AWM41 977 - [Nurses Narratives] Staff Nurse F G Gregson - Part 1

EXTRACT FROM LETTERS OF S/NURSE F.G. GREGSON.
A.A.N.S.
Bombay Harbour,
6th July, 1917.
....
...............We have been ashore nearly all day, and 
are now awaiting dinner. We got in last night, luckily, so 
I was able to steady up and be ready to go ashore. Each
senior Sister is allotted so many nurses to look after. I 
hadn’t belonged to anyone in Colombo so attached myself to 
Sister Horton’s Squad. However, I managed to lose her,
before we even got off the boat so I told Matron I had got
lost, and could I go to the Y.M.C.A. and see about sending
a cable….. She said I might go and I picked up any
"strays” as I went along. I accosted as R.X. man with a 
Triangle on him, found I just struck the right man.
He was the Red Cross representative of Australia, and had
his quarters at the Y.M.C.A. and simply annexed myself &
two Tasmanian girls who wanted to go to the Calabar War
Hospital, took all the letters in sight, put us in a
Gharry - and went off, and I might say - kept us all day.
We went to the Y.M.C.A where I made
myself known to Mr. Hyne, who gave me a cordial welcome,
then Mr. Anquetil sent for a taxi, and we went to the
Hospital to see a sister of Nurse Mackindruck........ Mr.
Anquitil took me to see a Mr. Reading, who was in the 
"Mongolia". He had been fighting with the Belgian Army - 
has two very badly injured legs, one was broken again getting
into the boat, and also it was jumped on by passengers
getting in. I saw a letter he had written telling of the 
fortitude and heroism of Sister Mawson (of Adelaide, I
believe) Lady Anderson and another Sister, who were simply
wonderful in attending that poor engine man who was so
shockingly scalded, they tore up their own clothing and
dipped it in crude lamp oil, which was the only thing they
had and wrapped him up in that. It makes me more decided 
than ever to have my hypoderme at hand, in case of similar
emergency, as morhpia at a time like that, would be
literally God given. His other leg, Sister Mawson bandaged
with a broken oar for a splint, padded with her own
petticoat, or rather the remains of it.
Mr. Anquetil asked Mr Reading ( I
think that is his name) to show me his medals. He has two -
which are equivalent to our V.C. and Military Cross. He 
leaves for Australia in two days so you may see something
about him in the papers. He is travelling in the Sardina
and going to N.S.W. We collected our two nurses after
leaving him, and were taken back to the Y.M.C.A. where we
were lunched in great style. The table had a special clean
cloth put up - fresh flowers and decorations, and we had 
about 4 waiters. We were served with Tomato Soup, delicious
lobster salad and Mayonaise - also tomato and cucumber salad
- Beef Steak and Kidney pie curried, and Ice Cream, the
whole meal was delicious......... Then a bath and dressing
room with fresh towels were put at our disposal and when we
had had a good old wash of which we were greatly in need,
as it was an awful day - and found Mr Anquitil ready with
the car again, to take us round Bombay..... and then driven
to another Hospital, where there were boys from Mospotamia
waiting to return to Australia. We had a short chat with 
them, while Mr. Anquitil went to get stores of Malted Milk
Bengers Food.......and other invalid foods, so that there
will be some chance of carrying the family through the Red
Sea.

