Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1915 - Part 3

68
March 9 TUESDAY [68-297] 3rd Month 1915 

69
1915 31 Days 10 WEDNESDAY [69-296] March 

Met F.S. at 5.30 p.m.
also a friend of his Lieut
Wilson. Went into Cairo
to try & get some printing
paper. F.S. bought me
some beautiful flowers at
a florist. Then when we
got into the tram a street
flower worried us with
roses & F.S. bought a great
big bunch of those. So we
landed back with a bunch
of flowers in each hand.
Came across poor old 
Falkner today. He is
down with Sciatica.
One of our previous Pneumonias 
turned into an Empyemia
today. Such a nice
youth, a South Australian.
One man told me glibly
tonight that the Dr Said he
had "Locomotor Ataxia." " What
is that? Is it bad?" Poor old
chap how soon he will find
out.
The O.C. came round tonight: At 8.20 P.M.
said to me "Are all your men in bed?" "Yes Sir! All
except those on light duties" "Then what is that
man doing siting by his bed playing patience? You
go this instant & send them all to bed." Poor me!

70 
March 11 THURSDAY [70-295] 3rd Month 1915 

Could not sleep today.
Was so exhausted
when I had finished
the nights work that
I could scarcely move.
Ken had been off all
night so I had a new
nurse on with me. There 
were 17 really very bad
cases & lots of others that
were sick too.
Went into Cairo bought
White shoes & stockings
& some net to make a 
blouse for myself.
Australian mail in
one nice long letter
from Wad & one from
Mother. It is such 
a relief to know that
she has been resting
during this vac.
F.S. came down tonight
after I was on duty. Think
I wd get very tired of
him if I saw much of 
him 

71
1915 31 Days 12 FRIDAY [71-294] March

Meant to go & see Whit
at Mena today & arose
early for that purpose.
but when we got into
Town found we had so 
long to wait that the
train wd not get us 
out in time to enjoy
ourselves even if we 
had wanted to rush
our matters. So went to the
Continental & had our
hair very badly shampood
my hair is coming out
shockingly. Shortly
I'll have none left.
I was so terribly tired 
I did not know what 
to do. Could hardly
drag one leg after the
other. How I'm to get
through the night I
don't know.

72 
March 13 SATURDAY [72-293] 3rd Month 1915 

Met F.S. at 2.30 P.M. Was
to have gone to the Mousky
& then to tea at Miss Clinch
But Miss C. was not there
so drove around the
Gezeera which is the garden
of Cairo where are beautiful
houses, the race course -
& a branch of the nile in
which are dozens of River
House boats. We saw
Lord Kitchener's residence.
The Sultan's nile boat
and the Sultan's harem.
We then had dinner at
Shepherds & got home
in time for 10 minutes
canoodle before I must
come on duty.
Had a very bad
pneumonia last night
took 4 of us to hold
him down. His language
was very lurid 

73 
1915 31 Days 14 Sunday—4 in Lent [73-292] March

Dashed over to the Tailors to
get my new Coat & Skirt. Alas
Im afraid it is quite 
spoilt.
Was to go to the Pyramids
with F.S. but the beggar did
not turn up. So went over & spent
the afternoon with Miss Clinch.
It is rather wonderful the
way those girls get on, They 
are not on any fixed salary
but just trust to Providence to
send them something. So some
months they get nothing at all
some months they are quite flush.
We went for a little walk &
saw some dear little baby 
donkeys. Just like little horse 
foals with long lanky legs.
We have had a Sister put
on orderly duties which means
that she takes all the
messages etc left for us
instead of them being left
at the office. Our good
orderly has had to go off duty
tonight with a temp of 102.
Posted some Australian mail
tonight

