AWM41 1072 - [Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of Arthur G Butler:] Interviews containing accounts of Nursing experiences in the AANS [Australian Army Nursing Service]. These nurses were interviewed by Matron Kellett - Part 12

HMC.
87

Miss M. McCrimmon

A.A.N.S.
I embarked on the 10th May, 1917, on the "Ulysses" and only

did a fortnight's duty.

Our first port of call was Durban, and we stayed there for 

about a week, during which time we had shore leave every day , and the 

people were extremely kind to us.

The next port was Cape Town where we took on some British

troops from German East Africa, who were being invalided to England.

On the voyage we sighted two submarines, but neither attacked us, and

we reached Devonport safely.

After fourteen days furlough, I went to the Croydon War Hospital,

which was a British hospital staffed by Australian Sisters, and 

divided into section. I was in the convalescent department, and the
work here was very easy indeed.

The food was fairly good and the amusements were not bad.

I remained here until January, when the Hospital was handed over 

to a British Nursing Staff, and then went to No. 2 A.A.H., Southhall.

The work here was more interesting. This Hospital was the limbless centre

for Australian soldiers, and most of the cases were re-amputations.

The patients here had plenty of amusements in the way of theatres,

concerts, etc., in fact I might say they had practically everything they 

wanted. We were most comfortably billeted.

I stayed there for a fortnight, and then I went to No. 1 A.A.H.,

Harefield, where the work was most interesting. Here most of the cases

were heavy cot cases awaiting transport to Australia; sometimes we were

very busy indeed.  I was very happy at Harefield, and we worked under 

extremely good conditions.
I remained until April, when I was transferred to France, and

on reaching Le Havre, I received orders to join the 74th British Hospital,
which was at Trouville.

I stayed here for six months, and then crossed again to England,
and went to Fovant. This was a large British Hospital, and we had very
heavy work, owing to the influenza epidemic. We lost many patients and

our time off duty varied with the stress of work.
I was there for about six weeks, and then went to No. 2 Command
Depot, Weymouth. This was also a camp Hospital, and the owrk was very

heavy at times, especially during the influenza epidemic, but it slackened

off later. I stayed there for about six months, and during that time was
extremely happy.

I then went to No. 3 A.A.H., Dartford, where I am now awaiting
transport to Australia.
 

HMC.    88.
Miss F. L. MacKay.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked in June, 1917, on the "Somali", and did no
duty, and had no sports with the other sisters, owing to attacks
of seasickness.
We reached Colombo after three weeks, and stayed there for
six days, and were entertained by the leading people there.
We went to Kandy for two days, and while there, visited the

King of Kandy's palace.
I embarked again on the "Dimera" and landed at Bombay, on
the 30th July. Here I went to the Victoria War Hospital, which was
a British Hospital staffed by Australians. The principal Matron,
A.A.M.S, had her Headquarters here.
The food was plentiful, and the amusements were not bad, as
we had concerts, theatres, drives, etc. We were fairly comfortably

billeted.

The Hospital was a building three storeys high, capable of

holding two hundred patients in each ward. Each ward was divided into
sections of 100 beds.
I stayed there for six months, and was then transferred to

Bangalore. This is a huge military station in the South of India, and
we had at that time about 22,000 troops stationed there, so that we took
in mostly local sick from the surrounding camps.
The Hospital was very badly equipped, and we were billeted in
tents, which we found very cold, and during the monsoon season, we were

almost washed away. Later, however, they built huts, and when we were

billeted in them, we were very much more comfortable.
There were not many amusements, but the people were very good
to us, and we were made Hon. members of all the clubs. We had tennis,

driving, and picnic parties, and every second half day off duty.
The work here was very hard, because the Hospital was so large
and scattered, some of the sections being as much as ten minutes walk

from the mess, and the staff was very small, consisting of nine sisters,
and 2 V.A.D.s to about 1,000 patients.
The cases were nearly all cot cases, both medical and surgical.
We also had an infectious block, where we had small-pox, cholera and influenza.
The orderlies, although not trained - we trained ourselves  -
were very good. 
 

HMC.
Miss F. L. MacKay.
- 2 -
There were only two sisters on night duty for the whole
of the Hospital, and only a limited number of orderlies.
After twelve months, I left and reported at Bombay, from
which place we entrained for Ceylon, where we embarked on the "Wiltshire"
for Suez. We dis-embarked here, and went to Cairo, and
while waiting for a boat, went on duty.
We were billeted at the 45th Indian General, which was most

comfortable, and spent our times off duty, seeing the sights of
Egypt.

We left Port Said in January, on the "Kaiser I Hind" for
Marseilles, came across France in an ambulance train, and reached 
Cherbourt, where we crossed on a packet steamer to Southampton.
After a fortnights' furlough, I joined No. 3 A.A.H., Dartford,
where I am now on duty, while awaiting transport to Australia.
 

