Nurses Narratives: Gertrude Marion Doherty

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Subject:
  • Nurses Narratives
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM41 966
Difficulty:
1

Page 1 / 13

AWM! AUSTRALAN ARCFNVES ACCESS STATUS OPR. SISTER G.M. DOHERTY. A. V. 16. IIBRAIY Cass N 373.2 Car 6180
Ihe Ofeie! War Hutosee o te Commoweakh Cevermment (Dr. C. £ W. Beam), aher he sudy o e cehectien of privele war recorde preserved ma the Austrahen We Memoriel Library, wrote: "Ih onvele darie ia dae oderties torme o odd r aueby t -h l.mmerti-
AWM File No.419/27/5 D.R. L. No.2518 (3rd Series) MATRON Muriel Knox DOHERTY, R.R.C. A.A.N.S. & R.A.A.F. Nursing Service Served as Sister in the A.A.N.S. & Matron & Principal Matron in the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service. Collection of personal & officíal records concerning service & Services. Illus. with photographs. Note: Matron Doherty's certificates of service and other private papers are included in the collection. Please note certain conditions govern personal diaries e one envelope of personal papers. The collection is most comprehensive and has been catalogued under headings: Armies: Australian: A.A.N.S. : A.A.M.W.S. Airforce: Aust.: RAAF Nursing Service :Medical Air Evacuation Unit Biographical: Doherty, Matron Muriel Kmox Books i Forms Dress: Aust.: A.A.N.S. : RAAF Nursing Service Pietorial: Photographe Training: Aust. Voluntary Organizations: Aust. Women's Services: V.A.D. V.M. B 22791960
her dofe. EUPERIENCES IN A.A.N.S. OF MIES G.M. DOMERTY. ................................................ I Sailed out of Fremantle om the S.S.'Mocltorring Pargr and troopt and sisters on May 24th 1915, and efter calling in at Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Suez on June 17th from where we disembarked and caught a train to Cairo the same day. Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon Housem Heliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters. Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which waa occupied as a convalescent Home. The place held over a thousand beds which strength was nept up. These beda were not ordinary hospital beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard. There was a room on each floor where the dressings were done of the patients sho could walk. The wounds were slight and dressed with pieric ccid which did very well. If a patient became ill he was transferred to the Palace to reeeive proper attention which could not be giventhere, owing to lack of convenionces. I spent two months at Luna Park and was their transferred to the Palace Hos pital.; I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing with typhoid dysentsy and spinal meningitis. From there I was sent to Abbasieh with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital. The first patients received were wounded from tho peninsular. Some time later it was turned into an infestious hospital. After spending about six monthe there I was sent back to the Palace Hospital and from there to the 3rd A.G.H. at Abbasieh. I came aoross to Franco with No.1 A.G.H. on board a Hospital Ship We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took two days to do the journey. Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us up for the night and the following day we were all attached to different hospitals for duty. I went with seven others to Le Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Quay in an acute ward on night duty all the time. The ward only held ton patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they were all very bad cases.- It was calledthe "Bath" Ward as all the bad limbs were kept in baths for days. There were baths for all kinde of wounds and "Carters" beds to make the nursing easier as three of the petiente had both legs off. They could be lifted into the sir while the beds were changed which was far less distressing then being turned. Afber my three months there I was recalled to Rouen to my Umit where I remained until February 1917. We had very busy times at No.l and of course the work was very interesting to us. In March 1917, I joined No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station which took me four days to reach from Rouen. I spemt one night at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains. We changed trains several times and were held up on sidings frequently for hours at a time. All the trains were crowded with troops going up the line. I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where the C.C.S. was stationed. There was some very heavy fighting going on in the line in front of us and erowds of wounded môn came through the place during the following week. The hospital trains that carried the vounded away to the Base Mospitale used to draw into the siding just in front of us. I vas omly There a couple of wecks chen ve get orders to advance the c.C,S. closer up to the line. Our Marquees were pulled down and taken up to Grevillers on the left of Bapaume on Sth April and we went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the Albert Bapaume Roaf chich at that time had two large craters in it shich the Germans had blown up when they retired. It was our first eight of the battlefields and we were all deeply impressed.
It was very cold and snowing and all along the road we sav the boye in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them- selves warm. The wounded were coming down as we were going up. We went on duty straight away just as wo were in cur macintoshes and gum boots. There were no floors to the marquees owing to the shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the luis. The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in mud. I was put in the theatre where oporations cemaunteated- commenced before everything was unpacked. There were no beds mattresses or pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets so as soon as a patient was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank in the mud. There was no time to remove the men's clothes or boots. When we were just about full a hospital train came in and relieved the pressure. The stretcher bearers had a fearful time wading through the mud carrying the men to the carriages. There was another big battle on the 11th and 15th of the same month but by the 15th things had improved considerably and we were running much more smooth;y as the floors had been put down and we were more settled. The next busy time we had was during the battle for Bullecourt between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had a fearful number of casualties through. We had over one hundred and thirty deaths. Two other C.C.S. then oame up and we sere relieved of much of the work. We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after they were wounded. There were four tables going day and night in the theatre. The patients were first brought into the admission tent where their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or D. All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the preparation tent where they were undressed and put in pyjamas if possible and from there they went to the theatre. All A cases were attended to first then the others in order. If the casualties very heavy Ce D cases were sent down in the trains without being operated upon. In July we moved up North with our own troope while the C.C.S. was being erected we were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital We were sent for when C.C.S. was ready but only got as aír as Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and we were not to go up there so we wore sent to No.62 and 63 C.C.s's just outside Proven. Things qu'etened down in a few days so wo re¬ turned to our own station., Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the sisters were sent back to less advanced C.C,S's. A week later the danger being past, the sisters returned. From then on we encountered very heavy and strenuous work caused by the torrible hard fighting in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in tne nurses? We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own kept tight tables going night and day in the theatre. The theatre was worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb cases etc.another abdominal wounds. The C.C.S. vas under chell fire here and several times shells landed our camp. Two struck the Q.Ms store and others in the grounds. As the shelling continued and one sister was killed and another wounded in the C.C.S. opposite ours, orders were given for us to retir our station. The patients were hastily removed in Ambulances the staff following. "e vere them sent to de nureing at St.Omer for a time. I with four
