AWM41 983 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister Ruby M Jacka

Butler Colln.
AWM 41
WAR OF 1914-18  6/74

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES 

ACCESS STATUS 

OPEN
E.L.HORNE.

[*A.W.M. LIBRARY
Classifⁿ N^o 373.2

[981]*]

India
As to Home
40/122 

Hospital Ship

1917 Victoria War Hosp. Bombay.

Sept 1917

Hosp Ship “Vila” — 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 Sabor

Corps from Marseilles.

dirtiest patients imaginable,

3 deaths.

Nurses from Bombay to

German East Africa -

took in patients German 

P.O.W. and Indian troops

March 1918

To No 2 Brit General Hospital.

Dera Ghazi, N.W. Frontier

Hard work, climate very

trying 118⁰ to 120⁰ in the

shade.

June

Hosp ship "Madras"

Bombay to Suez - 200

patients, then took

500 Indian troops

back - all medical 

cases - no deaths.
 

India
As to Home
40/122 

Hospital Ship
1917 Viaimia War Hosp. Bombay
Sept. 1917
Hosp Ship 'Vila" -4
sisters and 25 orderlies, 500
head - for Bassa Mespot
hospital beautifully equipped-
all medical case, heat stroke
sandfly fever, etc.
Hosp Ship "Delta" bombed
 

[*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 recorded 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 his 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 no internal evidence to guide him in judging what is

and what is not likely to be historically accurate."*]

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

Salonica

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. "Fore" 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.

The 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 the most

deplorable state. Many very badly septic

from exposure & neglect a great number

died.

In September 1917 left Bombay in charge

of H.S. "Vila' 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 the H S "Delta" left

Bombay for German E. Africa & took back

patients which included German Prisoners of

War & Indian troops - mostly all Indian

troop 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 118⁰ &120⁰ 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

Terry where I have since remained.

 

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