HMC.     89

Miss S. M. McLennan.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked on the 30th August, 1917, on the "Wiltshire" and 

arrived at Suez on October, 14. I then entrained for Cairo, and

here I was loaned with six other Australians, to the 21st General

Hospital.

We got on very well indeed with the English, who were extremely

kind to us. I did surgical work all the time, most of the cases being 

severely wounded from the Gaza Stunt.

The Hospital had been an old Military Barracks, and was beautifully

equipped, and the organisation was perfect. Our hours off duty

varied according to the work, but when possible, we had three hours 
a day, and one day a month off duty. There were very few amusements for

the patients as they were mostly too ill, and when convalescent, they were

gradually discharged to other Hospitals.

We remained there for eight months, and then received orders

to join our Australian Unit, bound for Salonica, We reached Salonica

on the 22nd June, not having sighted any submarines.

I was detailed for duty at the 60th General Hospital, which

was at Hortisch, up in the hills, and was a large General Hospital. The 
conditions  were poor in comparison with the conditions of Egypt, but of

course, these Hospitals had been organised for a much longer period.

I did surgical work, and it was not very heavy.

I remained here for about three months, and was then transferred

to the 42nd British General, which was a dysentery Hospital at Uchanta.

This Hospital was very badly situated on the edge of a ravine,

which was infected with mosquitos, and many of the sisters contracted

malaria here. This was the hardest work I have ever done on active service.

In the afternoons, I had three wards to look after, 60 beds in

each ward, all acutely ill, my only help being an orderly. I felt the 
cold there very much in the winter, as there was only one primus stove

for the three wards.

Here I contracted malaria of a severe type, and was off duty for 
seven weeks, and after convalescence, I was transferred to the 52nd Gen.

which was a much better equipped hutted Hospital. As it was on the eve

of closing, I did very little duty, being temporarily attached to the

operating room.

On the third of March, I crossed to England, and after three 

weeks furlough, I was detailed for duty to No. 3 A.A.H., Dartford, where 

I am at present awaiting transport to Australia.

 

LC

90

Miss E.S. Mc Murtrie,

A.A.N.S.

I embarked on the 31st August, 1917, on the "Wiltshire".

and reached Suez the first week in October, where I entrained 
for Alexandria.

I was detailed for duty at the 21st General Hospital. Work 

was very heavy indeed after the Gaze stunt. It was a very well

equipped hospital and well run. I was one of ten Australian

sisters loaned to this British Hospital, and they were extremely

kind to us and gave us every consideration. I remained here

eight months, the work varying, sometimes we were very slack.

We had a day a month, half a day a week, and three hours a day

off duty. I left Alexandria on the 14th June, 1918, for Salonica.

On arrival I was detailed for duty at the 60th General

Hospital which was situated about 17 kilos from the town, up in 
the hills. We worked under very fair conditions, but the heat

was very trying. Most of the patients were malaria cases and

responded very well to the treatment. There were very few

amusements for the patients. We had to be in camp by sundown

I remained here until October when the whole camp moved to 
Lembert.

I only stayed with the 60th unit for about a week when I was

detailed for duty at the 42nd General Hospital. This was a 

malaria and dysentry hospital, and it was very badly situated

on the edge of a ravine. It was here that a great many of our 

sisters contract malaria and were invalided to Australia.

The conditions were only fair. While here we had some very

heavy storms, the rain in Salonica being very severe and the winds

most  trying. It was with great difficulty the tents were kept
standing. The R.A.M.C. personnel and the Australian Nursing 
Service worked very well together in the Hospital

I stayed at the 42nd until February 1919, when it was closed,

and I was then transferred to the 52nd General which was a special

malaria Hospital. I was only here for a few weeks when I left

for furlough in England.

After three weeks' leave I joined the 3rd A.A.H., Dartford,

where I am on relieving duty awaiting transport to Australia.

The work here is very light indeed as most of the patients are

just awaiting transport to Australia also.

 

 

HMC.

91

Miss A. Morton.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked in November, 1915, on the "Orsova". We had 1700

troops on board, but there was very little sickness, and so we did practically 
no duty.  Arriving at Vairo, we were detailed for duty at No. 1

A.G.H., Heliopolis, and were very busy there. The wounds were very

severe, and we had a lot of frostbites. The conditions were very good,

and we were extremely comfortably. We had every second afternoon off

duty, and a day a week.