others vas sent to a C.C.S. at Remy Siding on Surgical teams. After being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer. A few weeks later I went to England on leave. On returning to Boulogne I received orders to rejoin my original Unit No.1 A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing until the transfer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in Desember 1918. (Signed) Certrude M.Doherty.
(9. EKFERIENCES IN A.A.N.S. OF VISS G.M. DOMERTY. ........................................ I sailed eut of Fremantle on the S.S."Moelton" cowveving pesere and troops and sisters on May 24th 1915, and after calling in at Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Suez on June 17th from where we disembarked and caught a trein to Cairo the same day. Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon Housem Haliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters. Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which was occupied as a convalescent Home. The place held over a thousand beds which strength was kept up. These beds were not ordinary hospital beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard. There was a room on each floor where the dressings were done of the patients who could walk. The wounds were slight and dressed with picric acid which did very well. If a patient became ill he was transferred to the Palace to receive proper attention which could not be giventhere, owing to lack of conveniences. I spent two months at Luna Park and was their transferred to the Palace Ho pital. I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing with typhoid dysentry and spinal meningitis. From there I was sent to Abbasieh with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital. The first patients received were wounded from the peninsular. Some time later it was turned into an infectious hospital. After spending about six months there I was sent back to the Palace Hospital and from there to the 3rd A.G.H. at Abbasieh. I came acrose,to France with No.1 A.G.H. on board a Hospital We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took two days to do the journey. Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us up for the night and the following day we ware all attached to different hospftals for duty. I went with seven others to Le Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Quay in an acute ward on night duty all the time. The ward only held ten patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they were all very bad cases. It was calledthe "Bath", Ward as all,the bad limbs were kept in baths for days. There were baths for all kinds of wounds and."Carters" beds to make the nursing easier as three of the patiente had both legs off. They sould be lifted into the air while the beds were changed which was far lese distressing then being turned. After my threa Months there I was recalled to Rouen to my Unit there I remained until February 1917.. Je had very busy times, at No.l and of course the vork was very interesting to us. In March 1917, I joined No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station which took me four days to reach from Rouen. I spemt one night at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains. We changed trains several times and were held up on sidings frequently for hours at a time. All the trains were crowded with troops going up the line. I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where the C.C.S. was stationed. There was some very heavy fighting going on in the line in front of us and crowds of wounded mon came through the place during the following week. The hospital trains that carried the wounded away to the Base dospitals used to draw into the siding just in front of us. I was only there a ccuple of waeks when we got orders to advance the C.C,S. closer up to the line." Our Marquees were pulled down and taken up to grevillers on the left of Bapaume on 8th April and we went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the Albert Bapaume Roaf which at that time had two large craters in it which the Germans had blown up when they retired. It was our first signt of ihe bat llefielde and se vers all desply Impressed.
(2) It was very cold and enoving and all along the road we sav the boys in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them- selves warm. The wounded were coming down as we were going up. We went on duty straight avay just as we were in our maeistoshes and gum boots. There were no floors to the marquees owing to the shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the lute. The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in mud. I was put in the theatre whore operations cenaunteted- commenced before everything was unpacked. There were no beds mattresses or pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets(so as soon as a patient was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank in the mud. There was no time to remove the men's clothes or boots.. When we were just ebout full a hospital train came in and relieved the pressure. The stretchor bearers had a fearful time wading through the mud carrying the men to the carriages. Ther was anothor big battle on the 1lth and 15th of the same month but by the 15th things had improved considerably and we were running much more smooth;y as the floors had beon put down and we were more settled. The next busy time we had was during the battle for Bullecourt between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had a fearful number of easualties through. We had over one hundred and thirty deaths. Two other C.O.S. then came up and we were relieved of much of the work. We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after they were wounded. There were four tables going day and night in the theatre. The patients were first brought into the admission tont shere their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or D. All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the preparation tent where they were undressed and put in pyjamas if possible and from there they went to the theatre. Ali A cases were attended to first then the others in order. If the casualties very heavy d & D cases sere sent down in the trains without being operated upon. In July we moved up North sith our own troops while the C.G.S.wa. being erected wo were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital We were sent for when O.C.S. was ready but only got as sor as Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and we were not to go up there so we were sent to No.62 and 63 c.c.s's just outside Proven. Things quietened down in a few days so we re¬ turned to our own station. Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the sistere were sent back to lese advanced C.C,S's. A week later the danger being past, the sisters returned. From then on we encountered very heavy and strenuous work caused by the terrible,hard fi¬ ghting in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in the n' rses. We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own kept eight tables going night and day in the theatre. The theatre was worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb cases etc.another abdominal wounds. The U.C.S. waa under shell fire here and several times shells landed i our camp. Two struck the d.Ms store and others in the grounds. As the shelling continued and one sistor was killed and another wounded in the C.C.S. opposite ours, orders were given for us to retir eur station. The patiemts were hastily removed in Ambulanees the staff following. ve vere then sent to do nureing at St.Omer for a time. I vich four
