Nurses Narratives Sister Ruth Allan

[*June Kellett*] 1st Aust Gen Hosp. 
00710 Sutton Veney 
83/30 Wilts 

24.6.1943 64/34/6 

Left Australia for Egypt in Nov 1915; 
had a very pleasant & quiet trip 
Across. Very little sickness on board. 
Sister Joliffe was in Charge of us, 
there being over 100 Sisters & the 
Rececount Unit aboard. 
We landed at Suez & Entrained for 
Heliopolis; here I was detailed to 
No 1. A.G.H. Dt the Palace. & being on 
duty in a medical ward, we were 
kept fairly busy ; our chief cases 
being Para typhoids. 
When the 1st A. G. H. left for France, I 
transferred to No 1. Auxiliary Hosp & did 
night duty there for nearly 4 months, 
until the place closed. I really think 
night work was at that time 
preferable to day duty as the heat 
was so intense. We were billeted at 
No 3. A. G. H. Abbassia & came to & fro to duty 
by Ambulances. 
On the closing of No 1. Auxiliary I 
became attached to No 3 General & here 
we were kept busy as there were 
so many badly wounded cases 
admitted after & during the Rommani 
Stunt in August - 1916. 
Although Egypt was full of interest 
& a most fascinating place, we were 
all glad when orders came through 
for out Unit to leave there for 
England. 
The 14th General under Colonel Thwaites 
& Matron Creal took over from 
No 3 Gen & we left by train for 

2 
Alexandria in Sept - 1916 & reached 
Southampton by the H. S. Karoola on Oct 5th - 
having had an uneventful trip. 
We proceeded to Brighton & all felt 
very miserable & lonely when we arrived. 
there at 8pm as it was dark & cold. England 
at that time being so poorly lighted on 
account of Air raids; it was all such 
a contrast to brightly lighted & warm 
Egypt. 
The Authorities at Kitcheners Hospital 
Brighton where we were to take over 
were not expecting us, so it was 
some time before accommodation 
& a meal which we were badly in need 
of, not having had anything but a 
snack before we left the boat at mid-day, 
could be got for our Entire Nursing Staff. 
However we sat down in the mens 
dining hall; orderlies & Sisters 
together about 150 of us, at 10.30 p.m. & 
didn't we enjoy our supper of boiled 
bacon & eggs. This night we slept in 
various empty wards, & next day 
were billeted out in the town until 
the English Sisters left & there was 
room for us at the house ; which 
was 15 minutes walk from the hospital. 
In the winter this was a most trying 
walk being slightly up hill & we 
invariably had to wear stockings 
over our boots going to & fro to duty 
as the ground was so slippery, 
tha being frozen, that we could not 
keep our feet & invariably had 
nasty falls.

3 
We remained at Kitcheners Hospital 
till March 1917, when the Unit 
handed over to the Canadians 
& left for Abbeville, France ; being on 
the sick list I was sent to St Albans 
& stayed at Campbellfields Mr McIllwraiths 
home which he so kindly lent for 
Australian sisters as a Convalescent 
Home during the war. Here we had every 
kindness & consideration shown us 
by Mrs Richardson, who manages Mr McIllwraiths 
affairs for him & enjoyed a thorough rest. 
After leave in Cornwall for 2 weeks 
went to 3rd Aust Hosp Dartford for 8 months, 
where we had an anxious time 
with Air raids. 
Rejoined No 3 Gen at Abbeville Dec 1917 
here being in an Acute Surgical Ward 
was kept very busy, & saw some very interesting 
cases. Most of our worst & most foul wounds 
were under Carrel treatment, which 
proved very successful. 
In March 1918 when the retreat was on, our hospital 
was used practically as a C.C.S. being so near 
the line & the railways being destroyed, road 
convoys were arriving day & night. The situation 
at that time was so serious that the staff & 
which was 120 one week, the next was 
had been evacuated with patients 
until there were only 20 left & they were 
prepared to leave next day; & close the hospital 
when the enemy were held up & convoys of 
wounded once more poured in. 
Being amongst the number who were 
sent to Wimereux, No 2 Gen, being unable 
to accommodate us, the British at 14th Gen found 
us billets & made us fairly comfortable. 

4 
I was in charge of an acute surgical 
ward of 66 beds on night duty there, & 
had a very busy time with so many badly 
wounded, & convoys & evacs every night; 
& most nights we had air raids, 
which somewhat hindered the work. 
One of our worst cases here was an Australian 
with a penetrating chest wound. We also 
had several frenchmen who by accident 
got sent to us, & they spoke little or no English, 
but were soon sent on to their own hospital. 
Was recalled to 3rd A. G. H. Abbeville in July. 
While we were away the town had been badly 
bombed. We often had to turn out twice 
at night from our beds & go to the dugouts 
with our tin hats on; on account of raids. 
One night a bomb fell 100 yds from one of the 
lines of tents; but fortunately nobody was hurt. 
On night duty it was an anxious time, 
with no lights, as the lights were always turned 
off at the mains when an air raid alarm went 
& pieces of shrapnel falling everywhere. All 
patients at these times who could went to the 
dugouts & we donned our tin hats. The 
beds of the helpless patients were lowered to the 
floor every night at 7pm & put up at 
3 a m each morning. This was so that they 
would be below the level of the sand bags, 
which surrounded each hut, in case of 
bombs falling. It was surprising how 
calm the wounded were when there 
was a raid on. 
There was great rejoicing when the Armistice 
was signed. Next day was a gala day 
in Abbeville. Tommys, Australians & French 
slightly merry & arm in arm walking 
about the streets - which were decorated with 

5 
coloured lights at night & flags everywhere 
Aeroplanes flew to & fro over the hospital 
the occupants waving flags. 
Xmas 1918 was a very gay one leave 
being granted for us to dance 
from Xmas till New Year, & we 
made good use of those few days. 
Coming across to England on 
leave at the end of March, I 
spent a nice holiday in Ireland & 
England. When in England we 
have always felt the need of 
an Australian Club in London, 
as the other clubs were invariably 
crowded out with English Sisters & 
it was almost impossible to get 
accommodation at the hotels. 
After my leave I came up here to 
Sutton Veney as No 3 was leaving 
France. This I think at present is 
one of the prettiest parts of England. 
The woods & wild flowers are so Exquisite 
First - we had the primroses & violets 
followed by bluebells & rhododendrons, 
now the bracken ferns, & foxgloves which 
grow 4ft high & the honeysuckle 
are out. The poppies & Cornflowers 
are just commencing to flower. 
The hospital is on the edge of the woods 
& we often have picnics for the 
patients. 

Ruth Allan 
Sister 
22-6-19