From there, I went to Luna Park to No. 1 A.A.H., which was very 
well equipped. I worked in the T.B. ward at the time, and the patients

there were very bad. We had no deaths, however. It was very hot, and

we felt the heat extremely. We were comfortably billeted at No. 3

A.G.H., and went daily to Luna Park. I was later transferred to No. 3

A.G.H., The Sporting Club. It was rather crude there, but we were fairly

comfortable. The patients were mostly convalescent.

From there, I went to the infectious Hospital at Choubra, and

worked amongst the scarlet fever and dysentery. It was a most comfortable Hospital. We had many deaths from dysentery.

I then crossed to England, and came straight to France, to No. 7,

Stationary, Boulogne. We had only wounded Officers there. It was a very

large building, and we worked under very good conditions, and were billeted

at various hotels. We had no fires there as there was no coal, and so we

felt the cold more or less. There was also a shortage of food, and the

restrictions were very stringent. While at this Hospital, we had to go

down to the Hospital boats, and do the dressings, for a few weeks.

From there, I was transferred to No. 25 General, Hardelot, which

was a large skin Hospital. I was in the surgical ward, and was extremely comfortably billeted. From there, I went to the 49th C.C.S., where we were

raided every night, but had no casualties in the Hospital, though there were

plenty wounded round about. We used to get patients straight from the line

nearly every day, and the wounds were very severe. The gas cases were the

worst. Patients often died from small wounds, because gas gangrene set in.

We never kept the patients long, unless they were severe ones, and were practically 

hopeless. The food was very good.

From there, I went back to No. 25, General and nursed gas cases.

Many of the patients got influenza following the gas. I then went to No. 3

A.G.H., Abbeville, and there we had many wounded. After that , we had

influenza, and broncho pneumonia, and from the two we lost many patients.

I stayed there until it closed and after furlough, I went to No.

3 A.G.H., Dartford, where I am now awaiting transport to Australia.

 

 

HMC.

92

Miss N. A. Morton.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked on the 8th November, 1915, on the "Orsova" and

arrived at Suez, and came to No. 1 A.G.H., Heliopolis, where I stayed

until it closed down. I did surgical work, but later went to the

eye and ear ward. Many of the patients got eye trouble from the sand 
of the desert. We worked under very good conditions. We were very comfortably

billeted, and the mess was fairly good later. When No. 1 A.G.H.

closed, I went to No. 2 A.G.H., the Sporting Club, where the patients were

mostly convalescent, awaiting return to Australia. The conditions were

much rougher here. I stayed here until the Sporting Club closed, and there

was transferred to the infectious Hospital at Choubra. I was with the

dysentery cases from Msopotamia. These patients were in a very bad

condition, and died very quickly. They were frightfully emaciated,

and did not respond well to the treatment. The Hospital was well 
equipped, and we were very comfortable there. In January, I came over

to England and ten days later, went to France. I went to No. 7 Stationary

Hospital at Boulogne, which was an Officers Hospital. The work was

very heavy there, and I saw for the first time the Carrell Dekin

method in use.We had all surgical work, in the form of heavy battle 
casualties.

I was loaned to the 12th General for three weeks, as

they were frightfully busy during Viny Ridge push. It was a 

British Matron and Staff, and they gave us a warm welcome. After 
that I transferred to No. 25 General, another British Hospital with

an Australian Nursing Staff. The quarters were very comfortable, but

it was not interesting work, being chiefly skins, but the treatment

produced good results. It was excellently equipped as a skin

Hospital, but the food was not very good, at least not for skin patients.

From there, I went to the 49th C.C.S., for six weeks,

where the work was very interesting. We had cases straight from

the line there, some severe wounds, and some gas. We had a lot of

deaths. It was very depressing to see to many dying without responding 

to treatment. It was a British C.C.S., and we were most

kindly received, and uncomfortably billeted.

In January, we returned to No. 25, where I remained

until October, when I went to No. 3 A.G.H., Abbeville, where the

work was very heavy, but it slackened down until the influenza

epidemic in November, and then the work was terrible. We lost

many patients, I stayed there until it closed, and then crossed

to England, and after furlough went to No. 3 A.G.H., Dartford, where 
I am now awaiting transport to Australia.

 

HMC.

93

Miss P. Nowland.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked in May, 1917, on the "Ulysses" and we had

troops and munition workers on board. We had very little duty

as there was so little sickness.

We called at Durban, and the people were very kind to

us and made our short stay of one week, a very happy one.

Our next port of call was Cape Town, where we took on

board 600 troops, who were coming German East Africa.

Owing to a collection with another boat while in port, we

had to wait while repairs were effected, and did not reach England

until August, it having taken three months to cross from Australia

to England.

After furlough, I was detailed for duty to the Croydon 

War Hospital, which was a British Hospital staffed by Australian

sisters, and divided into five separate divisions, all a short distance

from each other. I was in the massage department while here, and the

work was not very heavy, but extremely interesting, the cases being

principally old fractures.