others was sent to a Remy Siding on Surgical teams. After being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer. A few weeks later I went to England on leave. On returning to Boulogne I received order: to rejoin my original Unit No.I A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing until the transfer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in December 1918.
ELFERIBNCBS IN A.A.N.S. OF NIAS G.M. DOHERTY. ........................................................... I sailed out of Fremantle on the S.S."Moelton' ccnvaringp and troops and sisters on May 24th 1915, and after calling in at Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Sues on June 17th from where we disembarked and caught a train to Cairo the same day. Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon Housem Heliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters. Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which was occupied as a convalescent Home. The place held over a thousand beds which strength was kept up. These beds were not ordinary hospital beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard. Thore was a room on each floor whore the dressings were done of the patients who could walk. The wounds were slight and dressed with piorie coid which did very well. If a patient became ill he was transforred to the Palace to receive proper attention which could not be giventhere, owing to lack of conveniences. I spent two monthe at Lama Fark and wes their transferred te the Palace Hos pital. I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing with typhoid dysentsy and spinal meningitis. From there I was sent to Abbasich with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital. The first patients received were wounded from the peninsular Some time later it was turned into an infectious hospital. After spending about six months there I was sent back to the Palace Hospital and from there to the Jrd A.G.H. at Abbasieh. I came across to France with No.1 A.G.H. on board e Hospital Ship We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took two days to do the journey. Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us up for the night and the following day we were all attached to different hospitals for dyty. I went with seven others to Le Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Qusy in an acute ward on night duty all the time. The ward only held ten patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they were all very bad cases. It was calledthe "Bath" Ward as all the bad limbs were kept in baths for days. There were baths for all kinds of wounds and "Carters" beds to make the nursing easier as three of the patients had both legs off. They cculd be lifted into the sir while the bede vere changed which was far less distressing then being turned. After my three momths there I was recalled to Rouen to my Omit where I remained until February 1917. We had very busy times at No.l and of course the work was very interesting to us. In March 1917, I joined No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station which took me four days to reach from Rouen. I spemt one night at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains. We changed trains ceveral times and were held up on sidings frequently for hours at a time. All the trains were crowded with troops going up the line. I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where the C.C.S. was stationed. There was some vory heavy fighting going on in the line in front of us and crowds of wounded môn came through the place during the following week. The hospital trains that carried the wounded away to the Base dospitals used to draw into the siding just in front of ue. I vas only Yhere a souple of wesks when we got ordere to advance th C.C.S. closer up to the line. Our Marquees were pulled down and taken up to Grevillers on the left of Bapaume on Sth April and we went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the Albert Bapaume Roaf chich at that time had two large craters in it which the Germans had blown up when they retired. It was our first sight of the battlefields and we were all deeply impressed.
(2) It vas very cold and snoving and all along the road we sav the boys in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them- selves warm. The wounded were coming down as we were going up. We weat on duty straight away just as we were in our macintoshes and gum boots. There were no floors to the marquees owing to the shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the line. The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in mud. I was put in the thestre where operations cemmuntested- commenced before everything was unpacked. There vere no beds mattresses or pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets so as soon as a patient was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank in the mud. There was no time to remove the men's clothes or boots. When we were just about full a hosrital train came in and relieved the pressure. The stretcher bearera had a fearful time wading through the mud carrving the men to the carriages. There was another big battle on the IIth and 15th of the same month but by the 15th things had improved considerably and we were running much more smooth;y as the floors had bees put don and we were more settled. The hext busy bime we had was during the battle for Bulleconrt between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had'a fearful number of casualties through:. We had over one hundred and thirty deaths. Two other C.C.S. then came up and we were relieved of much of the vork. We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after they were wounded. There were four tables going day and night in the theatre. The patients were first brought into the admission tent where their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or D. 4 All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the preparation tent where they were undressed and nut in pyjamas if possible and from there they went to the theatre. All A cases were attended to first then the others in order. If the casualties we very heavy C a D cases were sent dowm in the trains without being operated upon. In July we moved up Nortn with our orm treope vhile une G..S.w being erected we were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital We were sent for when C.C.S. was ready but only got as far as Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and we were not to go up there so we were sent to No.62 and 63 c.c.s's just outside Proven. Things qu'etened down in a few days so we re- turned to our own station. Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the sisters were sent back to less'advanced C.C,S's. A week later the danger being past, the sisters returned.. From then on we encountered very heavy and strenuous work caused by the terrible hard fighting in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in the nurses. We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own kept tight tables going night and day in the theatre. The theatre was worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb sases slt. arsüher abfominal rounde. The C.G.S. was under shall fire here and several times shells landed ir our camp. Two struck the Q.Ms store and others in the grounds. As the shelling continued and one sister was killed and another wounded in the C.C.S, opposite ours, orders were given for us to retire our station. The patients were hastily removed in Ambulances the staff folloving. Ie gerg nen send ge dg mreing at st. men for4 dime, 2 win fous
63) others vas sent to a C.C.S. at Remy Siding on Surgieal teams. After being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer. A few weeks later I went to England on leave. On returning to Boulogne I received orders to rejoin my original Unit No.1 A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing until the tranefer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in December 1918. (Sigmed) Gertrude M.Doherty.