74
March 15 MONDAY [74-291] 3rd Month 1915
7h 42m P.M. (Greenwich) 

Had a very heavy night last
night & went to bed awfully tired
at 10.30 was awakened to come &
be photographed - So all we poor
tired night nurses had to get out
of bed & wander down to be
photographed. This was simply
for the sake of old Ramsay
Smith. Gen. Williams, big
fat splodgey thing, seated in
the middle of us. I got in the
back row & sat down with
my back to the Camera - we were
so annoyed about it. They kept
us standing about for 1½ hrs.
We asked if we might have
a cup of tea before going to bed
& were told "Yes if we went
without our supper that night"
but we could not have both.
Very little sleep today.
No word from F.S. Cant
make out what has happened.
Sister Mills went to Port Said
to see her Sister who passes
through on her way to be
attached to a Convalacious
Hospital in England.
Sister Pratt & 8 other Aust.
nurses were there also.
We had rain today. It 
was such a boon. 

75 
1915 31 Days 16 TUESDAY [75-290] March

Had a good rest today.
Went to bed at 8.30 & did
not waken untill 5 P.M.
Got an Argus from Melb.
dated the 14 Feb. It was
just delightful to get it.
There is a mail in but
no letters for me. Claude
came round tonight. We
had a chat & were just
wandering into the garden
for a goodnight when
Isanbert came on the
scene & spoilt our little
game.
I have a Dutchman from defence in
the ward who was fighting 
with the Boers in the
last war. He then went out 
to Australia. There is
a man named Strangefield
too. Who writes very decent verse.
Capt Turnbul is in Charge of two sections
of this ward. 50 beds. He is a clean
faced man & I think a good Doctor
but inclined to be sceptical of the
men's ailments. These Doctors get
so thoroughly spoilt. No word
from F.S. today. Dont know
what can be the matter, met
some nice little french Girl I
suspect & forgotten all about me.

76 
March 17 WEDNESDAY [76-289] 3rd Month 1915
St. Patrick. Bank Holiday, Ireland 

The noise of the bands going
by kept waking me up today
All the troops seem
very busy moving about.
A good many of them
have gone.
Went into Cairo this
afternoon - looked
round the shops. nothing
much doing.
Got a letter from
Wad & mother & Harry.
Also one from Egypt
Fincham.
Hear that Capt Osborne
OHara has been killed 
at the front.
We have 15 new patients
in our ward tonight.
Thats over 900 No 1 Gen
is accounting for.
I am feeing very
tired & lonely & sad
tonight. Got a mighty
sore throat.
All the orderlies are sick
nearly. As many as
24 being off duty at 
the one time. 

77 
1915 31 Days 18 THURSDAY [77-288] March

Got a note from F.S. this P.M.
Some misunderstanding about
last Sunday. Wants to see
me Thursday Afternoon. Got
the note too late to keep appointment.
Ken & I went into
Cairo - Ken met Capt Connolly.
We got an extra yd of 
thick silk. We have 
such a nice crowd of
boys in Hospital now. 
Lots of youths of 20 & 22 
years. Wrote a long 
letter to Wad & one 
to Whit to say we are 
going out see him 
tomorrow.

78
March 19 FRIDAY [78-287] 3rd Month 1915 

Got up at 2 p.m. & went out
to Mena Camp with S. Connolly
Running to catch the tram the
heel came of my shoe & that
kept us back. Then we had
to wait quite 3/4 of hour
for Mena Tram. While
waiting we saw a street 
quarrel between two Arabs
one cut the others head
open badly & the native
policeman & Crowd arrested
the Culprit but took absolutely
no notice of the poor victim
who was almost hemorrhaging
to death. Met a Lieut Butler
in the Tram. Of the Engineers.
He took us round to Whit's lives.
Whit had just come in & looked
brown & very handsome in his
uniform. He has grown a funny 
little brown moustache. Met
Capt. MacDonald & had tea
With Whit & he. had a very
trying trip getting back. The
Car was so slow. Finally
got in at 5 to 8 & had
a terrific rush to get on
duty in time. 

