AWM41 981 - [Nurses Narratives] E L Horne

(6/20)AA  6/74

(dat  7/4/12 

Butler Colln.   AWM 4 1   War of 1914 -18

AWM 4 1

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN

E. L. HORNE.
A.W.M.
LIBRARY
Classⁿ N^o. 373.2
Cat^d.
Illus^[[ns]]
Indexed
Maps 
Indexed                                                                                                        

[ 981] 

India        Sister E. Horne               40/122

Hospital Ship

1917 Victoria War Hosp. Bombay.

Sept. 1917

Hosp Ship 'Vita' - 4

Sisters and 25 orderlies, 500

beds - for Basra Mespot -

hospital beautifully equipped -
all medical cases, heat stroke

sandfly fever, etc. 

December
Hosp Ship "Delta" Bombay
to Suez - Staff 5 Aust Sisters
3 Indian trained and 60
orderlies.  Patients were Labor
Corps from Marseilles.
dirtiest patients imaginable,
3 deaths.
Thence from Bombay to
German East Africa -
took in patients German
P.O.W and Indian troops

March 1918
To No 2 Brit. General Hosp.
Dera Ghazi, N.W. Frontier
Hard work, climate being
trying 118° to 120° in the
shade.

June
Hosp Ship "Madras"
Bombay to Suez - 200
patients, then took
500 Indian troops
back - all medical
cases - no deaths. 

India    Sis E Horne   40/122

Hospital Ship

1917 Victoria War Hosp. Bombay.

Sept. 1917

Hosp Ship 'Vita' - 4

sisters and 25 orderlies, 500

beds - for Basra Mespot -

hospital beautifully equipped -
all medical cases, heat stroke

sandfly fever, etc. 

December
Hosp Ship "Delta" Banks
 

The Official War History 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 observation or incidents
told him by friends or heard at 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
experience and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is
and what is not likely to be historically accurate."

40/122
My Experiences with the A.A.N.S. A.I F.
E L. Horne

I left Australia on the 22^nd Aug. 1916 by
S.S. "Mooltan" en route for duty in India
We were fortunate enough to have 2 days at
Colombo, and had a most enjoyable time there,
including a motor trip to Kandy, through most
gorgeous scenery, our time was far too short
to satisfy us. - On Sept 6^th we left for Bombay
on S.S. "Nore" arriving there on 13^th.
Though not so pretty as Colombo. I found
Bombay. very interesting although the climate
was very trying at times -.
My first work was at Victoria War Hospital.
This hospital contained 600 beds. and was
principally devoted to Medical Cases - dysentery
malaria & other Eastern troubles.
In January 1917. all the wards were converted
into Surgical to accommodate troops
arriving from Mesopotamia. They came in
great numbers & were very badly wounded.
In April all British troops were evacuated
from Hospital. & Turkish prisoners took
their place, These were in a most.
deplorable State. many very badly septic
from exposure & neglect. & a great number
died.
In September 1917 left. Bombay in charge.
of. H. S. "Vita" with a Staff of 4 nurses. and.
twenty five orderlies for. Basra. Mesopotamia.
had a very quiet trip going there, but on.
the homeward journey were very busy - mostly.
medical cases - heat. stroke. Sand fly. fever. &c.
This hospital ships contained 500 beds
and was beautifully equipped in every way.
Left in October. in charge of H. S "Sicilia" for.
Basra bringing back 400 troops from Mesopotamia.

In. December. in charge of H S. "Delta" we left.
Bombay for Suez - The Staff including 8 Sisters
five Australians & three Indian trained. and.
60 orderlies -  Had a very smooth trip
across to Port. Tewfik stayed there for three days.
waiting for the patients. who were a Labour Corps.
from Marseilles - needless to say they were the
dirtiest people I've ever seen although they
made very good patients. - On this trip we.
had three deaths. On the homeward journey
My next trip was also on H S. "Delta" left.
Bombay for German E. Africa. & took back.
patients which included German Prisoners of
War. & Indian troops - mostly all Indian
troops were landed at Karachi where we stayed
for 12 hours & proceeded to Bombay the following
day -
In March 1918. I was detailed for duty
at No 2. British General Hospital which was
transferred from Rawalpindi. To Dera Ghazi
Khan. on The North West Frontier -
The climate up there was very trying. The.
thermometer reaching as high as 118° & 120° in Shade.
but notwithstanding that I enjoyed my work.
there very much, although very hard at times
In June 1918. left Bombay in Charge
of H S. "Madras" for Suez conveying 200
British troops invalided to England - on
the way called at Aden stayed there for.
six hours. and had a motor trip. all round.
the town which we all enjoyed very much.
- Took on. 30. British troops here & proceeded.
on our way to Suez - had a very rough trip.
as it was during the Monsoons. Many of the.
patients suffering from Mal.de-mer. & were very
pleased when we dropped anchor. at. Port.
Tewfik. where they disembarked & proceeded.

by Ambulance train to Alexandria - we

returned to Bombay with 500 Indian troops.
mostly medical cases. - no deaths were reported

on this trip.
Left for England. on Nov. 20^th 1918.
arriving at Southampton on Jan. 5^th
when I was detailed for duty. at No 2.
A. A. Hospital. Southall - This hospital contained

mostly Amputation Cases who returned

to Australia by. H. S. "Karoola" -
Then I was transferred to No 1. A.G.H. Sutton
everywhere I have since remained.

E.L. Horne. A.A.N.S.

Item Control

Australian War Memorial
Barcode

005172226