AWM 41

AUSTRALIAN ARCHIVES 

ACCESS STATUS 

OPEN 

SISTER G.M. DOHERTY.

 

The Official 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".  

 

AWM File No.419/27/5
D.R.L. No.2518 (3rd Series)

MATRON Muriel Knox DOHERTY, R.R.C.
A.A.N.S. & R.A.A.F. Nursing Service 

Served as Sister in the A.A.N.S. & Matron & Principal Matron
in the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service.
Collection of personal & official records concerning
service & Services. Illus. with photographs.

Note: Matron Doherty's certificates of service and
other private papers are included in the
collection.  Please note certain conditions
govern personal diaries & one envelope of
personal papers.

The collection is most comprehensive and has been
catalogued under headings:
            Armies: Australian: A.A.N.S.
                    "              "          : A.A.M.W.S.
            Airforce: Aust. : RAAF Nursing Service
                  "                 "                   "                            : Medical Air
                                                                  Evacuation Unit
            Biographical: Doherty, Matron Muriel Kmox
            Books & Forms
            Dress: Aust.: A.A.N.S.
                 "         "     : RAAF Nursing Service
            Pay

            Pictorial: Photographs
            Training: Aust .
            Voluntary Organizations:  Aust .
            Women's Services: V.A.D.
 

