AWM41 978 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister G A Grewer

Sister G.A. Grewer

The Official War Historian of the Commonwealth
Government (Dr. C. E. W. Bean), after his study of the
collections of private war records preserved in the Australian War Memorial Library, wrote:

"The private diaries in this collection furnish some of the most
valuable historical records but, like all private memoirs which were
not compiled with any historical purpose, they should not be
regarded on firsthand evidence except where it is certain that they
are in. The diariest is almost always sincere in his desire to record accurately, but he is subject to an obligation or inducement to
indicate whether he is recording his own observations or incidents
told to him by friends or heard at third or fourth hand at the [[?]]
That, in some of the diaries in this collection, scenes were 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 [?] also have been written up 
or revised long after the events, though doubtless [?] [?] [?] 
made at the time. In most cases this student must rely on his
experiences and [?] [?] evidence to guide him in judging what is
read what is not likely to be historically accurate.

1. 

On 6th June 1916 I sailed from Melbourne saying to myself never again till the war is ended will I say goodbye to my Home folks.

We Sisters retired to our Cabins at once, which, though two decks

down were otherwise comfortable,  three Cabins and one wee sitting room

for four of us, which I understand were provided for us by Military

orders.

 

There were four Sisters, three Medical Officers-- The A.M.C

men were few, but we could draw on orderlies to about Sixty, there

being a Field Ambulance on board, who were to do duty if necessary.

 

The first day luckily we had nothing to do, and truth to tell,

a deck chair proved the most friendly object.  We were all feeling

very sick, much at the state when the men are afraid that a torpedo

 will not come.

Next day the patients started admitting themselves to the

comfortable hospital beds.  The poor fellows, one cannot but feel

sorry for them, the troopdeck is so stuffy and stale, with so many men,

that they come up and lie about on deck and feel so ill and miserable,

that, though chilled, they sleep on the hard cold deck, and just don't

care what becomes of them, and consequently get ill.

We still did very little in hospital the second day out, and in doing

that little, made many anxious and hurried trips to our own quarters,

as of course we strived to appear pretty fit before the patients and

troops, but !!!

 

Everything at first was very inconvenient, a nice little

dispensary opened out of the ward, a Staff Sergant in charge, another

Staff Sgt. in charge of the men on duty and Red Cross stores etc.etc.

All the beds were arranged, the A.M.C. staff doing everything to help

diminish the work.

 

No table for serving the meals, or place to wash up dishes;

however, we managed with the floor for a table, the first day, and

even there the dishes shot about and one had to be careful about a

false step, or a step made false by a plate of porridge or some

nourishment suddenly sliding out of place.   Considering the sea was

responsible for most of the sickness, not much nourishment was required

or taken.

Next day a huge box with one side opened was secured, and one shelf

put in it to hold the many utensils required.   If was fitted closely

into a blind doorway, and was not very convenient;  when the ship

rocked violently it took all the hands about to keep the meals on

the table.  (box).

A bad Influenza prevailed, high Teperature and the men were really

very ill with it, and came in all too quickly for our first ward.   Also

several Orderlies went down with it.   It required an expert balancer

to give out medicines, the sea was rough, the difficulties being to

keep ones feet, the bottles from falling, and measure the right

quantity.

 

On the 12th we reached Freemantle and were delighted to land

for breakfast in Perth.   The old "Kyarra" was in port also, and we met

several Sisters we knew whilst shopping.

Everyone went ashore, and how the troops delighted in going.   Next

day we left the West to the strains of "So Long Letty" played by the

Band --  The 3rd Pioneers Battalion song being set to that tune;  Always

 when I hear it I can see old Australia slipping from view.  Yes  !

goodbye to Australia, and then Night Duty for me.

 

Measles broke out and had to be isolated, and some of the men

were very ill indeed.   The A.M.C. men had no separate sleeping

accommodation for night staff, who could sleep but little in the day,

they consequently took it in turns, which meant constant change of

2.

Night Staff, so that just as one Orderly knew the cases, another came

on duty.   However, they were quick to learn and being Ambulance

men, each man learned to sponge, take temperature and pulses, make

different important signs, write reports etc.

