AWM41 1049 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister B A Taylor

6/55
Butler Colln.
AWM 4 1
AWM 4 1
AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN
SISTER B.A. TAYLOR.
A.W.M.
LIBRARY
Classⁿ N^o 373.2
[1049]
 

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 at 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  
experience and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is  
and what is not likely to be historically accurate."
 

A B Taylor
TELEPHONE NOS.
F 2597
F 2598
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"AUSWARMUSE"
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
"THE DIRECTOR"
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
No. 12/11/4797.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
POST OFFICE BOX 214 D,
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
8th July, 1932.

"They gave their lives. For that public gift they
received a praise which never ages and a

tomb most glorious - not so much the tomb in
which they lie, but that in which their fame
survives, to be remembered for ever when occasion
comes for word or deed . . . . . ."
 

Dear Mr. Wither,
Thanks you for sending so promptly the extracts
from the diary of S/Nurse S.A. Taylor. We have now had
the necessary copies made and the file is returned to you
herewith.
Yours Sincerely
[[?]]
Mr. A.J. Withers
Defence Department,
MELBOURNE, SC1.
 

E509(4)
AUSTRALIAN WAR RECORDS SECTION
E509/4/.
CLASSIFICATION SUB-SECTION
A. A. N. S.
With British.
Sister Taylor with no 8 General
Hospital, Rouen.
A good note of relations
A.G.B.
 

04057
Good Note AANS Nurse with British
Number 10.
PERSONAL TRIBUTES TO FELLOW-WORKERS & ESPIRIT DE CORPS OF UNIT
Extracts from Diary: Written at no. 8 General Hospital B.E.F. Rouen
from Sunday, February 11th, 1917, until Monday, July 16th, 1917.
[[*4364/34/6*]]
No. 8 General Hospital, B.E.F., Rouen. A large Chateau situated
on a hill overlooking Rouen and the lovely Seine Valley, with lines of
shacks between avenues of huge trees, covered in February 1917, with
thick snow and ice. The Hospital contained about 2,000 beds - 200
for officers - also a Chateau for "sick sisters", and shacks for sick
W.A.A.Cs.
February 11th
We four Australian Sisters, representing No. 1.2.3. Australian
General Hospitals, arrived at No. 8 B.E.F. Rouen - bitterly cold weather
Experienced a terrible night at Amiens - taubes over every hour from
9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
We were received by the "Home Sisters" and had the rest of the day
to get our boxes unpacked, and stretchers up.

Night Duty
On duty next day, February 12th. Night duty for me,  DIII DIII. Hut,
Acute Medical - 39 beds all filled, on S.I. & D.I. lists, Trench
nephritis and Pneumonias. Have also to be responsible for six huts
with minor cases - visit them twice during the night and take reports.
Indescribably cold - very little coal for hut fires, findx the snow
puts the fires out very often. We come on duty dressed in crowds of
warm clothing - great coat, thick stockings, gumboots, and work
in them most of the time. Needless to say we hardly stop all night,
and are still going strong when the day staffcomes on in a.m.
Often have two convoys in, and one or two out during the night. Very heavy
work. Nursing Tommies mostly, although there are many Australians -
all are splendid patients - so cheerful and full of gratitude for our
care. Did 10 weeks' night duty during this bitter winter - stood it
well.
On day duty.  Given charge of Major Wile's Myles Ward. Major Wiles Myles was
consulting surgeon for No. 8, and was formerly abdominal specialist in
Wimpole Street London. Had charge of his ward for three months until
called to 38 Stationary Calais, on July 16th, 1917. Treated so fairly

in No. 8 - the English Sisters were so kind and friendly, and the V.A.Ds
were all very fond of the Australian Sisters, and often asked to work in
our wards. They were wonderful girls those V.A.Ds - worked so hard in
 

- 2 -

the wards, and helped us to make gardens round our huts in the Springtime.
In periods of inactivity, in which the British Hospitals always
fill up with Spring Cleanings, the V.A.Ds & British Sisters all turned
to and did their share of the cleanings. Such "Cleanings" they were.
The hut to be done, cleared parts patients out, and got three days to clean out.
All blankets, pillows and mattresses, were tied up in tens and sent to the
fumigator. Then every bit of the hut from ceiling to floor was scrubbed
and all of us had to do our share. Also in slack Summertime, V.A.Ds &
Sisters arranged concerts and plays, worthy of professionals, for the
troops. We also gave the orphan war children, from the Convent of St.
Vincent De Paul, near by, picnic parties in the grounds. Played with
the children English games, much to the delight of the little French
boys and girls, who thought "oranges & lemons" and "hunting the slipper"
wonderful games. The sisters of No. 8 also made two tennis-courts,
and had them ready for the 'Summer', going when off duty to roll them.
Some of the Australian Sisters from NO. 1 A.G.X Rouen, played on the
courts.
The unit had O.C. Colonel Butler ^R.A.M.C. ([[A?]] not AIF), Matron, Miss Roscoe (regular R.R.C.
A sub matron and many charge sisters.

No praise could be high enough for Col. Butler, as many Australian
Officers can testify. he inspected each ward, daily, before 10 a.m.
then did his own dressings in his own special ward (officers)
(head cases principally)
The whole Hospital went like clockwork under his control. He knew
every case in the wards. Nothing as regards nursing or order escaped
his eye, and he always addressed the sister with a cheerful goodmorning.
Signed
(Sister)
B.A. Taylor
21^st A.A. Hospital
Georges Heights
Mosman
Sydney.
Private Address
Ben Lidi
Shirley Rd
Wollstonecraft
North Sydney
*note not the A.I.F. officer
 

Australian War Memorial
Item control
005172293