2.
Then we went back to the wharf - and there had to wait an
hour for Medical examination. We were in a place like a 
pen - getting hotter and hotter.......After an hour
Medical inspection commenced which simply meant that we
passed rapidly in front of a Medical and a young woman
who without even looking at us scribble "H" on a piece 
of paper, which we handed to the next officer we came to
and so on to the launch. Of course all other passengers
had most formidable looking passports, which had their
photos, &c. and had to put their tongues and have their
pulses felt......We got back here about 6 p.m. and after
roll call got ready for dinner......I am sending Boy a 
copy of "Moulton Memoirs" which was printed on board and
which I thought you might be interested in seeing. We 
have only two men on board - you know - who belong to us.
Our O.C. who is an elderly, fatherly, very kind-hearted
man, and our Padre who is fairly young - level headed
competent and intelligent with a most saving grace of
human. He is reported to have overheard a conversation
through his cabin window. "Well! we have only two men 
with us - and if they searched the whole of Australia,
they could not have found two more suitable - nor more
harmless!!!" Rumour has it that Padre enjoyed the 
statement immensely.............
In the Red Sea.
S.S. Moulton.
17/7/1917.
....
.....At Aden I did not go ashore.....quite
a number went ashore......The garrison itself looks very
interesting but it is so strange to see a place almost
completely devoid of vegetation of any kind. There is an
oasis on the other side of the gulf, almost ten miles
round by road. I suppose they are lucky to get that....
The Turks are entrenched about ten miles away from the
coast, and some of the girls thought that they had heard
thunder in the night, and were told that there had been
an engagement. They also told us that bombs are
occasionally dropped right into the Gulf.......We are all
to disembark at Suez - and to go overland to Alexandria.
Where on from there, we have no idea. If we go to
Salonica we will probably go by Troop ship, or a most likely
course. I expect it will be exciting going through the
Mediterranean. Won't this boat seem funny when three
hundred of us go off! one man said that it would be worse
than running short of ice in the Red Sea. I wonder really
that the whole crowd of passengers are not sick of us.
We are so all pervading. However they will certainly
miss the pretty spectacle we make in mess dress at dinner
time.......I went to church parade on Sunday night for
the first time. We had it at 8.30 p.m. on the upper deck
as it was too hot in the morning. Tomorrow at 7.30 a.m.
we are to have a Communion Service. Padre wants us all to 
give him the address of our nearest relative so that he 
can write..........
Alexandria.
20/7/1917.
We got into Suez before 5 a.m. & I shall never in all my 
life forget the glimpse of it......As we left at 10 a.m.
......the journey through was hot but was most interesting.
....We passed through Tel el Kebir with a huge deserted
Camel Camp, with nothing but sand in every direction.....

3.
We spent nearly an hour at Cairo, but did not go off the
station. Matron White, Miss Campbell, the whole of the
3rd unit and about 20 others remained there, and the rest
of us came on to Alexandria. We were ten hours in the 
train, which was a Hospital train captured from the Turks
early in the war, and the crescents are still on the
outside. We were looked after by the train staff which 
consisted of two sisters, and about six orderlies and those
boys were kept pretty busy attending to our material wants.
Matron White had had soft drinks and we were put aboard
and we had biscuits galore and for lunch cold beef,
chicken, bread & butter, and later on afternoon tea, with
bread & butter & jam. I am sure we gave more work than a
whole train full of wounded. We are distributed about 
here at the various hotels. There are 14 of us here under
Sister Prichard and Sister Horton. The Majestic is one of
the best Hotels in Alexandria I believe. We are certainly 
very comfortable....... There are quite a lot of British
officers staying here, and of course British tommies all 
over the place. There is an Army Nurses Club here run by
the Red Cross which I believe is very nice.....Yesterday 
morning (Saturday) we had to report at the Khedevial
Hotel at 11 a.m. for pay - and at 3 p.m. for inoculation 
for cholera......Sunday we went to the Presbyterian Church
both morning & evening. In the morning there were about
24 sisters there altogether and about the same number of
officers and men. In the evening I do not suppose there
were more than 20 civilians. There were about the same
number of Sisters, and must have been nearly 50 officers.
The congregation was not nearly so large as in the morning
but it was nice to see so much khaki......At present we
are under marching orders and are supposed to be going
to Cairo tonight.........
S.S. Gorgon.
In the Mediterranean.
July 25th, 1917.
......
Here we are right in the Danger Zone & actually on
our way to Salonica. I expect if you knew we were here
you would be much more worried that we are. We have a
life belt within arm's reach, an armed cruisers on either
side, and two men of war in front, so we are fairly well
guarded and if we do not strike a mine or a torpedo, it
only means a few minutes in the water, before we are
picked up. When I was at home I used to think that people
travelling at this time, must be in a nervous state of
strain & tension all the while. The officer in charge of
the boat may be -(I don't know )- but the passengers
certainly are not. I do not think there is one of us on
board at present, who spends one minute over worrying as
to what may happen. Our only annoyance is that we would
lose our entire belongings if anything happened, and
would get about £5 compensation - if that! We are just
passing the Island of Crete, and one of our protecting
boats has suddenly turned right about and gone to the
other side of us, making three boats between us and land.
We are of course all consumed with curiosity as to the
reason of it.......The boat we are on is quite a small one 
can only take about fifty passengers, and there is another
boat alongside with the same number, so that No.1. Unit
will reach Salonica some little time before the other
units. This boat has not carried passengers for many a
day, and they had considerable difficulty in getting a

