AWM41 1023 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister Pidgeon - Part 2

had the sick taken further inland for a
time & then we saw a few.
It was a tranquill & it was pleasant.
There were not a great many.
Australians on the boat.
On Tues [[c/o?]] & hourly, were always down
para a [[2/1]] - I think they were a lot worse
than the Quarters
I dont think that more than a dozen
went off altogether.
I believe it was because we kept our
men cleaner -  [[Cdr Fr Mappigay?]] said he
wished he had a quarter to look after
the men.
Col Austen of the British Museum came to
look round & stop the operating & pleased
he was in my ward with operating 
for a time - I didn't know if he then
agreed to do any good.
We all had the same rations.
I think the whole unit had diarhoea
more or less at one time.
Shouldn't like to do my part over again
esp the officers ward.  when things were difficult
it was the looking after, the cooking -
& one could'nt make things nicer for
them than we had:  though as nicely as
we could.  We had an officers kitchen
in the other ward for 3 wks but it didn't have
a success.   There shd have been a kitchen
area at hand - The kitchen was in the
Canteen & nearby the ward was at
hand for anything decent at all the ward
was so awful & there were no
nearby cooking inside.  I cant see how it
cd have been helped except by a special
kitchen. 

It was all slogging hard work but as many
reports exhausting.
Our first load was a fiasco - the [[tankers/tenders?]]
had'nt came when we had to
take the food down from the Hospital.
As a number evacns were all right.
They were evactd to the ship by motor
Club.  To [[appear?]].
The Path [[Cook?]] [[Epe?with?]]
After January we went to Abyssea ^[[?]] Why
they were not used before as a
Hospital is a mystery to me.  It was
an ideal Hospital & cases did well.
The ward cool - airy - patients
Collected in [[food?]] by wards.  Sanitary
arrangements good - Personal quarters
wr all of their best.  It was incomparably 
better than Heliopolis.
or Geziereh - the latter to us
an appalling place!  the Palace was
bad example.  In Egypt we had a
pleasant time - were lot on time off
full day on & ½ off.  Except for
the Romani stunt.  They were mostly
bullet wounds - light horse - fine
chaps of the very best.  Some of us
got to a fair dinner at [[Jezarh?]]
Sports Club.  [[Shepherd ?]]  & [Miss Congers?]]
met up at Cairo Station & [[others?]]
& she sent us across at to Mena House while
Abyssea Hopl was being got ready.
It was run by Miss Davidson as Matron
& an Aust. O/c - an auxil. of no 2
We did not come across any British.
We had some from Hospl. ships billeted
with us for a time -  

We had a decent even. not expensive:  Run
by a Frank [[Gorman?]] Cmdr [[May?]] - Brit. Press Off.
I had [[Quansteys?]] ward.    [para.
& saw Major Ra's -
Cases of Op.- [[B?]], injections, serum  [*stools sent directly case came in.*]
amoebic [[enteritis?]]
[[Tby Emetics ?]] by pal & hypodermally.
& Ipecac by the mouth 3 nights [[?]]
- Assessment:  Cases did well good
death rate.  We had one or two s'pox  Some of the
staff had it.
[I was transported on the Mooltan [[cruising?]] into
Col. Jamieson.  We first got anti ^ TAB typhoid on
Lemnos.  We had anti cholera on the
Themistocles.  I had ^anti typhoid in Hospital
last dose the day I left Sydney.  All were
given anti typhoid.  Little reactions with cholera & some
had slight rash & abd pains. Not nearly
so bad as anti typhoid.
Stay in Abyssea was very unexciting & was rather
uninteresting from worth point of view We
had a lot of "malingerers" or something
of the kind there - I have never seen so
many with little wrong with them.  No
malingerers in [[Sa...?]] that I saw.  We had
[[wards?]] who came straight out from
Australia absolutely decrepit - sent back
to Australia at once - I had one man
[esp?]] who was practically an imbecile.
From Alex Cairo we went
to Eng.  We went comfortably on the
Maroola - Hopl ship.  They had no 
patients on board - no troops only
AAMC personnel.  Landed at S'ton &
trained up to Lon to Brighton - or
around - unexpected - at an hours
notice.  It was a corker - we didnt know
ab it or where we were going. 