 

V.M.B.
22/9/1960 

 

[*Spare Copies*]

EXPERIENCES IN A.A.N.S OF MISS G.M. DOHERTY.

I sailed out of Fremantle on the S.S. "Moolton" conveying passengers 
and troops and sisters on May 24th 1915, and after calling in at 
Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Suez on June 17th from 
where we disembarked and caught a train to Cairo the same day. 
Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon 
Housem Heliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters. 
Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which was occupied 
as a convalescent Home.  The place held over a thousand beds which 
strength was kept up.  These beds were not ordinary hospital 
beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable 
for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard.  There was a 
room on each floor where the dressings were done of the patients 
who could walk.  The wounds were slight and dressed with picric 
acid which did very well. 
If a patient became ill he was transferred to the Palace to receive
proper attention which could not be given there, owing to lack
of conveniences.
I spent two months at Luna Park and was their transferred to the
Palace Hospital.  I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing
with typhoid dysentry and spinal meningitis.  From there I was
sent to Abbasieh with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital.
The first patients received were wounded from the peninsular .
Some time later it was turned into an infectious hospital.  After
spending about six months there I was sent back to the Palace
Hospital and from there to the 3rd A.G.H. at Abbasieh.

I came across to France with No.1 A.G.H. on board a Hospital Ship
We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took
two days to do the journey.  Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us
up for the night and the following day we were all attached to
different hospitals for duty.  I went with seven others to Le
Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Quay in an
acute ward on night duty all the time.  The ward only held ten
patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they
were all very bad cases.  It was calledthe "Bath" Ward as all the
bad limbs were kept in baths for days.  There were baths for all
kinds of wounds and "Carters" beds to make the nursing easier
as three of the patients had both legs off.

They could be lifted into the air while the beds were changed which
was far less distressing then being turned.

After my three months there I was recalled to Rouen to my Unit
where I remained until February 1917.  We had very busy times
at No.1 and of course the work was very interesting to us.

In March 1917, I joined No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station
which took me four days to reach from Rouen.  I spent one night
at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains.  We changed
trains several times and were held up on sidings frequently for
hours at a time.  All the trains were crowded with troops going
up the line.  I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where
the C.C.S. was stationed.  There was some very heavy fighting going
on in the line in front of us and crowds of wounded m3n came through
the place during the following week.  The hospital trains that
carried the wounded away to the Base Hospitals used to draw into the
siding just in front of us.

I was only there a couple of weeks when we got orders to advance the
C.C,S. closer up to the line.  Our Marquees were pulled down and
taken up to Grevillers on the left of Bapaume on 8th April and we
went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the
Albert Bapaume Roaf which at that time had two large craters in it
which the Germans had blown up when they retired.  It was our first 
sight of the battlefields and we were all deeply impressed. 

 

(2)

It was very cold and snowing and all along the road we saw the boys
in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them-
selves warm.  The wounded were coming down as we were going up.

We went on duty straight away just as we were in our macintoshes
and gum boots.  There were no floors to the marquees owing to the
shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the line.
The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in
mud.

I was put in the theatre where operations communicated- commenced
before everything was unpacked.  There were no beds mattresses or
pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets so as soon as a patient
was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank
in the mud.  There was no time to remove the men's clothes or
boots.  When we were just about full a hospital train came in
and relieved the pressure.  The stretcher bearers had a fearful
time wading through the mud carrying the men to the carriages.  There
was another big battle on the 11th and 15th of the same month but by
the 15th things had improved consi derably and we were running much
more smooth;y as the floors had been put down and we were more
settled.

The next busy time we had was during the battle for Bullecourt
between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had a fearful number of
casualties through.  We had over one hundred and thirty deaths.
Two other C.C.S. then came up and we were relieved of much of the
work.  We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after
they were wounded.  There were four tables going day and night in
the theatre.  The patients were first brought into the admission tent
where their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or
D.  All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the
preparation tent where they were undressed and put in pyjamas
if possible and from there they went to the theatre.  All A cases
were attended to first then the others in order.  If the casualties were
very heavy C & D cases were sent down in the trains without being
operated upon.