The Red Cross was a great help, the Old Linen for the Influenza and

Measles cases were invaluable, and man dozen rolls were used.   It

was then destroyed, and one got rid of the acutely infectious discharges

in this manner-- when the sea is rough, Sputum Mugs etc, cannot well

be used in these temporary wards.

A fractured leg and Meningitis were the next to appear --  the C.S.M.

case was isolated and treatment immediately begun.   The patient was

put off at Durban, and we could not get any decided report of him

after.   I always hope he did well.

The fractured leg did well, but it was unfortunate to lie there all

those glorious days. With so many man aboard-the deck space was used

from early till late with troops training and exercising, drilling

and studying.   Officers also studied and attended lectures etc,.

Many times during the dark period of our trip we sisters hear some,

interesting lectures, Machine Guns, Lewis Guns, Bombs etc, while we

sewed and did fancy work in the dim of the one semilighted room used by

all officers when off duty at that time.

Recreations for the men were as varied as space allowed, sports,

concerts etc, being got up and looked forward to.   Young Pte McBeth

the Australian Harry Lauder was in great demand at the latter.

Measles increased and still another little inconvenient

ward was opened, one man after being specialled night and day died

from pneumonia, (complication of Measles).   Somehow it seemed so hard

to start out and never reach the warzone -- it made us very sad to see

him go.

Great Disappointment --- we did not se Durban.   The

ship was Quarantined at the Whaling and Coaling station, and therefore

no one could go to Durban.    We saw huge dead whales on railway

trucks and at the boiling down works -- five in all - huge creatures,

two different kinds.   One was still in the water, and a shark had been

making a good meal from it, a hugh hole being eaten into the solid

fat of the Whale.   The shark was too cunning to take a bait however,

but kept about in the vicinity till the whale was drawn out of the

water up a huge skid made for landing them.

Later we strolled along to the Boiling down works and found the troops

halted there on their route march, and getting all the information they

could.   If was curious to see the "Niggers" on top of the Whales slicing

great depths of fat from them with knives not unlike the "hedge

slashers" used in Australia.   One kind of Whale had the huge mouth filled

with Whalebone, and the other kind a ridiculously small mouth for

such a huge monster.   The men were interested, and learned much in

a short time about the boiling down process.

We made arrangements for dinner ashore that evening, but were greatly

disappointed as no one was allowed off the ship! !

Next morning boat races in the ship's boats made an interesting

diversion, the different companies rowing against another, and also

the Ships Officers V the Military Officers.   It was quite a little

sporting event -- "B Coy" won, also the Ships Officers although our

Officers put up a very good go.

On 29th June we left Durban with its beautiful lighted harbor and the

last glow of a wonderful sunset.

The Sunsets were beautiful, and the wonderful irregular

coast line ridge behind ridge, as we went from Durban to Capetown.

Capetown was reached 2nd July, Sunday, before daybreak -- After Church

Parade we got some good snaps of Table Mountain etc, the day being

clear and beautiful sunshine -- in the afternoon the men went a short

route march, also two Sisters, and the Nurses at the Capetown

Hospital sent some beautiful flowers to us aboard ship.

On the Monday the Sister and self went a long route march with the

men to Rhodes Monument.   It was the only way of getting off the

ship, being practically quarantined.

3.

How we enjoyed every minute of that march, as we wended our way ever

upward, along the everwinding road towards Table Mountain, behind our c

column of Khaki me.
It was amusing to see the motley throng that followed and

kept with the troops, old and young, black, and not black, men

women, and children, with all manner of baskers and old hand carts

containing fruit, and pictures and postcards etc.,   One old black

man pushed a handcart full of oranges.   It was a heavy push on the

upward track and the perspiration dripped from him, however no doubt

he and the others were repaid when we halted by the wayside for lunch,

and the fruits was much appreciated, but the memory of the Rag, Tag

and Bobtail, makes one smile.

Rhodes Monument on its wonderful site was most interesting.

Surely he imbibed such greatness from the grandeur of that place, for

just immediately xxxxx below the monument is the seat where he

frequently sat looking over the vast valley and plains to the sea.

Far, far beyond; and above and behind him towered the grant heights

of table Mountain, with all its wonder of shadows and color.  Twas

truly a grand view, and officers and troops enjoyed it to the full.