Brighton work was hard & constant
Few Aussies  lots of Canadians - we
kept the patients all well a Can.
Camp in to special Hospl. I had Surg.
ward -
It was all right for a month then it
got C O L D -  record - The winter
freezing  Near the fireplace in the
ward.  We had to put on sox
over our boots to walk to our quarters.
Coal was held up for a couple of days
at the worst time -
It was not a bad place - nothing to
compare with Abyssea - but
[[by ...to  ?]] -
We had Charwomen to do the cleaning
& liked it it was very satisfactory
It took the domestic work off orderleys.
I had the officers ward then
It was open they had a house  to
themselves - a VAD cook to
do nothing but look after their food.
We did nothing re their food -
We wanted to get rid of her at first but
not after  - we didn't have to worry
about the food.  She had a cook
& kitchen hand & a deputy.
I had about 60 officers  - an [[?]]
room & ward.
Were treated there & Egypt particulary well
we I hated an officers ward - they always

expected more - & if you cant get it it
is very distasteful nursing them.
I dont mind nursing officers and in good conditions -
eg. even when I was given
help with their food & had ^not seen to it
myself x

There is no doubt good to have Charwomen on ward
work.  You can seldom get the
orderlys to do it.  they wont go down
on their hands & knees. there is an universal
team - a Sgt. sent to the area when
the boys would'nt wash the floor - but you
must remember what these chaps were in  a prev life.
They [[realise?]] to mop a [[day?]] to scrub they will
swab all you like but not go down
on their shanks  the [[Tommys?]] are more
amenable.
We had a [[marriage?]] in Lemnos - [[married?]]
a [[Sgt. xxxxxx?]]  -   [[?]] at Brighton -
Col Monash was o/c - Physicians Summons -
Newton - [[?]] Cptn Sinclair - Barge -
Lt Col [[Harland?]] joined us at Brighton -  role will be
a short time only.  to form a CSS.
We worked with the British officers at first
they were good at the General Nursing of the
place.  We had a lot of old "dirty" surgery

at Camp at first - We started the Carroll
[[Tea?]] Street for the first time.  Col.
[[Harland?]] - It was marvellous the
differences- things cleaned up so quickly
& it made the dressings so much lighter -
only dressed every few days or so.
Surgeons Harland & McClure -
Date of [[Coming?]] ex Kitchener.  Also Andrew Fisher
Then one day were told to
pack up for France - & to buy a field
equipment - We were told to get it at
the Army & Navy.  We went up to [[Firth?]]
Hotel.  [[I   a to watch.?]]  [[Wanting?]]/ - [[Expecting?]]
old Enemy day - Had a bad time for
could'nt get about -
Went off to France - landed at Boulogne -
left next a.m. for Abbeville - took
8 pm to 3 am. getting here.  We were

billeted on the no 2 Stat & S.African 
hospitals - this was April 2, two years
ago.  We relieved the S.Africans for
a bit - We started up the place
with light walkers.  [[ ?]]
[[?]] why I went to no 1 CCS in
Bacterial:  Next [[African Clinic?]].  [[to fall. ?]]
then the day before moving - wounded
poured in - long gas cases just before
the hopl was blown up.  We were
billeted around the town.  It was
being bombed a good bit  Sister
Pratt was wounded & got a
penetrating chest & m.c.  some  of the
[[?]] billets got shelled & after a
time we were sent out to
St Omer.  I was on a xxxxxxxxx  10
Stationary at St Omer - in the
[[?]] at the French Ward.  Was then
at [[?]] - not heavy - our convoy
came by Barge.  Then our No
1 started at the [[Victorian?]] Road -
Ouderdom.  They dug out a dug out
[[cemented?]]  [[corking floors?]]  [[F1000?]] which was
never used. Then British Major
CCS next had 3 run as
abdominal ward.
We had a [[?]] then -  After
Paaschendale we got very busy.
I was then in the CCS to run. We took
all cases for a time when the Unit 
was blocked at Poperinghe.  After
our time we had to work night &
day.  Then were 12 nurses &
we had to give 5 of these for team
We had 5 teams made out of our
staff - the visiting teams did

not arrive till the big rush was over.
The CCS was good learning work.  We had
a lot of mustard gas cases - frightfully
burnt - the whole staff were doing
dressings [[and even officers: - lot of kindly?]]
officers.  The first lot of mustard gas
was most distressing to nurse than
anything I have seen.  Their pain was
dreadful - many of them burnt all
over - I have seen nothing more distressing these
eight  months - were so dreadful there
were times  giving out morphia seemed
to have so very little effect.  We had to get a
general duty orderly to anoint & look
after them.  It was so hard after
this first lot seemed to have had a generally
bad doing  - all Tommies.
Got very few Aussies - Tommies -
Canadians - New Zealanders after  [[Tommies?]]
to be nursing the Pommies - they dont [[fronted?]]
are [[?]]  grateful  After the
Pommies & misc. any days.  I did not like the
Americans after what I saw of them.  Everyone
likes nursing the Jocks.  The light horsemen
were among the best I have ever nursed (at
Abyssea) which [[men?]] the [[same?]] pts are
the men from Aust^a  [[wanting board?]]    
were a [[dreadful?]] crowd.  We had a few
men - good quarters - very comfortable -
the best men I have ever had.  the C.C.S. always
do - Red X gave us lots of [[things?]]
at the CCS & sisters are always
made comfortable.  Spec of course swollen
& sore hands.  The C.C.S. orderlys are a1
They were giving food at no  obedient &
willing - they seem to get the best at
the front  Their work is hard & only the best stop
there - We seem to start the best.

