Olive's diary May 11th 1918
Pratt and Billings operated on. Pratt had rigors & lost his speech. Put out his frail hand to me when I went in after the operation. Very glad to see him trying to speak. I discovered one thing he was trying to say - his wife should not be frightened when she came.
Pratt later wrote to Olive: Into your chain of friendship, please weave me a link. William Pratt, The Shrubbery, Tooting Graveney
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Voices from 1918 has been developed by artists Sharon Hayden and Alastair Nisbet in partnership with Wimborne Community Theatre, Dorset History Centre and the Priest’s House Museum, Wimborne with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Thanks to all who have helped us with this project: Maria Gayton and staff at Dorset History Centre where we found Lady Mary Monkswell’s diaries; Joan Cocozza, ward of nursing auxiliary Olive Harcourt; Portland Museum where we found James Sansom’s diaries; the British Library and Wellcome Libraries; Priest’s House Museum in Wimborne and Gill Horitz from Wimborne Community Theatre.
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