AWM41 1027 - [Nurses Narratives] Sister Ella M Redman

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[6/19]  AA

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Butler Colln

 

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES

ACCESS STATUS

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          OPEN

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SISTER ELLA M. REDMAN.

A.W.M. LIBRARY
CASE  No	373.2
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[1027]

 

 

The Official War Histories of the Commonwealth

Government (Dr. C. E. W. Bean), after his study of the

collections 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 souvenirs 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 for a subject to no obligation or or inforcement to

indicate whether he is recording his own observations or incidents

told him by friends, or heard as third or fourth hand at the mess-table.

Thus, in some of the diaries in this collection, events described with

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

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

important details. A certain number also have been written up 

or recorded long after the events, though doubtless usually from notes

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

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

and what is not likely to be historically accurate."

 

 

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AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL Stamp 

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Third Australian General Hospital   

Left 3^rd A. G. Hospital on 22/3/1918 with five other Australian

Sisters, met seven other Sisters at Station, thirteen in all including

Matron, forming the 38^th C.C.S. Train left Abbeyville for Amiens at

10.40 a.m. arrived at 1 p.m. had dinner 42^nd British Stationary and left

Amiens at 2.15 pm by ambulance for Mericourt, a distance of 30 miles.

Arrived at Mericourt about 4.30 pm. We were not e xpected, but were made

very welcome by staff; had a cup of tea, put up our beds and went

on duty by 6 pm. I was put in the Dressing Station with another

Sister and Medical Officer, the wounded just pouring in, Abd.Chest  and

almost every other kind of wound, men walked in with. In a good number of 

cases the men collapsed and fainted as soon as they got inside. Every

wound was dressed; the rush was so great that the Colonel gave us

permission  to mark up the cards as the men were dressed, except in

cases where the Chest, Abd. Or sever xxxxxxxx haemorrhage was involved.

then the me dical men went as many as possible to the pre Op.Ward for

operation, we had brandy which we gave freely to the men and hot drinks

of tea, all that could walk went outside  where they had good given to 

them.

After we had been there about thirtysix hours food gave out, splints 

were finished and we hd very little dressings. In many cases of broken

limbs and in some cases where the limbs were just handing on by muscles

all we could do was to bandage as firmly as possible, given an injection

of Morphia and turn the case into the paddock with a couple of blankets

over the patient. The men were splendid,not  one of them complained,

their only trouble was to get away before the Germans to ok them prisoners;

in many cases as soon as they were dressed they started to walk hoping that x

Some of the transport or an ambulance would pick them up. We xxx had

very little accommodation, six marquess and two huts in all, from

seven hundred to one thousand stretcher cases in the paddock.

On the evening of the 23^rd between 5 and 6, soldiers, guns and

transport of every kind started to pass our C.C.S. retreating from the

front lines, all th e soldiers looked absolutely tired out, even the

horses looked done; mingled with the xxxxxx Army were Civilians, in

many cases the very old folk and children in carts, all absolutely panic

stricken flying for their lives, the firing and bombardment was terrific.

About 2 a.m. on the 24^th Colonel said he could not take in any more

wounded as we had over 1000 stretcher cases and very little dressings

left and we  could not get a train xx or any transport to take away our

wounded. We had no food and very little water and the enemy distress of the patients, their one cry was would they get away before

the Huns took them prisoners.

We were all terribly busy, which was really a very good thing, as we

had no tme to think, just doing our best , which seem so very little

On the morning of the 24^th about 4.30 am. The Colonel told us all to

get a small hand case and be in the Ambulance in a quarter / of an hour’s

time [[?]] to Abbeyville, that they hoped to get a train in shortly and

get all the patients away, if not, they were going to stay with them.

We arrived in Abbeyville about midday, reported to the Nurses Home

and then back to No. 3 about 1 pm. Left the Hospital again 25^th 8 am report-

ed at Club and at Station 10 a.m. – waiting on Station for train till

12.45 m.a. arrived at Amiens 3 pm. reported  at No. 42^nd British Stationary

then had a good tea at the Buffet at Station. Left by ambulance about

6.30 for Corbis. arrived there about 8 p.m. were told that we would have

tofly next day, buthoped the Huns would be stopped, were overjoyedto

find our baggage there, mine was quite all right, some of the girls had

theirs looted, one little English Sister lost  all her luggage.

We put our bed down and some of the girls went on duty. I went to bed

and was called at 3 a.m. we were very busy, the wounded were coming in

fast, some f the cases had a pad tied over their wounds with ties,

putties, handkerchiefs. There was no Field Dressing Station in front of

us, every man hadto have an injecti n  of A.T.S. and in many cases Morphia

was injected also. One case, a sever abd. case was carried in by four of

his pals a distance of ten miles. The case was hopeless, we packed him

with hot water bags, inj.Morphia ; he died shortly after being admitted.

 

 

2.

The hospital this time waspitched ne ar the ruins of some

old mill, we had our dressing station in a large room appeared to be

a barn, another two storey place we had for our Theatre and where we

put our severe cases.

We had seven bell tents for our use, but were tolf not to

unpack anything but our beds as we might have to go at any time, our

tents were pitched on a very pretty site – among gum trees on the bank

of a canal; the officers’ tents were pitched the other side of the canal.

At 5 p.m. on the 28^th an Ambulance train came and took all our cases

away and we were to l to get ready to le ave for Abbeyvile at very short

notice; almost immediately two ambulances came along to take us away

We were told that we could take two pieces of luggage each. Luckily

I had some uniforms, aprons and other clothing in one case and some

collars, stockings, handkerchiefs and writing case in the other, but

had to leave all my treasures, such as photos, snaps I’ve collected

all parts, books, boots, bed and bedding and all my summer uniform. Still

we were very thankful to have got away with what we have as we were tolf

by some wounded that just came in that the Germans were coming over

the ridge just two miles behind us, and that all the bridges were to 

be blown up immediately. As we came through Corbis, the village was

deserted by all the civilians, only soldiers, guns and ammunition to

be seen; all the bridges we crossed were ready to be blown up at any

moment, oneTommy rushed to our car and gave us a little canary in a

cage which Miss McCarthy claimed when we reache d Abbeyville.

We met quite a number of New Zealand boys on the outskirts of

Corbis, it was lovely to see these big fellows helping the old women

and their bundles along. They were all so cheery and assured is that

the Germans would not get any further.

As we flew along towards Amiens we could see huge explosions and

fires, xxxx did not go through Amiens = just the outlying parts, seemed

quite deserted. About 8.45 pm. we could see the aeroplanes over

Amiens and the explosions in the air.

Reached Abbeyville about midnight, reported at the Club where we

stayed the night; we were terribly dusty, xxx tired and all feeling

rather miserable. Our m tron, Miss Grieves, an Australian, was splendid

all through it all she was here, there and everywhere, helping in every

way and always so cheerful.

Our colonel and the Medical Officers were splendid, they never

rested day or night, when they were not dressing or attending the wounded

they were round the paddock giving drinks and tucking in the stretcher

cases.

The orderlies were splendid, they never had any rest, day or

night, the work they did was splendid, and were prepared for anything.

We had a surgical t eam of Canadians and two Canadians – they

were shelled out of their own station.

At Mericourt our staff consisted of twelve medical officers,

sixteen sisters, matron and sixty odd men and N.C.O’s. At Corbis twelve

Medical Officers, Matron and twelve sisters and some staff of men and 

N.C.O’S.

 

(Sgd)Ella M. Redman.

 

 

Item control

Australian War Memorial

(barcode) 005172272