4.
crew. However two days ago they got the crew of a
Japanese boat that had been torpoeded. The captain said
he caught them with bird lime! I do not know if I told
you that all the black crew of the Moultan left at
Bombay - and their places were taken by the Mongolia crew.
Evidently once a crew has been mined or torpoeded they
don't seem to mind risking a second time. Not one of the
Moultan's crew would come through the Mediterranean......
When I wrote last we were awaiting definite orders to
move on. We got them by midday so were able to go out
for the afternoon, as we were not to leave Alexandria
till 10.30 p.m..........
Sunday 28th.
Auchaed of S Cios Island.
Greek Archipelligo.
I forgot to tell you that apart from ourselves there
are only two other passengers on the boat and they are
two English Generals! They have been, and are, very
delightful to us all. No one could be more courteous or
attentive. There are about a dozen Tommies on board, with
one or two non-commissioned officers, and four of them are 
on duty in life belts, on the upper deck, night & day,
two hours on, and four hours off duty - We have just had
Church Parade conducted by the Major General, and are now
anchored for 6 or 7 hours, off this island, for what
reason, we do not know. The Naval Officers look as if
they were having a real rest. I expect it must be a
great strain on them. It is quite unusual to see more
than one at a time, and there are three here, right at
hand - I get frightfully mixed up in my dates, so do not
rely on one of them. I always have to ask what day of
the week it it. I quite forgot to tell about our leaving
Alexandria, so will go back to Tuesday night, when we
left by train at 11.30 p.m. We were 7 in our carriage
so were not too comfortable, but managed to get some sleep.
We got into cars about 5.30 a.m. were met by Ambulances
& taken to the Continental Hotel for breakfast. We were
well fed, received our pay books and back at the train
in about an hour, when we started for Port Said. On part
of the way we passed over the line to Sues, where we had
been before. Past Tel el Kebir - as deserted looking as
ever, and past several other British, Indian, &
Australian encampments. We branched off somewhere near
Ishmalia, & saw several Australian boys on the station
there. For the greater part of the way the railway
passes directly alongside the Canal. They have planted
row after row of Pine trees & other kinds of trees for
miles & miles. We passed two big wireless stations not
far from Port Said, but saw nothing practically of
Port Said itself, as we were met at the train by
Ambulances, and taken direct to the wharf, and put on
board. So we left Port Said at 6 p.m. The only thing I
saw was a big blank wall with Y.M.C.A. on it........
Monday 30th.
Just arrived Salonika and after an hour's hot dusty drive
are settled in our tents - with no luggage - no beds yet -
but we are going to enjoy ourselves and have a most
interesting time. All we want at present is a bath of
which there is no sign, and some tea.........

5.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF MISS F.G.GREGSON. A.A.N.S.
No.66 Gen.Hosp.
Salonika.
7thAug.1917.

....

    ....We arrived at Salonika Bay last Monday morning....
Two seaplanes flew overhead as we came in; they looked like
huge fish flying, though more graceful than most fish would be in
the air. There were boats of every description in the Harbour,
Hospital ships, cruisers, gun boats, boats French,Japanese,
Greek, English and I know not what others. As we drew near enough
to see the town it looked most intensely interesting. The
whole bay is surrounded by Hills and right in the very centre
is Salonika built on a hill and surrounded on three sides by
a wall with a big fort at the top and old turrets and fortifications
on either side.
We did not get ashore till after 2 p.m. then the usual
number of ambulances arrived, and we started on our journey
out here. It is one continual climb, almost the whole/way .
Hills on either side of the road, and Hospitals and camps
every few miles, French,British and Canadian. The country
was very arid near the city but as we came on, we saw occasional
miserable vineyards, covered in white dust, caused by the enormous
military motor transport traffic......
We reached the hospital after an hour's drive.......
We eventually reached the 66th Gen.Hosp and found we were not
expected for several days. Our tents were up - beauties they
were too, but no rations for the time being - no beds and
very little water. We had some luggage with us fortunately,
so we had a sponge under a trickle of water, which was nevertheless
refreshing, and then looked round a bit. ....I am sitting at
my tent door writing and facing the villages on the hill I
spoke about. To the right of it, between us and it - is a 
French camp, to the left a British, and in between, a