In July we moved up North with our own troops while the C.C.S. was
being erected we were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital
We were sent for when C.C.S. was ready but only got as far as
Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and
we were not to go up there so we were sent to No.62 and 63 C.C.S's
just outside Proven.  Things quietened down in a few days so we re-
turned to our own station.  Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek
but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the
sisters were sent back to less advanced C.C,S's.  A week later the
danger being past, the sisters returned.  From then on we encountered
very heavy and strenuous work caused by the terrible hard fighting
in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in the nurses.
We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own
kept eight tables going night and day in the theatre.  The theatre was
worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature
of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb
cases  etc.another abdominal wounds.

The C.C.S. was under shell fire here and several times shells landed in
our camp.  Two struck the Q.Ms store and others in the grounds.
As the shelling continued and one sister was killed and another
wounded in the C.C.S. opposite ours, orders were given for us to retire
our station.  The patients were hastily removed in Ambulances the
staff following.

We were then sent to do nursing at St.Omer for a time. I with four 

 

(3)

others was sent to a C.C.S. at Remy Siding on Surgical teams.  After
being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer.  A few weeks later
I went to England on leave.  On returning to Boulogne I received orders
to rejoin my original Unit No.1 A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing
until the transfer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in
December 1918.


(Signed)   Gertrude    M.Doherty.
 

 

[*69*]

[*35*]
EXPERIENCES IN A.A.N.S. OF MISS G.M. DOHERTY.

I sailed out of Fremantle on the S.S."Moolton" conveying passengers 
and troops and sisters on May 24th 1915, and after calling in at
Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Suez on June 17th from
where we disembarked and caught a train to Cairo the same day.
Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon
Housem Heliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters.
Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which was occupied
as a convalescent Home.  The place held over a thousand beds which
strength was kept up.  These beds were not ordinary hospital
beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable
for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard.  There was a 
room on each floor where the dressings were done of the patients
who could walk.  The wounds were slight and dressed with picric
acid which did very well.
If a patient became ill he was transferred to the Palace to receive
proper attention which could not be given there, owing to lack
of conveniences.
I spent two months at Luna Park and was their transferred to the
Palace Hospital.  I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing
with typhoid dysentry and spinal meningitis.  From there I was
sent to Abbasieh with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital.
The first patients received were wounded from the peninsular .
Some time later it was turned into an infectious hospital.  After
spending about six months there  I was sent back to the Palace
Hospital and from there to the 3rd A.G.H. at Abbasieh.

I came across to France with No.1 A.G.H. on board a Hospital Ship
We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took
two days to do the journey.  Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us
up for the night and the following day we were all attached to
different hospitals for duty.  I went with seven others to Le
Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Quay in an
acute ward on night duty all the time.  The ward only held ten
patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they
were all very bad cases.  It was calledthe "Bath"  Ward as all the
bad limbs were kept in baths for days.  There were baths for all
kinds of wounds and "Carters" beds to make the nursing easier
as three of the patients had both legs off.

They could be lifted into the air while the beds were changed which
was far less distressing then being turned.

After my three months there I was recalled to Rouen to my Unit
where I remained until February 1917.  We had very busy times
at No.1 and of course the work was very interesting to us.

In March 1917, I joined No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station
which took me four days to reach from Rouen.  I spent one night
at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains.  We changed
trains several times and were held up on sidings  frequently for
hours at a time.  All the trains were crowded with troops going
up the line.  I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where
the C.C.S. was stationed.  There was some very heavy fighting going
on in the line in front of us and crowds of wounded m3n came through
the place during the following week.  The hospital trains that
carried the wounded away to the Base Hospitals used to draw into the
siding just in front of us.

I was only there a couple of weeks when we got orders to advance the
C.C,S. closer up to the line.  Our Marquees were pulled down and
taken up to Grevillers on the left of Bapaume on 8th April and we
went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the
Albert Bapaume Roaf which at that time had two large craters in it
which the Germans had blown up when they retired.  It was our first
sight of the battlefields and we were all deeply Impressed.

 

                                              (2)
It was very cold and snowing and all along the road we saw the boys
in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them-
selves warm.  The wounded were coming down as we were going up.

We went on duty straight away just as we were in our macintoshes
and gum boots.  There were no floors to the marquees owing to the
shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the line.
The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in mud.