79 
1915 31 Days 20 SATURDAY [79-286] March

In the morn received a note 
from F.S. which I should 
have had the previous day 
inviting me to dine at The 
Continental with him. Too 
late of course. Got message 
up by B. Boy for 2 piastres 
Interesting argument with 
Chemist. Got into a row 
with Miss B. Sister C. did 
9 OC night for me. Met 
Lieuts Crow & Wilson. They 
are making a party for 
us next Sunday afternoon 
to see the Hospital. Went 
over-saw Tessa Thomas. 
She has heard from her friends 
they are at the Dardanelle all 
right. Romour is saying that 
the 11 th & 12th Bat. have been
badly cut up. So far the 9th
have not seen action.
Was to have met F.S. at 7.30 but
missed him again as usual. 
Met him just about 10 min before 
going on duty. Had a very 
good night. I had been awfully 
sick the night before with 
appendicitis but it had all 
passed off.

80
March 21 Sunday - 5 in Lent [80-285] 3rd Month 1915

Nicked out at 1.45 p.m. today 
went with Sister Ralston & S. Andrews 
& Capt. Sab. & party in the car to 
a farm out beyond Kubra. It was 
1 1/4 hr drive from here, on the other 
side of Cario. A very up to date 
place for Egypt. We nearly 
ran over a mule on the way 
out. Barney was driving & 
he is a wonderful driver. We 
passed with in an inch of its head. 
The farm was owned & worked 
by a well educated well mannered 
Egyptian, educated in Eng. 
The soil beautiful. Nile Delta. Silt above 
18 feet deep. They get 3 crops a year 
out of it. This man had a flour mill 
At which the Fellaheen around could 
bring their own corn & grind. The 
mill was the two old fashioned Stone 
one on top of the other but instead of being 
turned by hand they were rotated by steam 
The engines were very good & the power 
that worked the mills also pumped the 
water for the farm. After going over the farm
we went back to "Afternoon Tea" which was all
Egyptian. Started off with the plain bread that the
fellaheen uses - then the pure wheat bread. All
kinds of queer stuff we eat & finished of with
big junks of roast turkey. Got back 6 P.M. Whit
& Capt. Stevenson here. I hope I meet Capt. S. again- Met
F.S. from 6.30 until 7.45 pm. 

81
1915 31 Days 22 MONDAY [81-284] March

Spent the day in bed, but did not sleep
much. Had a very busy night last
Our meningitis boy very sick all night.
Miss Bell has been on the war
path properly. The night nurses
are not allowed go out
to dinner & must go to bed
before 8 A.M. & not get up
until 3.30. That means
that it is not worth going
out at all, especially as
we are not allowed sit in
the Garden or stand on
the Piazza It leaves us
very little recreation.
Sister Tounbert is our night Supt. She is
a weak inefficient little thing who goes
with the wind but has a good deal of
catiness about her. She is one of the
oldest army sisters. She is not
loyal to Miss Bell, but then there is
no doubt about it that Miss B. is not
fit for her position - we are all hoping
that an Imperial C.O. & Imperial
Sister will be sent in charge
here. Im liking Capt
Alcorn very much more now.
He does his work well 
& seems such a sunny
natured boy.

82
March 23 TUESDAY [82-283] 3rd Month 1915
10h 48m P.M. (Greenwich) 

Tuesday night I had off duty. 
Slept until 3 p.m. Then went in 
to Cairo with Ken. Had afternoon 
tea at the Continental & listened 
to some good music there. 
Arrived back at Heliopolis 6 30 
to find F.S. waiting there. I had 
not got his message again. 
He took me into dinner at the 
Continental then as it was 
only 8.30 we went for a Garry 
drive in the moonlight all 
around Gozera back to Shephards 
at 9.30 sat there on the piazza 
& enjoyed light drinks & Cario 
went to the Kursal at 10P.M. 
These shows only start at 
9.30 & are of "Light variety" 
nature. One clever item was 
a musical horse. Pet pony 
taught to play different kinds 
of musical instruments. Another 
a man who sang, mostly in French 
which seemed to be much appreciated 
by the audience. He gave 
a very clever caricature of Sousa - 
the band Conductor. The show 
was over at 12P.M. & I landed 
home at 20 to 1 a.m. which 
really is not a bit. late for 
Cario-I was more than 
charmed with F S & am 
quite keen to see him again. 

