Nurses Narratives - Sister Mary Keating

Butler Collin.  6/78
WAR OF 1914-18
[6/20] 28/
(HQ 21/4/28
AWM 4 1 1
AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVE
ACCESS STATUS

OPEN
SISTER M. KEATING.
A.W.M.
LIBRARY
Class No 373.2
[987]

 

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 memories which were

not completed 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/indorsement?]] to

indicate whether he is recording his own observations 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 memories described with

vivid detail, and without any warning that they are told at second

or third hand, have been found to be completely inaccurate is

important detail. 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."
 

 M Keating    India  France  [[ Salmeen?]] 

65/124
I beg to submit, herewith, a report of my experiences
during my career as a Sister nursing in in
the Hospitals of the Overseas Forces.

I sailed from Australia on August 22^ND 1916
by the S.S. Mooltan and disembarked at Bombay on
Sept. 12^thsame year, taking up duties at the Cambala
War Hospital at Malaba Hill where I remained for
3 months.
My work at this beautifully erected British
Hosptl, situated on the shores of Bombay Harbour,
consisted in the nursing of a good many exchanged
prisoners-of-war after the fall of Kut in
Mesopotamia where General Townshend was taken
prisoner. These unfortunate "Tommy" patients
were indeed in a deplorable state, suffering
from the severe effects of thirst, hunger and negligent
treatment of their wounds and diseases &C.
The Hospital contained 600 beds and was
well fitted out.
I was transferred to Poona, some  [[3?]] 00
miles inland from Bombay, and took up duty
on December 23^rd 1916 at the Deccan War Hosptl.
relieving English Sisters. This establishment
was formerly an Agricultural College, situated in a
picturesque locality in the beautiful highland
scenery & climate of the Western State.

On taking over this Hospital it contained
but 100 beds, with a small staff of one Australian
Matron and 6 Sisters, which was increased,
during my service of 2½ years there, to 1200
beds, and a Staff of 50 more Sisters.

During my period of duty there I was
in charge of the Acute Surgical Ward.
I left Poona in November 1918, travelled
overland to Colombo & sailed on SS, Wiltshire to Suez
 

Egypt, where we entrained to Cairo.

I was in Cairo for 3 weeks nursing at
an English Hospital and then boarded the SS
"Kaiserim" at Pt. Said which took me to Marseilles.
We travelled to Paris & on to Le Havre
and then crossed to Southhampton.
On reaching ∧ England I was sent to Southall Hosptl
where I did duty until 6 weeks ago, when I was
transferred to this Hospital.
Speaking generally, I found the equipment
and management of the different Hospitals at
which I served most satisfactory, and the mutual
support so willingly offered by the other Sisters
and Staff generally with our work really commendable,
such harmony being greatly appreciated.
My service of nearly 3 years abroad has
been very interesting and instructive to me, and
has decidely improved my nursing capacity.
Having experienced such a variety of
work and coming into continual contact
with such a representative body of men of
all classes and callings as patients, I have
become much better acquainted with human
character, and this truer conception is a
material advantage to a nurse who, I think
should study the different temperaments of
her patients so as to treat differently accordingly.
In conclusion, I must remark that
the behaviour of the patients was always
splendid and their untiring efforts always
helped in the tidy appearance & upkeep of
their respective wards. They, also, invariably showed marked respect & obedience to we Sisters.
Mary Keating
A.A.N.S.
 

Australian War Memorial

barcode
005172232