I was put in the theatre where operations communicated- commenced 
before everything was unpacked.  There were no beds mattresses or 
pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets so as soon as a patient 
was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank 
in the mud.  There was no time to remove the men's clothes or
boots.  When we were just about full a hospital train came in
and relieved the pressure.  The stretcher bearers had a fearful
time wading through the mud carrying the men to the carriages.  There 
was another big battle on the 11th and 15th of the same month but by
the 15th things had improved considerably and we were running much
more smoothly as the floors had been put down and we were more 
settled.

The next busy time we had was during the battle for Bullecourt
between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had a fearful number of
casualties through.  We had over one hundred and thirty deaths.
Two other C.C.S. then came up and we were relieved of much of the
work.  We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after
they were wounded.  There were four tables going day and night in
the theatre.  The patients were first brought into the admission tent
where their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or
D.  All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the
preparation tent where they were undressed and put in pyjamas
if possible and from there they went to the theatre.  All A cases
were attended to first then the others in order.  If the casualties were
very heavy C & D cases were sent down in the trains without being
operated upon.

In July we moved up North with our own troops while the C.C.S. was
being erected we were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital. 

We were sent for when C.C.S. was ready but only got as far as 
Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and 
we were not to go up there so we were sent to No.62 and 63 C.C.S's 
just outside Proven.  Things quietened down in a few days so we re-
turned to our own station.  Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek
but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the  
sisters were sent back to less advanced C.C,S's.  A week later the
danger being past, the sisters returned.  From then on we encountered  
very heavy and strenuous work caused by the terrible hard fighting
in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in the nurses. 
We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own
kept eight tables going night and day in the theatre.  The theatre was 
worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature
of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb
cases etc.another abdominal wounds.

The C.C.S. was under shell fire here and several times shells landed in
our camp.  Two struck the Q.Ms store and others in the grounds.
As the shelling continued and one sister was killed and another
wounded in the C.C.S. opposite ours, orders were given for us to retire
our station.  The patients were hastily removed in Ambulances the
staff following.

We were then sent to do nursing at St.Omer for a time.  I with four 

 

(3)

others was sent to a C.C.S at Remy Siding on Surgical teams.  After
being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer.  A few weeks later
I went to England on leave.  On returning to Boulogne I received orders
to rejoin my original Unit No.1 A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing
until the transfer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in
December 1918.

 

                                   (Signed) Gertrude M.Doherty.

 

EXPERIENCES IN A.A.N.S. OF MISS G.M. DOHERTY.

I sailed out of Fremantle on the S.S."Moolton" conveying passengers
and troops and sisters on May 24th 1915, and after calling in at
Columbo Bombay Aden, we arrived at Port Suez on June 17th from
where we disembarked and caught a train to Cairo the same day.
Some of us were billeted at Ibrahim Palace and others at Gordon
Housem Heliopolis, numbering in all thirty five sisters.
Went on duty the following dat at Luna Park, which was occupied
as a convalescent Home.  The place held over a thousand beds which
strength was kept up.  These beds were not ordinary hospital
beds but made by the natives out of cane and were most unsuitable
for the purpose, being most uncomfortable and hard.  There was a
room on each floor where the dressings were done of the patients
who could walk.  The wounds were slight and dressed with picric
acid which did very well.
If a patient became ill he was transferred to the Palace to receive
proper attention which could not be giventhere, owing to lack
of conveniences.
I spent two months at Luna Park and was their transferred to the
Palace Hospital.  I commenced duties there in a large ward dealing
with typhoid dysentry and spinal meningitis.  From there I was
sent to Abbasieh with four others to open an Auxiliary Hospital.
The first patients received were wounded from the peninsular  .
Some time later it was turned into an infectious hospital.  After
spending about six months there  I was sent back to the Palace
Hospital and from there to the 3rd A.G.H. at Abbasieh.

I came across to France with No.1 A.G.H. on board a Hospital Ship
We came up to Rouen from Marseilles by troop train which took
two days to do the journey.  Many of the hospitals in Rouen put us
up for the night and the following day we were all attached to
different hospitals for duty.  I went with seven others to Le
Havre where I spent three months in a hospital on the Quay in an
acute ward on night duty all the time.  The ward only held ten
patints and I also had to attend to others on a balcony, but they
were all very bad cases.  It was calledthe "Bath"  Ward as all the
bad limbs were kept in baths for days.  There were baths for all
kinds of wounds and "Carters" beds to make the nursing easier
as three of the patients had both legs off.

They could be lifted into the air while the beds were changed which
was far less distressing then being turned.

After my three months there I was recalled to Rouen to my Unit
where I remained until February 1917.  We had very busy times
at No.1 and of course the work was very interesting to us.