- 2 6 -
French Bombing School - where they make a great din, twice
a day..........
After we had looked round, and been given a drink
of lime juice on Monday night we were told to collect our
sleeping things for the night. We were given a macintosh
to put on the ground - two blankets, and a huge mosquito
net with a ring which made it like a Bell Tent [[hand drawn diagram of tent]] so.
It had been a blazing hot day, so we all
retired to bed and put all the clothing under us. Sister
McLeod thought it wasn't quite the thing to have nothing
over her, so got her grey ninon veil, put it over her feet and
tucked it in - they lay down and tucked it under her head.
She looked like a big chrysallys. Matron did her rounds
about 8.30 p.m. and ordered us all under our mosquito nets. We
were using them as pillows! Sister hung hers up and draped
herself as before. Fortunately we all had what wearing
apparell we had under the nets with us, as by morning 
we were nearly frozen to death... None of us slept a
wink of [[cree?]]! I tried to keep myself warm by thinking of
all the things that were in my kit bag - An eiderdown, a rug,
big warm bout, two woollen coats, and two mackintoshes,-
but it hadn't much effect. Finally we shivered under one
blankets, which was doubled, so left us nice and chilly
on either side! One girl found in the morning that she had 
slept on a tortoise! There are scores of them
round here also snakes'. The men have killed two
already, besides wild insects......
When we arrived here, there were three hundred 
patients, and no nurses, only orderlies and doctors.
There are at present nearly 1000 patients and the place 
has not been up a month. They are all canvas wards of
course but very cool. They call them the Egyptian
pattern tent. We have about three minutes walk backwards 
and forwards to our wards. There are a good many surgical, but

- 3 7 -
but at present principally medical cases. I believe
the hospital will be able to contain 2000 when finished.
It is only a summer camp - as in the winter, they say there
are three feet of water over the valley between the hills.
We are not allowed to wander far from the camp without an
escort. Matron says we can go to the village I spoke
of one day if some of the M.Os will take us. Sister Horton
and Sister Jones went into Salonkia today and the O.C. sent
a sergeant with them to take them round. Everyone has
been exceedingly cordial/and courteous to us. It is after
8 p.m. now and getting dusk....I have an enormous appetite
and am ready for every eal - even when it is only bully beef
and dry bread and marmalade. I haven't eaten butter, except
at Alexandria, since I left Melbourne. We don't even see
it here! I never realised so fully how thoroughly the boys
must appreciate their parcels......

    .... 

----------------
18/9/17.

.....
It is exactly three months today since we left Home.
It certainly seems very much longer....Where we shall be
going to - we have not the least idea. We should have been down
near the city some time ago, but are awaiting the arrival of 
the remainder of the 4th unit. Sister Horton is down 
there, and about thirty others of No.1. Unit, but I expect we
shall stay here now until we go to our winter quarters,
wherever they may be....We had some rain yesterday - the first
since we landed...it gave us a fore taste of what things will
be like later, and we have no fond imagination now as to
not needing our gum boots. Simply walking from the mess
tent to the cook house, you get about three inches of mud on your
boots. The tents are all trenches - but that doesn't prevent
some water from coming in. Wouldn't an air raid be lovely in
wet weather. We have a dugout to which we are to be politely
escorted by an orderly officer, in such an event but I am

8.
- 4 -
afraid the raid would be over before we arrived there.
I haven't even located it yet - except theoretically - 
at the S.E.corner of an encampment. However, as I
said before, there are plenty of trenches to tumble into
and they are a great help. We have seen two air fights
and often see Taubes. They come over most very day. You
can always tell them because they fly so high and look
just like stars - they shine so in the sun. You can always 
hear them before you see them. When I was in Salonique the
other day I saw a seaplane, volplane into the water - and
several days this week an air plane has landed just outside
our lines. I love to see them flying around - I have never
seen anything as beautiful as the squadron that came
sailing home one glorious evening some time ago.

