Diary of Gerald Eugene MacDonald Stuart - Part 3

2/8/18  Day quiet. Weather hot & dusty
nothing to report!
3/8/18. There have not been many
opportunities of late for testing
the suitability of the L Amb
wagon improvised to carry
the four stretcher cases
but opportunity was afforded
today. In hot weather as
presents at present it is somewhat
"stuffy" for the bottom patients
but otherwise all travelled in
complete comfort.
As regards unloading it is
rather awkward lifting out
the two top patients & to
simplify considerable alterations 
would be necessary.
However it is thought that
the present improvised scheme
meets all requirements

D.D.M.S. Div corps visited
the camp informally
4/8/18  Church parade for unit in
Amb hut held at 0800 by
Canon Moore
Weather extremely trying humidity
apparently high North
Eight Div finished having had 24 days 
GSH DQSM 4^th Med Sent
5/8/18 Lt Col Birdwood arrived at Amb
for an unofficial visit to Station. Capt Shelley
reports large number of men with  Col Harris at Wadi
Mellaha are being affected with Phlebotomus.
6/8/18  Arrangements were made with RMO
of 8^th LH Regt to put men holding
Musallabeh & trench outposts on prophylactic
quinine of 10-15 gms per man.
7/8/18. Thirty loaves of bread condemned
as being unfit for human consumption

Large number of men marched in [[?]] last night fight
18/8/. The experience of orderly officers
under existing arrangements on
Mobile Sections can carry without 
difficulty 17 ors who have not
horses allotted them, provided
our motor amb, our brigade &
officers donkeys are available which
they are at present. This allows
two men for each L Amb &
three for Amb. [[?]]
11/8/.  Dispatched M.O. Unit to
join Anzac Field Amb at DRS
& one up to No 5 M.O. unit
News received from AD.M.S
ref posting of Capt Quinlan
stating irregularity of proceeding
to Ismailia to be made
later.
Capt. Morris according to DDMS
to go to 8^th & Quinlan to
return.
Conference of O C. Amb at DHQ
(ADMS) or deputies to discuss
various matters
Capt Woods went as deputy

12/8./  Lieut Lloyd Thompson requested
to take Capt Mitchells place
13/8/  Capt Mitchell (Dental Officer
left to take up duties at
Training Camp Ismailia.
14/8/18  Led Horse Camp mostly
broken up, horses rejoining their
regiments. Capt Andrews ^
who was not notified the instructions 
was not
yet instructed to report for
duty with D.R.S. This was
cancelled for the time being
as wire was received from
A.D.M.S Aust Div saying
Capt Shelly was requested for
[[?]] with G.C M at 75^th Divn V.36

& for the Amb to supply relief.
Wire was as follows
The same remarks can be
made concerning this issue
as the one mentioned on 2/8/18
In the first place, it was not
known ^in this office (a) 
whether Capt Shelly
knew anything of the matter
(b) whether he had received
prior instructions (c) whether this
office had to forward the
instructions (d) how long the
officer relieving would likely
to be away.
The wire is xxxxxxx

[*delete*]
{ Successfully & succinctly & in a 

{ style still somewhat foreign

{ although naturally becoming

{ familiar, yet not altogether 

{ clear.

From what can be observed

the tendency appears to be to

bring the working of the A.M.C. 

on somewhat the same basis

as exists in the Austrian A.M.C.

It will be interesting to note

whether the attempt will

prove a success as the

organisation in the Austrian

presents a number of basic

differences from the British.

Capt Andrews was instructed

to report to 9^th LH Regt as

M.O. during Capt Shelley's

temporary absence

Amb wagon & orderlies rejoined

unit from Ismailia Camp.

15/8/18.  Nothing to report

Sgt.Sutton forwarded to D.R.S to examine & report 

on horses of 3^rd L.H.F. Amb. 
Depot badly requires
consideration

16/8/18. Cpl Middleton 

& Private going with him &

other equipment despatched to

D.R.S to bring sharing of a

LH. & Amb Ismailia & others

up to date.

It may be mentioned here that it

is somewhat of a pity that the malarial

Diagnosis isn't available or at hand just now

as it would be especially useful.

The reason for this more so than before

as because of the time allotted this

visit for examination of patients to D.R.S

(mostly to have to reach Tel Es Sultan at 1600)

This means watching ^ in the Ambulance patients on an average of 14-26
minutes when the Diagnosis of quinine

medication [[?]] and insufficient investigation

[[?]] as this would not,line with seen at D.R.S

as oral administration of quinine tend to do

nothing in the past & but add to the difficulties of its 
[[immunisation?]] objectives.

17/8/18  Programme of Training for

combatant units of Brigade

^during period of transfer have been promulgated.

It is a medical officers point
of view it is open to some comment
to take men who have been
subjected to one of the most trying
climates ^living under the most primitive
of conditions & in a malaria
infested country & put them
without any rest into a
course of intensive training
is to show ^not only very 

little consideration

for the men as such but it
also shows very little knowledge of
the" human animal"
It is hoped that the programme will
be modified, otherwise enforced [[?]]
will be probably necessary through
medical [[absentee?]] with a view
to same. 

18/8/18  Nothing to report particularly
Weather is becoming cooler flies are
numerous.
Verbal reports go to show that Mosquito
pomade as relayed is useless, men have
even stated that it attracts mosquitoes
18/8/18  Capt R.G. Woods left on
Egyptian leave this morning.
19/8/18 
Our unit [[?]] seems to favour this
visit as being held accountable for
the articles & stores left behind
by outgoing units. If those stores formed
part of the general business routine
which takes place between incoming
& outgoing units, there would be
no reason for complaint but
twice within the last month
reams of correspondence on similar
matters have passed through this office.
Firstly There was the case of an
Ambulance wagon found 

driverless ^in the nighttime hours 

by the Canteen at Solomons
Pools on arrival ^ in that area in June It was brought
into the lines of this unit it
remained uncollected for the month
that the unit was in the area
& because through an oversight
the temp OC of the Amb. Major Clark
overlooked returning it to Ordnance
the whole blame ^for non return 
was attached
to this unit.
Secondly  A large quantity of dilator
bands were found in
an unfolded condition in the
area left by the outgoing unit
when the 2^nd L.H.F. Amb. finished
in St Solomons Pools.
Because this unit did not collect
pack & return these bands to Ordnance
before leaving Solomon's Pools the
Amb. was again held to blame.
Thirdly, Correspondence indeed
I think has reached