Nurses Narratives - Sister Nicholas and Staff/Nurse Redman

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AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES
ACCESS STATUS
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NURSING
[[PERSONAL?]] NARRATIVES.
Experiences at 58th C.C.S. by Sister NICHOLAS and Staff/Nurse REDMAN
22nd to 26th March,1918.
[1016]
 

File No. 
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
WAR MUSEUM LIBRARY.
RECORD FILE OF PAPERS.
NOT TO BE TAKE AWAY.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
EXPERIENCES AT 38th C.C.S. BY SISTER NICHOLIS & S/NURSE REDMAN
22nd to 26th March.1918.
[[?]]

This File must be Kept Intact.

Experiences at 38th C.C.S.
by
Sister Nicholis & S/Nurse Redman. 
 

Appendix No 8
THIRD AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL

EXPERIENCES AT 38th C.C.S. BY SISTER NICHOLIS & S/NURSE REDMAN

Friday March 22nd 1918 left Abbeyville by 10.40 train
for Amiens in company with five English Sister; including the Matron
who was an Australian, but was with the Q.A's, making a party of 11.
Arrived at Amiens, met two more English Sisters, making the party 13.
Reported at No42 Stationary Hospital, had a hurried lunch at 2.0 p.m.
7 ambulances took us and luggage to No.38 C.C.S. which had left Italy
three days previously. The 38th C.C.S.  was situated at Mericourt, a
distance of 30 miles from Amiens. On arrival wee were met by the C.O.
Col.Low, who was surprised to see us, as he had not been notified of
our coming.

The hospital was taking in patients who were brought in on
Motor Lorries. There was no accommodation for Sisters, as there were
only two wooden huts which had been fitted up with blankets to receive
the wounded. We had tea in the Officers tent on our arrival at 5.0 p.m.
after tea we picked up the blankets and we six Australian sisters put
our stretchers down in the first hut. The second hut five English
sisters did likewise. Half of the latter hut was converted into a [[Doss?]]
Room for sisters. A tent was pitched for the night sisters, numbering
two. After partaking of tea we got into indoor uniform, made our beds
and each was told off for duty in different parts. Meanwhile heavy
firing had been going on, and a stray Boche Aeroplane came over which
caused a bit of a stir from the anti-aircraft guns around. I was 
detailed off to the Officers hut, which constituted a square hut with a
wooden frame covered over with canvas, allowing nine beds along one side
four lengthways on the other side with three length ways on down the
centre, allowing just room for one to move between each bed. Five
Officers were admitted at once. They sat on one bed while another
sister and myself made up the beds with one white sheet and four
blankets. A towel, soap and flannel and pyjamas was allotted to each
Officer, who by the way, did not wash as the water supply was running
low. By 7.0 p.m. the hut has 15 patients in, leaving one empty bed
which we kept for an Officer who was being operated upon and had not
come from the Theatre.

The wounds were mostly arms and legs, and not very drastic.
Managed to scrape up cups and bread and butter so fed them. The
majority of them had had no food for two days. In less than an hour
all patients in bed fast asleep. By now eight more Officers arrived
so took them to a much larger hut which held 34 beds all packed close
together on the floor. A sister and self knelt on the floor and made
these beds while the one Orderly saw to undressing the helpless ones.
By 10.0 p.m. the hut was full - 11.0 p.m. everyone comfortable. Had
a cup of tea and bread and butter. Left sister to the Ward while I
helped the walking patients who were by now pouring in by hundreds,
chest, arms and abdominals all walking from Peronne, where they had
been sent on from Field Ambulance, which was 10 kilos away.

The marquees numbered only 6, which by now were not
sufficient for the number which was pouring in. Stretchers were
placed on the ground and four blankets placed on each. With the help
of several A.S.C., boys who were attached,managed to make quite forty
stretchers. As each patient came in he was sent,if able to walk,
to the cookhousewhere he managed to get a cup of tea,and then he laid
down on the first stretcher he came to. By 12 p.m.,there were over
200 stretchers on the ground. At 1 a.m.,wentx to bed;got up at 6 a.m.,
went on duty and found all beds in one hut vacated and three [[canes?]] in 
small hut - Evacuation between 2.0 a.m. and 3.0 a.m. 800 patients
leaving by train. Saturday morning had a very sick patient; pulse
very weak; S.W.Rt Thigh and compound frac,Rt Arm; radial artery tied -
a Padre who had walked to Field Ambulance then sent on for operation.
He suffered from shock. Raised foot of stretcher on a box, got a blue
flame lamp with an elbow of a chimney and fastened on to the lamp -
raised it so that the pipe got between cradle at foot of bed also three
hot water bags to give heat. The patient revived. 
 

