AWM41 1012 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister M B Milligan

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Nurses Narratives
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2021.219.70
Difficulty:

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Soutler Coln sme 2 6/1
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46 47 Noveuber 1910 110 Sosters lift Austracs by the oporo - which was also carrying the Remoun tn we arrives in tairo Dec 12t our rumberski dis - half going to hos. Aus. Te. Hospita the other half going to has aust Genera Hospital Helispoles. Myself being ano she later Here the greates onajoy of as wer not put o dute for three wreksa the pa was not so busy tthe soacuation frow callipol being carms ou without many. Caua Bur has to stay on ou callatof the as the sisters or dut as fin se to a tihoi ward and after doany duty her for soe weeks was ther se right duty on a wad for righly pasients Ihas to orderlies to asses no. After doing fior weeks high Auty the Peace. hos Aus. F Hosps l left for prance laving the most recut reforcannce olhind to staff te anxillaries- Melf wil4 other were to di rk hos. Aus. Aux - Here all the case. boarded for Austrang were sent - there was very tie pursuy requires as the greater majoricy of he passing were able to ge up In rly dima Park was cesed down. I was amout a rumber of soters sen o houoro Milary Infectious Hspita Briish)- Her ar has an Austranan Malroy Tursay staff - but english to pdica officersolderlies pant in Jan 1914 ir 9os wors to leare for le
were very sad. That our tarroy had oir orders for Austraus rsteas o onr Eyland Enbrs fow Alxandris on Brits Hopia Shi isquibs -o wars or th boa was llo forus bodr 18 Slpiy. We had rather Geally veakes & severa of his ospa Staff w weave to 90 or dy o ters wer called for frow usSvera of the Pisters di duty for 8 coupe of days e arrived on England hear to bs of Ma 1919 Her as wer billited at the Portland Hol for todays - luring tis time or wer or tall- tarey in Frowsary we left for France going throgh Boulgne Amens to Ka wher twere diia andoy Brise Hpals ms in ohers going to Rob. Brilest Teura We ver her for fin months when ar were. ical osp w I Rayes all or wasites December 1918 young my timl in manc the work boll surgial & medical was faing contmour some thes we were frantilally busy one of our regrets is that we did not ist mluy of our own boys tomorse The greater apoity of the going to Buts Asspitals - while at kursed nstty th Tomnes & Jocks Frice Coming to England Bution Orywrhan had anstracians to hurs- an MB. Killijan Nor AtN. Engpland

Butler Colln

6/19
 [6/19] [[AA?]]

[[19/4/18??]]

AWM 4 1
 

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVE

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN 

SISTER M.B. MILLIGAN
 A.W.M
LIBRARY
Classn No 373.2
[1012]
 

 

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, 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 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 obligations 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.

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 event, though doubtless usually from notes 

made at the time. In most cases the student must rely on his

experiences and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is

and what is not likely to be historically accurate.

 

46/44
On November 1915. 110 Sisters left Australia by the
Orsova- which was also carrying the Remount
Unit.
We arrived in Cairo Dec 12th our numbers being
divide - half going to No 2. Aus. Gen. Hospital
G. The other half going to No 1 Aust
General Hospital Heliopolis. Myself being among
the latter - Here the greater majority of us were
not put on duty for three weeks - as the
hospital was not so busy- (The evacuations from
Gallipoli being carried out without many
Casualties). But we had to stay in on
call & had time off the same as the Sisters on
duty.
I was first sent to a typhoid ward - and after
doing duty here for six weeks was then sent
on night duty in a ward for Eighty patients.
I had two orderlies to assist me.
After doing five weeks night duty, the Palace
Closed & No1 Aust. Gen. Hospital Unit left for
France leaving the most recent reinforcements
behind to staff the auxillaries - Myself with
others were sent to Luna Park hos. Aust.
Aux - Here all the case boarded for
Australia were sent - There was very little
Nursing required as the greater majority of
the patients were able to get up - 
In July Luna Park was closed down.
I was among a number of Sisters sent
to Choubra Military Infectious Hospital
(British) - Here we had an Australian
Matron & nursing staff - but English RO
Medical officers - orderlies & patients.
In Jan 1917 we got word to leave for England

 

2.

but were very sad that our Matron had
got her orders for Australia instead of
for England -
We Embarked from Alexandria on British
Hospital Ship Essequibo -one ward on the boat
was alloted for us 60 Sisters to sleep in.
We had rather squally weather & several of the 

hospital Staff were unable to go on duty -
So volunteers were called for from us - Several
of the Sisters did duty for a couple of days.
We arrived in England near the end of Jan 1917.
Here we were billeted at the Portland Hotel
for 10 days - during this time we were on
call- Early in February we left for France
going through Boulogne & Amiens to Rouen where
we were divide among British Hospitals. Myself
& five others going to No 5 British General -
We were here for five months when we were.
recalled to No 1 AG Hospital where I stayed
till we evacuated December 1918.
During my time in France the work both
Surgical & Medical was fairly continuous
Some times we were frantically busy.
one of our regrets is that we did not
get many of our own boys to nurse - The
greater majority of these going to British
Hospitals - while we nursed mostly the 
Tommies & Jocks.
Since Coming to England (Sutton Veny) we have
had Australians to nurse- our work 

be
MB. Milligan
No 1 AGH.
England
 

 

Australian War Memorial
005172257
 

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Jasmine HatharasingheJasmine Hatharasinghe
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