We two sisters were lucky enough to be taken in an Ambulance to see

Cecil Rhodes House, and much enjoyed seeing the delightful old dutch

cabinets, chests, clocks, and the persian carpets etc.etc.

We returned in the Ambulance and picked up the column of men just as

we go to the wharf.

Measles increased aboard and one more ward was fixed up and

opened.   Cerabre Spinal MengMeningitis appeared agaain, and one man

died, one other after a stiff fight got better after much work on the

part of the A.M.C. men and Medical officers.   This care [?] specialled

on Night Duty.

The A.M.C. and Ambulance men on the ship were a fine lot of men, and

worked well.

When Cerabre Spinal Meningitis broke out all contacts had to be

Isolated, and every man on board had Nasal Spray treatment at certain

intervals.   At that time the ships did not have a spray house, and

this treatment was carried out individually and given by the A. M. C.

officers and men.   This was not easy either the isolation or

treatment for all, as the space aboard was limited, and there was

also a big sick parade each day.

Another Sister was also on night duty and superintended all the

general work, consequently this left a good deal for the sister in

charge in the day time as the fourth Sister was ill most of the

voyage.

Appendicitis was the next thingm, one of the ships engineers,

We turned the little lounge into an operating theatre, and

everything went off as the Senior M. O. said "Just as in Hospital".

One of the Cook's big Vegetable Steamers was used for a Sterilizer, no

steriliser being aboard.    The case got on very well.    It was about

this time I think that we were in darkness on account of the

danger of Torpedos, Extra Night Watches were put on and changed

frequently.   Life Belts were worn night and day --

It was all very awkward as far as night work was concerned --

Electric torches were all called in and no lights allowed, just

the weeest electric light covered for operation cases and all

shutters up so that no light could be seen outside.

The Orderlies stayed in wardsand Sisters did frequent rounds at what

time, One could find the orderly or rather see him approaching

to take one to a bad case, only by his luminous watch -- Looking

back it was all rather weird, but at the time one made the best of

things, and as long as the patients lacked nothing, took it all

as a matter of course.

4. 

The night work held some interesting spectacles and some one saw the

wonderful little "phosphorescent lakes" as it were, ahead of the

ships, and when the ship passed thro' those they were beautiful

indeed, like looking down into a sky of beautiful glowing stars,

myriads and myriads of wonderful huge stars, it seemed strange that

that effect could be produced by "jelly fish" and the glowing

luminous foam as the ship cut thro the waves.   It was all indeed

very beautiful and helped to make the night shorter and less

monotous in the darkness.   Of course one cannot take time to tell

of Neptune and his wife when crossing the Line.  The show was all

well carried out by the ships officers and caused much pleasure

to all aboard, officers and troops alike took their ducking by the

Bearsm and the curious pills and cures prescribed by "The Doctor"

etc, in good part.   Personally I felt rather relieved that I'd crossed

the line before and that Sisters were not called upon to swallow the

wonderful concoctions of the Doctor in Neptune's train.   It is all

very humerous and caused much fun for the boys.   I need hardly

mention that everywhere and always, everyonr took snapshots

photographs and the developing and printing passed man an hour pleasantly --
till orders came out that no more cameras to be used.

The memory of our splendid Military men and the food

work of the A. M. C. and Ambulance men aboard that ship was will

always be with me.   The big hearts and unselfishness of all and

they way they looked forward to do big deeds and leave their mark

on the Hun -- It made one proud and yet sad at times when pictured

the horros that they were yet to see and know, and all that ghastly

war meant.   But what an army such men make, the individual, feeling

that he himself will do and give to the last.

We disembarked at Plymouth on 26th July 1916, the patients that were

too ill for camp were transferred to Military Hospitals there.

Then came parting from Officers and Troops, the Boys that somehow

seemed to belong to ourselves.   How one dared not look forward

for them, and only hoped and hoped that they may return some day to

the dear homeland of Australia.

The last thing as we left our ship in the small boat

for the shore was my C. S. M. patient propped up and waving from the

window of his ward, perched high aft --- Then the land again

and preparations for work ashore ------------

G.A Grewer

A.A.h.S

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