AWM41 1047 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister A H Stone - Part 1

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AWM 41

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN

SISTER A.H. STONE

A.W.M. LIBRARY

Class N^o 373.2

[1047]

The Official War Historian of the Commonwealth

Government (Dr. C. E. W. Bean), after his study of the
collection of private war records preserved in the Australian

War Memorial Library, wrote :-

"The private diaries in this collection furnish some of its most 

valuable historical records, but, like all private memoirs which were

not compiled with any historical purpose, they should not be
regarded as first-hand evidence except where it is certain that they

are so. The diarist is almost always sincere in his desire to record

accurately, but he is subject to no obligation or inducement to

indicate whether he is recording his own observations or incidents

told him by friends or heard as third or fourth hand at the mess-table.

Thus, in some of the diaries in this collection, scenes described with

vivid detail and without any warning that they are told at second

or third hand have been found to be completely inaccurate in 

important details. A certain number also have been written up

or revised long after the events, though doubtless usually from notes 

made at the time. In most cases the student must rely on his

experiences and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is

and what is not likely to be historically accurate." 

 

116

Miss Kellick

Miss A. H. Stone

Australian Red Cross Society

(A.R.C.S.)

18.6.19

Red Cross Rest Room

89/116

Dear Miss Killate

I am making an

attempt to write a few of my experiences

as promised & am sorry to have

kept you waiting so long but trust

you will excuse me for this once.

I left Q'land 7.6.17. Embarked at Sydney

9.6.17 on H.M.S. Mooltan - had 24 hrs

ashore in Melbourne when we called

there during which time we paraded

here for the Matron in Chief & his Excellency

Govn Gen - to say nil of Camera Friends

for cinema Etc. Called at Adelaide

where the People gave us a very warm

welcome - driven from ship in cars

owned by members of Automobile Club

Luncheon provided at Town Hall - after

which we were driven around the

city of Adelaide by members of the above

Club. The Streets were beautifully

decorated for the occasion.

At Freemantle - our next port of call

all was quiet & so were all the passengers

 

2
on the Mooltan - after a rough trip

between Adelaide & F'mantle

Ten Days later we reached

Ceylon - went ashore at Colombo

Stayed two Days there & two Days

in Kandy where we had a delightful

time - & during which time the

mine sweepers did some good work

as several ships had been sunk

in that vicinity.

Just before reaching Bombay

we were advised of the loss

of the "Mongolia" that of course

caused us much delay to try

& escape the same fate - which 

we fortunately did.

There we took on the Crew of 

the ill-fated Mongolia & as

many of our native crew

remained there - the latter

readily took their places

on the Ship.

We called at Aden for a few

hrs then finally landed at Suez

 

3

Australian Red Cross Society

(A.R.C.S.)

Red Cross Rest Room

Several of the Sisters were ill

for a time coming over - I think

chiefly owing to their just

having been innoculated &

vaccinated prior to embarkation

that being what they attributed

it to together with an occasional

rough sea.

There were nearly 300 Sisters on

& board & the Captain of the Ship

seemed greatly relieved to get rid

of so many women - as he naturally 

feared a panic if anything happened

to the Ship - there being other Lady

passengers besides.

From Suez 90 Sisters proceeded to

Cairo & the remainder to Alexandria

there to await embarkation

Our next move was to Salonica

I was one of a party of 30 who

embarked on the [[Humberence?]] -

where there were about 70 medical

officers (British), & some Troops as well

 

4

Col' Earl Kitchener of Khartoum - O.C. Troops.

The Officers were very kind to the

Sisters on Board & gladly gave

up the 1^st Class cabins to us

whilst they used the lower ones

of course we travelled in darkness

at night & lived in our life belts

had a good deal of Boat drill

exercise also.

We were accompanied by two

Destroyers who were kept rather

busy dodging around - once 

we sought seclusion for an

afternoon at Crete - then came

out again when darkness

set in. The Journey across

took 5 days altogether when

we were safely landed. 

We arrived in Salonica on 12 Aug

1917 - were driven to a British

Hospt Staffed with British M.O's

& personnel & Australian Sisters

it was a canvas Hospt.

1500 Beds. We arrived in

the busy time of the year

 

5

Australian Red Cross Society

(A.R.C.S.)

Red Cross Rest Room

for both Malaria - (esp the

malignant kind) & Dysentery.

the heat was intense - we

trudged off duty in the pm.

feeling very tired after the long

hot days - but at the same 

time happy to think we could

at least help the Boys a little

by feeding them (to the best of

our ability) & sponging etc -

Shortly after our arrival the

greater portion of the City was

destroyed by fire - this caused

a shortage in many ways

esp in the food line & no

wonder - when we think of

the thousands of people left homeless

& starving. - there again the

British came to the rescue

& gave shelter to thousands of

Refugees until at her assistance

I heard that the French Govt

also rendered some assistance