I am most certain that if suited have a
place in C.C.S. - Esp. in countries
with observations of patients condition -
hourly, cannot by their
training look after Surgeons cases
properly.  There they know look
after the patients food properly.
Patients from [[enemies?]] even hours collapsed -
[[moaning?]] to exposure from
not enough blankets.  We had 
a blankert heater to at Matrons - heat
was the main thing with blanket
heater was very valuable.  Col Martin
arived a day before I left.

Feb End - Nov 1917 I came back to no 3
A.G.H. & have been here ever since.
C.C.S. [[?]] & then C.C.S. 







 

E
e do
te a & ct the to de ls
an the
Thehop voildie bat th
for o
ete nk that the hep pb
the wbt wpe dy t sub ty well
was all you ble but wts dor
tha than by the Paump an te
Awrens tl
by had a wouge
a
ensteed
the sam
on at Lugltn
tor bovert
Plysias Sems
Sat- Me L Sdaw Barg
ot hatan for is is dhte a will
a that tw wt
au &Cs
We tooke wik the Pate gou as firt
thy loon good ot the geveral Raving of the
proce. We had a be goll doge sy
lang ft we daite the Carrle
tee ut te the fis ten lot
Wa law
It was wane the
afpoecer tlip cleard up do ganbly
it bet the dening t ct lid
culy dand eong to daps so
Leen & Enacre
beteof tamer Wileo Alo Anden Dier
hn an
day tone t
Fant o
for ranb a pel
be tooe tol opt is as
t a to tut bp to foh
Hotes
a towlh astinte
a bad te sor
To lovny day-
Culd et per abuut
Odama Landd Balyo
Wait 90

abboitly too
beat


eten
ben
be eer
 

bilble on the nor sat o safce
bapital the loss apltws yeas
we relured the D apains for
a bwe sak at flo a
with light a Wolten
wo t t bo 1l a
a from Clul 5100
th the day before anig- war
sour an to
as lase put begore
the tlp was sownat We were
twa
being banke a
0 or Sect
prett was wond o got
ntestery Chek & M.c. The of the
p ill p

tu e bu
saut out
omer Sa i a
to
Ito bny al t in ts
The dank wasd al the
b consess
week- hot leav
came by Barge te oe no
I stants at the be tome
was
outdam ty day o i o
Calis lasting I w0 t t as
ar s He Brte Ro
At best bu
on as
obsannat was
jou pla then. Ofte
be tes
tachedale tot got b be
a then the s t we tasle
all lar for a time whee the li
Ca blosle
Promp. a
ap
n time be t wek mg
By The be bsn
I chal te &g thes fote
hadtetaou0
Sloll - the visiting teans dr
 

bot aslie tll th
by wik was was
les wate was ou b wit t he
bax wnter ta
m Syafull
bavit in the whole
s4
wat

Lad ter Heeri long Ral
y
The prt 1021 nte as
t more returning to thse then
bything have the Ia was
Madale mary 9
se durs all
Sardon to they w tlry the
borth. wen
For Any
may one
nast
on smy has yo
pa

te fir 12
but my
to
An
or beg for
twe
Eatem
ound
Jh Ening the
pu8
an oady
1
Oba t
Iidex, ble the
Gommas t auss anyday
dieron whit Dear
We
(65 taring the socks. The
Ye traa
e e chave con sea
poyse) whl in the sawe from
the law fan tuxa bawy tr
were a deutful cows he
then
good peite b cofilats
t bee te sha con be
the ls any
ti
t sattes an alwoy
at the us
a fotb ti o cas swolle
end aras
bay c fin
at in obedient
ofthe sam t gt the best lt
willing
the pnt the wish ir hars &
oly the best t
or seem to steat the best
te
 

August inter have a
place an CCS. esp an amateur
with themselvesIa
Pnt
pran an As
cun te
7
Dnt
with owah
dete Mwls Eut to then
Ms Ca
tan 1ot
then be beoe t
c
othe patet b pepe
Setr
fam benees even og tt
lopen am
op fie
h awbet We beo
a blae hat att bet
ben the lias bn bts
beau het
bete by voluble. Lot wate
acmosd is byor I left.
t ak b
I & have far be lon sie
CCS [[?]] Then CCS was then [[?]]
- the first because
we were new to it. the CCS work
is [[?]] man their work is the best
of all. All the sisters wr C.C.S. work.
[[?]] an in the middle of the real thinking
& though horrible [[?]] so one was 
to care the sound of the guns.