83 
1915 31 Days 24 WEDNESDAY [83-282] March

It made me very happy to hear that
F.S is to be Confirmed on Sunday.
He did not feel keen on telling
me & awkwardly explained that
"they had an old parson up at
the Camp who worried them &
a couple of them had decided
to be confirmed etc."
I slept after breakfast untill
3 P.M. Poor old Ken has a
night off tonight & has missed her
brother so I said I wd go
into Cario & have a mixed grill
with her. Just as I was 
ready to go Mr. St Clair turned
up with an invitation to tea 
next afternoon with some 
more of the girls at his flat. 
Cuthbert had previously asked 
me to motor to the Barage 
with Capt Hore. of whom I had
heard a lot but not met - Strange 
to say Mr St Clair was talking 
to an officer when I came into 
the room so introduced me 
to him - It was Capt Hore. 
I like him I think & am 
looking forward to tomorrows 
trip. 
Received a paper & Pouch from
Wad this A.M. & a letter from
Harry, Mother, Wad & Hod tonight.
 

84 
March 25 THURSDAY [84-281] 3rd Month 1915
Annunciation. Lady Day. Quarter Day

Got out safely at 2.30 P.M. Enjoyed 
the motor trip to Barage very much. 
Capt. Hore & another Capt. whose name 
I did not catch, Cuthbert & myself were 
the party. We had a very nice taxi & sped 
along at a great rate. The view from 
the Barage is very pretty. The Barage 
is a big Irrigation Dam where they 
lock the Nile & send the water off 
into the various Irrigation Channels 
that supply the whole of fertile Egypt.
The Gardens here are like the melb botanical 
in their outlay - there are two big bridges
which draw up to let the shipping through 
these are built with keeps like castles & 
are very beautiful. A trolly line runs 
from the spot where Carriages stop on 
to the irrigation plant. It is very beautiful 
to gaze across the wide expanse of the 
Nile on to the green delta with the pyramid 
showing in the distance & the ever 
blue sky above. We drank some awful 
Egyptian coffee here that made me feel 
queer all the way home. On closer aquaintance 
Im not very keen on Capt Hore - altho 
he is a nice boy. The other Capt is a 
Methodist Parson. A grey & black haired 
man. I liked him though. 
The OC made a bit of a fuss here 
tonight. I am so sick of Miss Bell 
She is really the limit there is no mistake 
about it. 3 nurses had to get out of bed 
& come down stairs at 9.30a.m. for being late for B. 

85 
1915 31 Days 26 FRIDAY [85-280] March

Stayed in bed all day.
Had a very easy night
– wrote to Frank Martin
& to John Adamson.

86
March 27 SATURDAY [86-279] 3rd Month 1915 
Oxford and Cambridge Lent Term ends

Slept until 3P.M. Expected 
to get word from F.S. none 
came so went out at 4 OC. 
On my return found a note 
must have come before I 
went out asking me to 
meet him at 4.30. So Ive 
missed him again. 
The OC came round 
in a charming mood tonight 
He is quite mad of that 
Im sure. I asked Miss 
B. for permission to show 
some visitors over Hosp 
tomorrow & she bit my 
head off as usual. 
A funny boy write me 
reams of poetry - attached 
in some. He seems quite 
a sensible nice youth to 
talk to. A dash of genius 
poor kid. 
I have the most extraordinary 
missive sent to me. I think 
after this I'll pin them all into 
my diary. 

