Godmother Mary Foster on 15th & 30th -1st Aug. 1916.

To My Sister: ‘She Loved me for the dangers I had passed’. Othello. Shakespeare. Ida’s Visit to the Cenacle Hospital. Thurs. July 30th 1916.

To My Godmother: ‘I would flood your path with sunshine, I would fence you from all ill, I would crown you with all blessings if I could but  have my will. Aye but human love may err, dear, and a power all-wise is near, I only pray God bless you  and God keep you through the year’ (1). July 15th & 30th – Aug.1st 1916.

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My Memories: A friend gave me an autograph book in which I collected autos of the patients, written on cigarettes, which I cut in half and pasted on the pages.  I spent my time doing drawings and sketches with my left hand. The Revd Arthur H. Hibbett 1967.

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The Cenacle belonged to a Roman Catholic Presbytery and was the Home of Nuns before it was lent to the Red Cross as a Hospital for wounded soldiers. My father kept up with several of his fellow patients & especially the Matron for some years after the War.

(1) Poem: ‘I would flood your path with sunshine, I would fence you from all ill; I would crown you with all blessings if I could but have my will. Aye! but human love may err, dear, & a power all wise is near. I will pray God bless you, and God keep you through the year.’ (Unable to trace poet but poem known before 1909).

NEXT POST: 4th Aug. 1916. The Cenacle Red  Cross Hospital Nurses & Patients.