Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1916 - Part 3

37
February 6 Sunday - 5 aft Epiph [37-329] 2nd Month 1916

This morn commenced badly,
I struggled to use Common
sense over a matter that
distressed me very much - 
"Wady Hoff." but the pill was
very bitter indeed.
Very busy day. Dr. took
the whole morning to do the ward.

An old patient - A New Zealand
came in the afternoon,  asked
me to go out with him etc.
Later came Sgt [[McLann?]].
Brought a present of some
very decent instruments that
he used constantly on Gallipoli
also a photograph of himself.
Can't quite make him out.
"X" came down later in the
evening. Mrs B. goes to Eng on
Tuesday. "X" goes to Pt Said to
see her off.
A patient - an Australian soldier, 

but a scotchman said some
days ago that he was very
keen on getting a Kilt to take
back to Aust with him. Said
he'd buy one at any price.
To day he came in rejoicing.
Three of them met a scotchie in
Cairo. Hailed him joyously, gave
him drinks & talked Scotch to
him, finally got away with his kilt
when he was well squiffed.

38
1916 20 Days 7 MONDAY [38-328] February
Nora transferred to another
ward. Major M. going
to camp at Ismailia
said he had left a
scarab to be mounted
for me. I refused to
accept it. Asked 

if I wd write him

down there
 

39
February 8 TUESDAY [39-327] 2nd Month 1916
Half Quarter Day

Went to the camp yesterday 
with Sister Findlay and Nurse 
Heath. Met the other 
girls there looking for [[letters?]]
 

40
1916 29 Days 9 WEDNESDAY [40-326] February

Spent the whole afternoon going
to the grain market & to
Old Cairo. Harry looking
very weak still: He overdoes
things & knocks himself
out. Jack [[Tallyon]] has
been made O.C. of [[Murrups?]]
Camp. He is a bit shy
lately. Thank goodness. I like
him all the better for that though.

41
February 10 THURSDAY (4I-325) 2nd Month 1916
10h 20m P.M. (Greenwich)

Major Brown superceded at
4 Aux by Col Sherwin.
B. is to retain his rank
as Major & to be Registrar
of No 4.
The No 3 Girls are all back
from Lemnos.
Molly Green is married 
She came up for a week
leave & got married.
She has married an English
officer &  seems to be very
happy. 
 

42
1916 29 Days 11 FRIDAY [42-324] February

Harry came in & we spent
the afternoon on Shepherds
balcony. He was very
tired & shakey. He is to
return to camp on Monday.
 

43
February 12 SATURDAY [43-323] 2nd Month 1916

Met X to night. He asked
me not to become engaged
until Xmas time, as he
will then know his own
position. Felt thoroughly
disgusted with him.
Have been feeling fearfully
sick ever since.

44
1916 29 Days 13 Sunday—6 aft Epiph [44-322] February

Went out to [[Helnan?]] in the 
A.M. Had the whole day 
off. Was very sick 
all day - getting TY? 

45
February 14 MONDAY [45-321] 2nd Month 1916

Harry to the  Canal.
There is much talk 
of the unit moving to 
France. 

46
1916 29 Days I5 TUESDAY [46-320] February

63
March 3 FRIDAY [63-303] 3rd Month 1916

Written in Rouen from memory
The wards gradually got
less busy. Two new Aux. Hosp
opened on the Canal & we took
only the loo sickest ones at
Base.
The nursing in my wards
interesting. Mostly acute but
we had more nurses from
Australia. So many of the
Senior Army Sisters were chosen
for their standing in the nursing
world rather than for their
physical stamina. We who
were younger had to carry them.
Now, with the exception of 3
who are in admin jobs we have
shed them all. They could not
stand the heat & rush of work
in Cairo and were sent to England
Base Hospitals. This has increased
my seniority in the unit. 

64
1916 31 Days 4 SATURDAY [64-302] March
3h 58m A.M. (Greenwich)

When it was definite that the
unit was moving to France
we were rostered for a weeks
leave each & had permits to 
go to Luxor. I went with 

Sister Turnbull - a New Zealander
& X. We stayed at the Luxor
Hotel in great luxury & at
a high tarrif. Each day had
a donkey & guides & rode to
the Tombs & various places of
interest. The old temples were
very interesting and I have good
photographs. We came down
the river from Asuan to Cairo
by felluca.  Travelled all
night. Bright moonlight. 
In the morning pulled into
The bank & went over a sugar
Mill. Got to Cairo 12 OC. M.D.
Tried to get in touch with
Harry. He was on the Canal. He
is adjutant to the 52^nd Battn.