87
1915 31 Days 28 Palm Sunday [87-278] March 

Frank came down this
afternoon With Mr Crow & 
another boy We sat 
talking to them on the 
piazza for an hour or two 
then I went out to tea with 
Frank at the Hotel opposite 
a short walk & back on 
duty. Poor old Sis. She 
is just longing for love. I 
started to tease her about 
Crow & she has taken me 
quite seriously. Tonight she 
is going about with a flushed 
face & shinning eyes. And she 
is 35 while he is only 27 or 28 
at the outside. 
Today has been terrible. Hot 
sultry with a glaring clouded 
red sky. Two funerals from 
here - The strains of the dead 
march very depressing. 
There was also a swarm 
of locusts. The air was 
thick with them. The 
poor little territorials were 
taken out for a 14 mile 
march in the midst of it 
too. There was a sand 
storm raging too. This was 
done as a punishment

88
March 29 MONDAY [88-277] 3rd Month 1915

Very quiet nice rest 
today. 
F.S. came to see me 
tonight. 
The troops were inspected 
by Ian Hamilton today. 
He was pleased - I believe 
The Mouris danced 
a war dance after 
the inspection was 
over. 
Things very calm 
in the ward tonight. 
Have been thinking 
such a lot of Ada 
& Anne today. 

89
1915 31 Days 30 TUESDAY [89-276] March

Slept well today & feel 
so much better tonight. 
The New Zealand band 
came over about 2.30 & 
played beautifully for about 
1 1/2 hrs this afternoon. 
We have got a great crowd 
of Rheumatism cases in 
tonight, but the ward 
is not nearly so heavy 
as it was. Im 
staying at home now as 
I have only 12 Pt to do 
me untill the Wednesday 
week. 
One of the girls had a 
bad time with a dotty 
pneumonia this a.m. who 
seized her by the throat 
& smacked her face. 
There is a fine big Queensland 
girl in the next wd 
whom I rather like. Gertie 
Andrews. A great big clumsy 
girl but a fine nurse I 
should think. Capt 
Turnbul is sick & we 
have Capt Furbrer- a man 
who came over with re- enforcements 
in his place. I rather 
like him though the others 
don't in the day time.

90
March 31 WEDNESDAY [90-275] 3rd Month 1915
Hilary Law Sittings end. 
5h 38m A.M. (Greenwich) 

Slept very badly. Awake at 
10 a.m. & no sleep afterwds. 
A note from F.S. at 3.30 He had 
the afternoon free so we went 
to Cario. I was feeling very 
nice (& they say I looked alright) 
in new cream silk coat & skirt 
white shoes & socks black hat ĉ 
red rose in. Had tea at Gropput 
& then to the Zoo. It is a beautiful 
drive along the Nile. Having 
been there before we did not 
rush about to see all the 
animals but spent most of 
our time wandering round 
amongst the birds. There is 
a pretty tree growing every 
where with a large pink 
blossom that makes the 
world very beautiful. I shall 
never forget one kind of summer 
house we saw. It was built over 
a little rustic bridge running 
over a creeklet & was completely 
covered with Bouganvillia in its 
most rich coloring, one half was in 
the shade & the other half the sunlight 
was glowing on. We had dinner 
at Shepherds & got home in 
time to rush on duty. I was 
perfectly ill with tiredness all 
night. It was April fool's night & 
the boys were full of jokes 

91 
1915 30 Days 1 THURSDAY [91-274] April 
Maundy Thursday 

Had a glorious sleep today . 
& did not get up untill 
dinner time The boys are 
out camping They will be 
out all night & tomorrow 
is Good Friday so they 
will be returning Easter 
Morn. 
Now as I write I hear 
the bands of some of them 
coming in from the march. 
A nice long letter from 
Reg Clark comes to hand 
to night. He speaks of his 
engagement to Geraldine. He 
is seeking Christ now & will 
find the beauty of him in 
the R.C. Religion I feel sure 
Geraldine is R.C. but 
whether he changes his 
religion or not I know 
that he will find 
Christ. He is such 
a fine boy. I'm awfully 
glad to hear about it.