In March 1917, I joined No.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station
which took me four days to reach from Rouen.  I spent one night
at Abbeyville and the rest of the time in the trains.  We changed
trains several times and were held up on sidings  frequently for
hours at a time.  All the trains were crowded with troops going
up the line.  I went by Ambulance from Amiens to Edgehill where
the C.C.S. was stationed.  There was some very heavy fighting going
on in the line in front of us and crowds of wounded m3n came through
the place during the following week.  The hospital trains that
carried the wounded away to the Base Hospitals used to draw into the
siding just in front of us.

I was only there a couple of weeks when we got orders to advance the
C.C,S. closer up to the line.  Our Marquees were pulled down and
taken up to Grevillers on the left of Bapaume on 8th April and we
went up the day following in a coupke of Ambulances along the
Albert Bapaume Roaf which at that time had two large craters in it
which the Germans had blown up when they retired.  It was our first
sight of the battlefields and we were all deeply impressed.

 

(2)
It vas very cold and snowing and all along the road we saw the boys
in their dugouts sitting around small fires trying to keep them-
selves warm.  The wounded were coming down as we were going up.

We went on duty straight away just as we were in our macintoshes
and gum boots.  There were no floors to the marquees owing to the
shortage of duck boards which were urgently needed in the line.
The ground was soft and saturated and we were soon wading about in
mud.

I was put in the theatre where operations cemmunicated- commenced
before everything was unpacked.  There vere no beds mattresses or
pillows etc.only stretchers and blankets so as soon as a patient
was operated on and put back on the stretcher it gradually sank
in the mud.  There was no time to remove the men's clothes or
boots.  When we were just about full a hospital train came in
and relieved the pressure.  The stretcher bearers had a fearful
time wading through the mud carrying the men to the carriages.  There
was another big battle on the 11th and 15th of the same month but by
the 15th things had improved considerably and we were running much
more smooth;y as the floors had been put down and we were more
settled.

The next busy time we had was during the battle for Bullecourt
between 3rd and 15th May 1917, and we had a fearful number of
casualties through.  We had over one hundred and thirty deaths.
Two other C.C.S. then came up and we were relieved of much of the
work.  We were getting the men in at first just over an hour after
they were wounded.  There were four tables going day and night in
the theatre.  The patients were first brought into the admission tent
where their wounds were examined and marked accordingly A.B.C. or
D.  All "As were urgent cases which were carried straight into the
preparation tent where they were undressed and put in pyjamas
if possible and from there they went to the theatre.  All A cases
were attended to first then the others in order.  If the casualties were
very heavy C & D cases were sent down in the trains without being
operated upon.

In July we moved up North with our own troops while the C.C.S was
being erected we were stationed at Fravent in No.6 Stationary Hospital
We were sent for when C.C.S. was ready but only got as far as
Abbeille when word came through that the place was being shelled and
we were not to go up there so we were sent to No.62 and 63 C.C.S's
just outside Proven.  Things quietened down in a few days so we re-
turned to our own station.  Our C.C.S. was advanced to Brand hoek
but owing to the proximity of the troops causing heavy air raids, the
sisters were sent back to less advanced C.C,S's.  A week later the
danger being past, the sisters returned.  From then on we encountered
very heavy and strenuous work caused by the terrible hard fighting
in front of Ypres which necessitated a big increase in the nurses.
We received American and English Surgical Teams and with our own
kept eight tables going night and day in the theatre.  The theatre was
worked splendidly different tables attending to,all the same nature
of wounds such as one table taking all chest cases another all limb
cases etc. another abdominal wounds.

The C.C.S. was under shell fire here and several times shells landed in
our camp.  Two struck the Q.Ms store and others in the grounds.
As the shelling continued and one sister was killed and another
wounded in the C.C.S, opposite ours, orders were given for us to retire
our station.  The patients were hastily removed in Ambulances the
staff following.

We were then sent to do nursing at St.Omer for a time.  I with four 

 

(3)
others was sent to a C.C.S. at Remy Siding on Surgical teams.  After
being there some time I was sent back to St.Omer.  A few weeks later
I went to England on leave.  On returning to Boulogne I received orders
to rejoin my original Unit No.1 A.G.H. at Rouen where I was nursing
until the transfer of the hospital to Sutton Veny England in
December 1918.

 


                                  (Signed) Gertrude M.Doherty.

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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