At present I am home sister and have been for
about a month. I had to take it over when Sister Pritchard
went to take charge of the Hospital we should be at, at 
present. The appointment is only temporary and the
position is a very strenuous one - particularly the last
few weeks as it has been a work of art getting all the
equipment sorted out and distributed. The hours of course
are very irregular but apart from that I thoroughly enjoy
my work, and as regards health have never been better in my
life. I am on my feet from morning till night most days -
so the tents cover quite a large area,and the cookhouse is
quite away from the mess tent. There are ten orderlies -
for all duties - and we do out our own tents mostly - though
a fatigue party comes for that purpose three times a week.
We have quite a good supply of water, and can all
have one bath daily (though not more) and boilers are
being put in, so we can have warm baths too soon.

.......

9
- 5 -
We don't dress in grey flannel, even if we are on active
service and living in tents with bully beef and iron 
rations once a week: My assistant sister had just come
in to tell me that the puttees and mincing machine have
just arrived! It sounds a queer combination doesn't it?
I am afraid the mincing machine appeals to me more than the
puttees, as it means I can vary the diet a little more and also
make it more appetizing. Although we are really doing
splendidly as regards food. We each pay 5/- per week
into the mess and that enables us to have tomatoes, melons,
preserved fruits etc and extra milk and jam. Next month
I expect the call will not be so much. The puttees 
are for us to wear in the evening on duty. -or off - for
that matter - to guard against mosquito bites - mosquitos
are the curse of this country and the cause of the need
for us being here.
......I am still home sister, and it is no light
duty getting provisions for the family.- with the
Mediterranean between us and our supplies. We got a big
shipment from the Red Cross Australian - at Egypt about
a month ago and appreciated it very thoroughly.
Did I tell you that there was an air raid while
we were at Ordnance one day, while we were there? They
were rather alarmed about us - as the ordnance stores
are usually the objective of their missals - and wanted us
to retire to dugouts, but we were far too interested for
them to get us beyond the O.C's office. Of course if we
had been ordered to go - we should have gone, but we were
not really in danger, though there is sometimes trouble
from the falling shrapnel. At present we an hear firing
but it is probably from one of the fronts about 40 miles
away......I haven't the least idea what is going to happen
us, but one thing is certain, we cannot stay up here much

10
- 6 -
longer,unless we all patients included develop feathers
and webbed feet!......

    .....

---------------------
Wednesday
14/11/17.

.....

    .......Hitherto I have found difficulty in writing once a
month - However, I hope now to be able to do better -
as I am (or will be) at Kalamana - living inthe lap
of luxury - with tiled roof over my head, and wooden
floors under my feet - and electric light! .... To explain 
myself - on Saturday last a 12 m.d. Miss Young, our acting
matron, was instructed to relieve herself and thirty sisters
from the 56th to the 42nd by 2 p.m. -- bag and baggage!
They were all ready and waiting before the ambulances arrived
which was pretty smart - Mistress White and fourteen sisters had
been transferred to the 52nd about 10 days previous - so
it left us with a small family of 30. Next morning we
received orders for the remainder to evacuate - and I can
tell you it was a rush, as we were not expecting to
go for a week at least. I had to take stock and hand over
all equipment, in addition to doing all my packing -
and as there were twenty six tents to go through, in addition
to mess, service and sitting tents - you can imaging
it was fairly strenuous work, as the mess had to provide
meals as usual for the family before they departed - we all
felt very sad and at leaving our beautiful hills .... the cars
came at 3 pm. and took everyone away but myself, and one
sister who I kept behind for company - and by dint of
hard work I was ready packed by 4.30 pm. and got away myself
with provisions and all our household goods, at 5 pm.
I took us two hours to get to the 42nd as we were in a
huge baggage wagon - nearly as big as a ? ......
We arrived at the 42nd in the pitch dark, and I was greeted
by a Home sister, and the news that I was to be transferred