AWM41 971 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister N Down

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SISTER N. DOWN. 
A.W.M.

LIBRARY

C No. 373.2 

[*[971]*]

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.

Then, 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." 

 

N.G.    France 5/67

9

On 6th Dec 1916. the Orsova left Melb. bound for England

having on board about 750 troops & 52 Sisters. The trip was

good & uneventful & we were unmolested by any enemy

submarines etc. so the days passed pleasantly enough.

There not being much duty much sickness in Hosp. Measles 

broke out & we had in all about 12 or 13 cases. & only one 

seriously ill man with Dysentry. who picked up wonderfully

by the time we landed. A very pleasant 17 days or so was

[sp]ent at C.Town the Sisters & Troops being entertained

right royally by the citizens. Motor trips etc. being the order

of the day. At last England was reached. Shall we 

ever forget it? In the middle of February at 3 a.m. 51

poor lone women sat on the Paddington Station till 7 a.m.

no one to meet them! No one knowing where to go - At

last we scattered - some at one Hotel & some at another. and

all being collected in a couple of days. & lodged at The

Portland. There we waited 10 days reporting back twice

daily. till one glad day we shipped to France. Six of

[us] went to join a British Hosp. No 24 at Etaples.

There the work was varied - the staff being very busy during

a push. & just comfortably so, afterwards. giving us good

opportunities of seeing all there was to be seen round

about Etaples & Paris. Plaza. Many an enjoyable afternoon

being spent in the beautiful woods there. Seven months

were spe put in there, when one day we were re-called

to No 1 A.G.H. Rouen. How glad we were to see our

 

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own again. it was almost like getting home. A little

disappointment was felt in our not having our own boys

to nurse - but when one would happen to get carried

in, he ran great risks of being spoiled completely. Latterly

we considered ourselves more fortunate for towards the

end of 1918. our Wards held many Australians & we

met various friends & relatives. Here many happy, but

more sad times were spent: How the crowds streamed in -

how much there was needing to be done. & how little we felt

we could do. bare necessities being attended to first & the

finishing touches put in afterwards - sometimes not at all.

And all in an atmosphere of cheerfulness - brightness

& hopefulness from the lads that were being nursed. &

good comradship & kindness from the Staff & Matrons
 Here the cold was the greatest hardship we had to put

up with. but even then things were made as comfortable

as possible & the meals always eaten with a relish

that hard work gives - & we always had our regular

[ti]mes off duty. whenever it was at all possible to get

them. This I suppose accounting for the general good

health throughout the Staff as a rule. Off duty many

places of interest & beauty were visited & in my case

will always be looked back upon with pleasure -

At last a lull in the awful fighting! What a 

relief! How many had lost a dear one! & how most all

of us dreaded to hear the worst & now it is past! -

 

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although there is a sad re-union on the other side for many of us all

are looking forward to Home. The last of No 1 A.G.H.

left Rouen. end of Dec. 1918. & now everyone seems

to be enjoying all the beauties of an English Summer.

Duties in the Hospital being not quite so strenuous &

trying their are many opportunities of visiting all

surrounding places of beautiful & Historic interest.

 

N. Down

 

Australian War Memorial

005172216