Nurses Narratives Sister Georgina Collins

AWM 4 1 5/69 

AWM 4 1 

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES 
ACCESS STATUS 
OPEN 

SISTER G. COLLINS.

[955]

Egypt 
France Sr G. Collins 53/32 

Nov 1915 "Orsova" 108 sisters 
at Cairo divided between 
No 1 and No 2 A.G.H 
To 27th British General, Abbassia 
splendidly kept and infanize 
dysentry cases. 
France 25th British Ser 
Regular time off duty always 
given. 
At C.C.S Zuydcoote, July 1917 
fearful bombing. 
Liked working with British 
sisters. 

The Offical 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 Library, wrote:- 
"The private diaries in this collection furnish some of its 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 obligation 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. 
Thus, 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 events, though doubtless usually from notes 
made at the time. In most cases the student must rely on his 
experience and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is 
and what is not likely to be historically accurate".
 

[*53/32*] 
[*CCS [?elt..]*] [*Collins*] Egypt 12.11.15 - 16.1.17 France 8.2.17 - 30.4.19 
[*53/32*] 

1
With a number of other Sisters 
numbering about 108 I sailed from 
Melbourne on the "Orsova Nov. 12th 1915 
Our trip was uneventful as 
we only called at Freemantle & Aden 
for coal. 
We reached Suez on Dec. 9th 1915 
journeyed to Cairo the same day. 
We were divided, some being 
sent to No 1 A.G.H & some to No 2 
A.G.H. 
I was sent to No 1 at Heliopolis 
& remained there until it closed 
on March 29th 1916. Then reported for 
duty to Luna Park. 
My first ward was the "Joy Wheel" 
evidently intended as "open air treatment" 
for septic cases, as there were old 
septic wounds. 
These patients were evacuatees 
to Australia & my next ward 
was the Gallery of the Skating rink. 
Our patients here were all convalescers 
waiting to return home. 
While at this hospital there was 
an opportunity given of a trip 
to Luxor, with 10 other Sisters I 
availed myself of it & thought 
it well worth while. 
When Luna Park closed I was 
sent to No 27 British Gen al 
Abbassia. 
This hospital was the cleanest 
& most perfectly kept one I ever 
saw. The O.C did a round of

2 
inspection every evening between 6 & 7pm. 
& woe betide any one whose ward 
was untidy or had a speck of 
dust or grease spot in it. 
My duties were in the dysentery 
ward, the cases were acute, but 
made good recoveries, we had one 
death in the ward the 4 weeks 
I was there. 
Careful attention was paid to 
the diets, there was a V.G.D Kitchen 
where any little extras required 
were made. 
Our time off duty at this hospital 
was 3 hrs a day one 1/2 day a week 
& one whole day a mth, as I was 
there only 4 weeks I did not get 
the day. 
Just about this time there was 
some fighting down the Canal & all 
Australian sisters at the British 
hospital were recalled to No 3 A.G.H 
At this hospital I did 5 weeks night 
duty in a surgical ward, The work 
was very interesting but the patients 
were soon evacuated , those that 
were left recoved very quickly. 
Then No 3 closed & left for Eleq. 
This time I was sent to Choubra 
infectious hospital. Four mths I spent 
at this hospital, nearly all the 
sisters left Aus. on the same boat 
as myself, so we knew each other 
fairly well & were very happy together. 
We were not what you would called 
rushed with work, with the 
exception of a few weeks, I was on

3 
duty in the diphtheria ward, here we 
were kept going, there were also a 
lot of cases of Tonsilitis. 
From Choubra we all had a weeks 
leave to Alexandria & enjoyed the 
sea breezes & bathing. After the sand 
& heat of Cairo. 
Xmas at Choubra was much enjoyed 
every one united to make it as 
happy a time as possible for all. 
At this time there were constant 
rumours of our leaving Egypt & 
on 16..1..17 it became a reality 
for that morning we, 26 of the Staff 
left Cairo for Alexandria on a 
hospital train, Tea & Sandwiches 
were provided on the train. 
It was goodbye to the east with 
it's Pyramids, Sphinx, Nile, Donkeys 
Buffalos & Camels, we almost felt 
sad at the thought of not seeing 
them again, much as we 
longed for England & France. 
At Alexandria we boarded the 
hospital ship 'Essiquibo" 
We sighted Malta in the 
distance, got glympses of the 
Sth. coast of France anchored out 
for 3/4 hr. off Gibraltar, the coast 
of Spain was interesting, especially 
Trafalga Bay. We saw the destroyers 
patroling along the coast as we passed. 
In 10 days time we landed 
at Southampton & were soon in 
London. After some days in London 
getting our camp kits & warm clothes 
we left for France, arrived 8.2.17

4 
Here we were sent to the British 
Hospitals - with three other sisters 
I was sent to 25^th Gen. at Hardelot. 
We left Boulogne by Ambulance & 
appeared to be travelling over endless 
miles of snow, in reality it was 
about 9 miles. 
This hospital was chiefly under 
canvas & was very close to the 
sea in fact in the sand -hills 
Consequently we got the sea 
breezes with a vengeance & they 
were bitterly cold just then. 
The Marquees were used for 
skin cases & the work was trying 
in the extreme under the conditions 
of such cold & lack of heating. 
The road to Hardelot was so 
bad that it was difficult at 
times to bring coal all the way 
out. In the dressing tents we 
had braziers, which were beautiful 
for warming but the fumes were 
very disagreeable. 
At this time the staff were 
all imperial sisters, the hrs off 
duty were the usual in British 
hospitals regular time was always 
given. 
While here I have the misfortune 
to get sick & was sent to the 
Chateau Maricieu at Wimmereaux 
Sick leave to Eng. followed spent 
at "Glen Almond" St Albans. 
I cannot speak highly enough of 
the comfort of this place & many thanks 
are due to Mr McIlwraith for lending