APPENDIX 8
Experiences at 38th C.C.S. by Sister Nicholls & S/Nurse Redman
Page 2 - continued
Several bad cases admitted - sheets penetrating - morphia given to
quieten them - by 9.0 a.m. Hut full again.  8 patients had not had
their injection of xxx A T S given, so proceeded with the needle after
giving them Tea and some bread and butter.  By this time the guns
were getting closer to us - civilians passing with their carts of
furniture; big guns and lorries going towards Corbie - water scarcity -
two water carts went for water but did not return - Patients thirsty.
dressings scarce, food scarce - patients walking in: 6.0 p.m. train
expected, all evacuation cases put on stretchers which were to be as
few as possible so as to allow more patients for evacuation.

Officers came in very depressed saying the Hun would be on us before
morning. Evacuated 36 Officers all but one who was haemorraging
from mouth, shot through jaw. Put him on bed and made pade for him
to wipe his mouth. Stampede for train which could not stop as the
Hun was on the watch for it. In less than 40 minutes evacuated 600
patients, over 200 came back on account of no room - poor disappointed
[[Tommden?]]. 8.0 p.m. an explosion - Dump at Peronne blown up - patients
pouring in - several chests and abdominal came in - field dressing
tied on over wound with Khaki tie - put them on the bed and covered them
up - gave them tea. Stayed on duty until 12.0 p.m. allowing the
Orderly to have one hour's rest - the first for five days and nights.
During night heavy firing getting closer - wounded coming in walking -
no dressings, no food, no water. Previously had packed all baggage
for evacuation of sisters at a minute's notice. Laid on bed with
covering of a blanket. 4.45 a.m. had word to get ready to leave as
two motor ambulances had arrived to take us to Abbeville. Left with
a suit case each, 17 sisters by two motors, feeling very sad.
Passed bits of stray Regiments, old men civilians with blankets
wrapped round them, women leading a stray cow, wounded boys walking.
all retreating from Peronne. Colonel Low and 11 other [[?]] besides
70 N.C.Os and men left to look after 1500 wounded boys, all anxiously
waiting for news of a train to evacuate the patients. We passed
lorries, huge guns and soldiers all retreating, and who were going
to camp 5 Miles from Mericourt.

We arrived at Abbeville 12.0 a.m. after an uneventful ride
down. On Monday we proceeded to Amiens en route for 38 C.C.S. which
had been moved further back at Corbie. Got three Motors for luggage
and transport of we 13 sisters. We arrived at Corbie 7.0 p.m. with a 
couple of bags of rations which we took up with us. No accommodation
for us - another surprise visit for the Colonel. Tents were put up
for us while we had tea in the Officers Mess. The C..C.S. was in a
very pretty spot.  The building had been used as a School of Instruction
on Cooking for Sergeants. All sorts of different ovens had been
built for the purpose of instruction which made it more useful for us
all. The building itself was very old and dirty with a stair-case
leading up to the third floor. The second floor had been converted
into an Officers' Ward which held 18 beds. The next ward was much
larger holding over 100 beds. I went on duty in these two wards on
Tuesday morning - had five Orderlies, and 58 patients, 18 being
Officers. In the Officers ward the diet was a worry as everything
had to be sent up by the Company Cook. I had one knife spoon and fork
which belonged to the Orderly, 8 enamel mugs, 2 enamel basins and three
pint measures which, when I got the tea, constituted drinking vessels
for the Officers ward. Bread and Butter with some fried bacon and
bread was the morning meal which was thoroughly enjoyed by the
Patients. After breakfast a bowl of water was given to each Officer
who would wash his face himself, attending to the helpless ones myself.
We were told to get patients ready for evacuation which would be at
any time. All patients got dressed and the M.C. came along to see who
could walk, as walkers go first. Out of my 58 patients, only 21
walked. 1 penetrating abdomen with perforation of bladder was the
only very sick boy. He had been carried on a stretcher by four boys
10 miles to the C.C.S. his pulse was very feeble - he had [[?]] morphia
injection at 11.0 a.m. was taken to operating theatre at 12.30 a.m.
and came back to ward after having 7 inches of intestine removed.
Intravenous given in Theatre. Put up foot of bed - pulse better.
Patients put on stretchers ready for evacuation - all ready 4.0 p.m.
all but abdominal who was to wait until last. The last stretcher and
walker put into train - train left at 5.0 p.m. Sisters given notice
 

APPENDIX 8

Experiences at 38th C.C.S. by Sister Nicholls & S/Nurse Redmen
Page 2 - continued -

to pack at once in case of Ambulance turning up. Packed up and sat
on baggage waiting for news to come through. Officer came through on
car said the Hun was two miles away. Despatch rider appeared -
Motors 2 drew up - all Sisters and two pieces of baggage each packed
into two cars and we left the [[M.Os?]] and Orderlies to the packing of
blankets and equipment. As we passed in to the Town of Corbie, the
village was deserted of civilians - just a few Tommies and a few big
guns in the square. Bridges were being prior to being blown
up by the Tommies as we passed by.

We passed through Amiens and overtook civilians from
Corbie and Amienswending their way to Abbeyville. We arrived at
Abbeyville between 11.0 p.m. and 12.0 p.m.

The conduct of the N.C.Os was admirable - not a grumble
passed their lips while they had a cheery word for xxx all the
patients.

(signed) R. C. NICHOLLS
Sister.