65

March 5 Quinquagesima Sunday [65-301] 3rd Month 1916 

66
1916 31 Days 6 March [66-300] March

France 1917

Harry & I tried to meet before
1A.G.H. moved to France. He
did get up an duty one day
& I managed to meet him and
went with him whilst he did
the business he had been sent
up to do. I sat in the [[garry?]]
which he had engaged for the
day. He finished about 3 P.M.
and we sat on the balcony at
Shepherds & talked of our future.
There was a wonderful sunset
a beautiful apricot glow. H
said "when we are married I'll
give you a dress that Colour". 
He caught the 8 PM train to
the Canal and I have not
seen him since. He was
Killed in France July 19^th 1916.
At Fleurbaix with the 5^th Div.

67
March 7 Shrove TUESDAY [67-299] 3rd Month 1916
  

68
1916 31 Days 8 Ash WEDNESDAY [68-298] March

Millicent Keeps urging to
fill in this diary. She says
Ill be sorry of I don't write
it up whilst I think of it.
I think she looks at it
sometimes.

When the Hospital closed
at Heliopolis we all entrained
to Alexandria - There a Hospital
ship was waiting to take us over
to France. She was not ready
to be loaded and we were
stayed at the Alex Egyptian
Hospital. This is a big barracks
of a place staffed by French German
Nuns.  It was a Civilian Hosp
of 500 beds before the war. Expanded
to 1400 & taken over by the
military. The nuns were very
good to our wounded. I heard 
later that they were removed because
it was thought they were spying.
 

69 
March 9 THURSDAY [69-297] 3rd Month 1916

When the day came for us to embark
we were told to collect on the pier at
10.30 A.M. There we were. Our
heavy luggage on board but we
had many parcels we had collected
whilst waiting in Alex. [[?]] Kerr
had a canary in a Cage. Captain
Allchin was told to make sure we
were all on board. Not knowing
the A.A.N.S. he told us to form a
double row. Then "number off". He
wanted 120. Each time he got
a different number. He was
terribly worried. Finally our
big C.O. Col DeCrepney came down
the gang way to see what was the
matter. In his tired voice he called
out "Sisters! form a fairly
straight line, Left turn! Get on
Board." "Oh! Sir",- said Matron
they are not all here". "Then
they'll be left behind," said our
C.O. Our first hard lesson!
We had always been fussed over
& spoilt before.

France Recollections.

70
1916 31 Days 10 FRIDAY [70-296] March

We landed at Marsailles & we
had a week hanging around there.
Our Orderlies were getting into
a lot of trouble with the local
inhabitants. Nobody knew
where we were to go. Our C.O
went by passenger train to the
centre of things & by force of
pensonality & by making a
pest of himself with the high
Command was at last given a
Spot at Rouen. We were given
a troop train. No corridor or toilet.
We were frequently shunted
on to side lines & the Engine, manned
by French, would clear off on
another job & leave us. It took
3 1/2 days to get to Rouen. Usually
a 8 or 10 hour journey. Altho there
was great discomfort it was
interesting - Heavy loads of Austn
troops passed us - cheering, when
they saw the Aussie Sisters hang-
ing out of the Windows. We were
passed by most of the 1^st Div. going
up the line.
 

71
March 11 SATURDAY [7I-295] 3rd Month 1916
6h 33m P.M. (Greenwich) 

France 72
1916 31 Days 12 Sunday—1 in Lent [72-294]
Ember Week

We were fortunate that one of
our shuntings left us just
out side Dijou. We had about
6 hours there. Besides getting a
wash at the railway station, we
were able to see something of
the town. The main reason for
Dijou is its famous potteries
"Grey- Poupon".
Sister Sampson nearly left
behind there. She is about 45
yrs and owned the biggest &
best known private Hospital
in Melbourne. She had
always been Cock of the walk
with the No 1 Matrons though
her nursing days were
over. She got to the train
just as it was moving &
a couple of men dragged her
on board. We were all
shocked to think the Colonel
would dare to move off with
out her. It was the best
thing that could have happened