5 
this beautiful home for convalescent 
Aus. Sisters. 
After 3 weeks I returned to Hardelot 
some weeks after this the nursing 
staff was changed. Australian 
Matron & Sisters took over from 
the Imperials. 
After 5 weeks at No 25 Gen. order 
came for 36 C.C.S British. 
My friend & I had been together 
since leaving Australia & I have 
to thank the different Matrons under 
whom I have worked for this. 
Together we left for C.C.S where 
we arrived on July 30th 1917. 
This C.C.S was at Zuydcoote about 
10 miles north of Dunkirk on the 
coast. At this place there is a 
large Sanatorium for tubercular 
children. It is facing the Sea & 
has a promenade the length of the 
building built up on the sand. 
The french occupied the greater 
part of this building as a General 
hospital. 
The C.C.S. occupied three large 
pavilions & another wing with a 
hall & bath & shower rooms. 
Apart from these we had the 
usual huts used in C.G. Stations. 
Our The first few days we spent 
in equipping the wards. 
Our first patients were bombing 
casualties, they were very dreadfull, 
then the C.C.S's further advanced 
were shelled & we had to take 
their patients - We evacuated very

6 
quickly. Then we got patients direct 
from the line as all the allies 
C.C.S's had moved back. 
I was on duty in one of the 
pavillions, It was used as a post 
operative ward. There were 95 beds 
in it. The ward was well equipped 
we had four dressing trolleys 
going all the time. We started 
with 2 sisters but soon increased 
the number to 6. 
There were plenty of dressings & 
red cross comforts - & the food was 
good & plentifull. 
The cases in this ward were 
chiefly penetrating Chests & Abdomens. 
The clients responded well to 
treatment - they were Aspirative 
frequently - Very collapsed cases given 
given Sodi Bicarb intravenously 
Glucose & Sodi. Bicarb continuously 
was given per rectum for 48 hrs, after 
operations to all bad cases. 
The Air raids were very trying. 
Fritz came over every night. Almost 
for 3 mths. Dunkirk being So near 
we got the benefit of their visits 
there, also on their way to England 
Often bombs were dropped very 
close to us. Once on the railway 
siding running into the yard & 
again just outside the wall where 
the 34 C.C.S. was camped. Killing some 
of their men. 
Then came one evening when 
they visited us in earnest. 
About 14 bombs were dropped in the

7 
camp. Fortunately none of our wards 
were hit, of course all the windows 
were smashed. One of our medical 
men, a Canadian was hit & died 
next am. Several French orderlies 
were killed. 
The Patients on the whole 
were very calm all the Staff 
on duty remained in the wards, 
as all lights were out nothing 
could be done but stay by the 
patients. 
The Armstrong hut shared by 
my friend & self was blown up 
a bomb having dropped in our 
compound. Fortunately we we 
both on duty & only suffered the 
loss of some clothes. 
While at this C.C.S we nearly 
always got 3 hrs of duty, sometimes 
2 hrs unless exceptionally busy, of 
course then no one expected to go 
off. I enjoyed my nearly 4 weeks 
there, the Matron & staff were very 
nice & worked together. 
They closed down as the french 
were taking over that part of 
the line, & we were very sorry 
to leave. 
The nursing Staff had increased 
to about 24. 7 of these were 
Australian Sisters. 
After return to the Base we 
were on leave, spent a fortnight 
in Scotland & Eng & returned to 
France. 
I was then sent to No 3 A.G.H

8 
Abbeville, only a few weeks there 
then to No 5 Stationary Dieppe. 
At No 5 we had chiefly local sick 
Marines & West Indian boys. The dark 
boys suffered with pneumonia chiefly. 
From Dieppe I had Paris leave 
was there when the Germans were 
shelling with "Big Bertha" 
Just after the German offensive began 
ten of us were sent to No 1 A.G.H 
in Rouen. They were very busy at 
this hospital. Four weeks I was 
here & was very happy. 
My duty was in a ward chiefly 
knee joints arms & some femurs. 
Then came orders to leave & 
go to No 3 A.G.H Abbeville 10..8..18. 
Had a strenuous time on night 
duty, Convoys & Evacuation 
every night. 
After night duty went to 
medical ward, pneumonias 
during the epidemic. 
This seemed to be the saddest 
time of all, men who had 
been through the whole war & 
escaped shot & shell just died 
almost like flies. It made me 
weep many a time. 
Later when we got slack we 
had the privilege of a trip 
over some of the battlefields. 
My trip was through Amiens 
Viller Brettoneaux, Corby - Albert & Pozziere 
It was all very interesting. 
Christmas 1918 at Abbeville No 3 A.G.H 
was made as happy as possible

9 
for both patients & staff. 
My leave was due in March 
1919. It was too late to go to 
the Sth of France as the places 
there were booked to the time of 
closing so I came to England. 
Reported after leave & was sent 
to No 1 A.G.H Sutton Veny. 30..4.1919 
This is my first duty in 
England. 
Sutton Veny is very pretty 
the hospital is almost in the 
midst of the woods, the trees & 
wild flowers are very pretty. There 
are charming walks when we are 
off duty but of course we 
expect to go home to dear 
old Aussie before long. 

Georgina Collins Sister 
No 1 Aus. Gen Hospital 
Sutton Veny 
Wilts