AWM41 1002 - [Nurses Narratives] Annie MacKenzie

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AWM 4 1

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN
ANNIE MACKENZIE
AWM 4 1
LIBRARY
Class No. 373.2
[1002]

Salonika 
Sr A Mackenzie
33
106
Egypt
13^th District General
One of the things most remembered
during this time there was the
kindness and hospitality of
Miss Chaffey - Matron of the Victoria
Hotel then being used for
nursing Sisters - also the
British Sisters who were 

quartered there.

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 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 observations or incidents  
told him by friends or heard at third or fourth hand at the mess-table.  
Thus, 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". 

A Mackenzie
1
33/106
Salonica.
I left Sydney 9^th June 1917 on the
S.S. "Mooltan"
Not being a born sailor the
trip was hardly an enjoyable one &
wal welcome was the day when I left
"The Mooltan" at Port Suez. I entrained
for Alexandra where I spent three
weeks some of the time relieving in the
15^th British General Hospital.
One of the things most remembered
during the time was the kindness & 
hospitality of Miss Chaffey. The Matron
of the "Victoria Hotel" then being used
as a hostel for nursing sisters. also
The British sisters who were quartered
there.
Embarking on the "Osmanich" on
the 18^th of August we arrived in the
Salonica harbour on the evening of the
12^th of August & were taken ashore that
evening & thence to the 4^th Canadian
General Hospital. Being instructed
or at least not allowed to take our
luggage with us. (We were assured it
would arrive there as soon as we would)
We arrived at 10 p.m. there to be received
very kindly by the Matron & her staff of
nursing sisters & one must always remember
the kindness of the nursing staff of the
4^th Canadian Hospital. In the twinkling
of an eye, we ^were provided with supper,
Sleeping garments etc. & every thing possible
done for our comfort.
 

2

Next day I was transferred for duty 
to the 50^th British Gen. Hospital.
The work here was mostly medical.
Malaria being our worst enemy
as the district occupied by the British
hosps xxxxx was a hot bed for this
disease.
The hospital, which overlooked the
harbour of Salonica was prettily situated
but in the winter was a puddle, There was
no ramps or corridors between the wards. The
night sister, who would often have as many
as six wards to superintend, was obliged to
don gum boots, & wade through inches
of mud between the wards, incurring the 
great displeasure of the day sisters, who in
turn incurred her share from the matron, or
sub matron for having dirty floors. It was
almost impossible to keep the mud in its
proper place.
The summer was accompanied by swarms
of flies & mosquitoes, & on night duty we were
obliged to take refuge in masks, gloves &
puttees despite these precautions I got an
attack of malaria ^one of the souveniers I shall
take back to Australia.
February 8^th All were relieved of our Eastern
worries, when we embarked on the "Czaritza"
& landed at Southampton on the 15^th of Feb 19
On arriving was greeted with three (3) weeks
leave after which took up duties at the 1^st
Australian General Hospital Sutton Veny.
Annie Mackenzie 

Item Control
Australian War Memorial
005172247