We worked under very good conditions and were very comfortable.

While at this Hospital, we had many air-raids, but only the shell-shock

patients were all upset by them, and although we had cellars for protection, we seldom went into them.

I remained here until January, 1918, when I was transferred to

No. 2 A.A.H., Southall.

Here I did relieving work as I was only temporarily attached.

I stayed there for about three or four weeks, and was sent to

No. 1 A.A.H., Harefield. I was in surgical ward for about two months,

and the work was very hard as they were the heavy cot cases awaiting transport to Australia.

The was a very well equipped Hospital, and we worked under

very good conditions, and were very comfortably billeted.

In April, after having furlough, I went to France, to the

74th General Hospital, Trouville, which was another British Hospital, 

and we were 20 Australians loaned to them. They were very good to us,

and we enjoyed our stay.

The work was heavy, but most interesting; we got the wounded

almost direct from the line. It was a very well equipped Hospital,

and we worked under extremely good conditions, but our hours off duty

fluctuated with the stress of work.

We were billeted in very comfortable shacks, and had a fair

amount of amusements. As there were big convalescent camps attached

to the Hospital, we saw a lot of their sports and concerts, etc.

I remained there until August, 1918, when I crossed to England,

and reported back to NO. 2 A.A.H., Southall, and remained there

until May, 1918, when it closed.

 

 

HMC.

Miss P. Nowland.

-2-

The work was fairly heavy as there were many

operations to be performed, but we worked under excellent conditions,

and the patients had amusements of all sorts and descriptions.

The food was good and plentiful.

When the Hospital closed, I was transferred to No.

3 A.A.H., Dartford, where I am doing temporary duty, pending

my transport to Australia.

 

 

HMC

94

Miss R. O'Riley.

A.A.N.S.

I embarked on the 17th July, 1915, on the "Orsova" with 1400

troops and 136 sisters on board. We stopped at Fremantle and Aden,

and landed at Suez, in bonnets, in the middle of summer! We entrained

to Cairo, and arrived there at 1 a.m., we were the first reinforcements

for No. 2 A.G.H. We slept on the floor for some time. I

stayed at Ghezirah for the five weeks, and then went to Abbassia, to No. 4,

Auxiliary, an infectious Hospital. The patients were medical cases from

the Peninsula, dysenterys and enterics. The conditions were very bad,

and the flies were awful. The wards were not well equipped.

I was there for a month, and then returned to No. 2 A.G.H., and

from there, I went to Alexandria, to Res-el-tin, and was there for six

weeks, as there was an epidemic of scarlet fever. the work was not very

heavy. I had the contact ward on the roof, and had a very nice time.

I then returned to Ghezirah, and went on to Ismalia, No. 1 A.G.H.,
 in January, 1918, where I was Home Sister. We were billeted in French

houses. We had a staff of Arab servants, and were very well looked after. We

were there for the summer, and the heat was intense. We had plenty of

amusements, boating and bathing in the lake.

When we drew rations, we had to pay £1. a month, each, but on 
drawing 2/6. each , perday, we managed excellently, because everything in 

the way of food was very cheap.

I left there at the end of August. The Hospital was handed over 

to the British Unit. We spent a few days in Cairo, at No. 3 A.G.H., and

from there, we went to Alexandria, and were billeted at No. 15 General,

waiting for a boat for transport to England. We left Egypt at the end of

September, in the Hospital Ship "Karoola" and landed at Southampton and 

stayed for three days at Southall, and then went to No. 3 A.G.H., Dartford.

Here we worked under excellent conditions, and we were well billeted.

The wards were well equipped. After twelve months service, I went to France,

to No. 1 A.G.H., Rouen, where the work was very heavy, and I have never worked

so hard. the cases were severely wounded, and convoys came in and evacuations

took place sometimes three times a day. My section was not very well

equipped, but some of the department were very well fitted up. Some were 
tents, and some were huts.

I went for leave to the South of France, which was a great privilege,

and I enjoyed it very much. When I returned to Rouen, I found orders

awaiting me to go to No. 1 A.C.C.S., at Coterateene. When I arrived there,

it was not being used as a C.C.S., but as a rest station, and in the following

month, it was converted into a C.C.S., but while I was there, it was

mostly medical cases It was a well-equipped Hospital, and the food was

good. Our quarters, which were Nissen huts were very comfortable. We

left there on account of the shelling, as we were only two miles from Bailleul.

We then moved back to Bondeghen, about twelve miles back. This

was a tented Hospital. The sisters huts were just put up when the Germans 
broke through the line. We were there a week doing nothing, and the 3rd

day, we got orders at 11 o'clock to be ready to move out, owing to the 

Germans advancing.