Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1916 - 4

73 
March 13 MONDAY [73-293] 3rd Month 1916 

74 
1916 31 Days 14 TUESDAY [74-292] March 

When we reached Rouen
all the Sisters were staged
at various British Hospitals. 
We were most unhappy.
Millicent, Sister Heath &
I went to a Stationary
Hospital on the edge of
Foresch Verte. We were given
a tent and 2 biscuits &
3 brown - Very dirty
blankets. The matron was
very imperial. Always
talking about "You Austral
ians" or "You Colonials" 
The VADs liked us because
we worked & were not
upstage with them.

75 
March 15 WEDNESDAY [75-291] 3rd Month 1916 
Ember Day 

76 
1916 31 Days 16 THURSDAY [76-290] March 

Col Dr Cripney was given
the lower end of the racecourse
which was a swamp & not
used for racing. No other
man would have overcome
the difficulties that he did. 
He became known as "that
big Australian" He always
got what he wanted.
The orderlies got to work
& put in agricultural
drains & cleaned up the
camp site which had been
used as a rubish tip.

83 
March 23 THURSDAY [83-283] 3rd Month 1916 

To Luxor with O. Turnbull
wonderful time. 
Came down the Nile by
boat. Wonderful moonlight
night & one could hear
the musical creaking
of the water wheels going
all night. 

84 
1916 31 Days 24 FRIDAY [84-282] March 

Soon after our return from
Luxor were told to prepare

105 
April 14 FRIDAY [105-261] 4th Month 1916

France 
Millicent & I lent to
No 11 British Stationary 
Hospital 

106 
1916 30 Days 15 SATURDAY [106-260] April 
Oxford Lent Term ends 

On duty in a surgical
line of tents. The 
Asepsis is simply awful 
there is not a sterilizer
in the whole line, 96 beds. 
In my tent they are
mostly haemorrhoids
& hernias. There are
a few decent men
in amongst the Tommies
but the majority of them
are of small intelect
& openly profess their
indifference to the end of
the war. The Sister
in this ward is a very
common badly educated
woman, who discusses
the shortcomings of the
matron & other officers
with the men, & says
she quite sympathises
in the fact that the
men don't want to
fight. It seems
awful, that our good
boys shd come so
far & go so through so
much for men like
these. Fortunately the
whole army is not 
like this.

107 
April 16 Palm Sunday [107-259] 4th Month 1916 

On duty till 5
Nothing doing
Sister Heath came over
tonight. Said the
O.C. had decided to
recall all the sisters
because some of them
are not happy in the
English Hospitals. He
was so sure of getting
us back that he drew
all our rations. But
the various matrons
wd not let us go until
the order came through
there D.M.s 
We do not know what
is to happen the Hospital
yet. Major Hurley is
lost. He was sent over
to prepare the way,
but no trace of him
can be found. 

108 
1916 30 Days 17 MONDAY [108-258] April

Went into Reoun. Visited
the Cathedral Notre Dame.
Climbed up to the inside
of the wonderful old clock.
These clocks rang out the
cerfew since the 13th century 
Had afternoon tea at
the Leopold. Went to
the Camp for mail only
got a lot of papers - no
letters.

109 
April 18 TUESDAY [109-257] 4th Month 1916 
5h 8m A.M. (Greenwich) 

To the Camp in the afternoon
looking for letters. Matron
came with me. She is very
unhappy at the thought of
remaining in Rouen where
the Imperial people are most
objectional to her. The Colonel
had absolutely no news to tell
us. We are to continue unpack- 
ing the Hospital today, but the
space is much too small for
us. We are anxious now
for House to come over.
The way we are being treated
one wd imagine that we
were Englands Enemies instead
of belonging to her. The
weather is very wet & cold
The boys all seem happy. The
orderlies. wrote to Major
Manning. 
On duty in a tent. The Matron made
a fuss because two clean sheets
were put on the one bed. They save
the Laundry bills by using the
same sheets for many different
people, & it is a great crime to
put more than one clean sheet
at a time on the bed.

110 
1916 30 Days 19 WEDNESDAY [110-256] April 
Hilary Law Sittings end 

Nothing eventful. To the Camp
to be paid. No letters. No news. 
Wrote to Tessa & to Maj. Manning

111 
April 20 THURSDAY [111-255] 4th Month 1916 
Maundy Thursday 

We are recalled to No 1. No one
can imagine our joy! When
we went to the Hospital & found
all the other groups returning.
Never have I seen such a lot of
happy faces. We had to rough
it for tea. But how enjoyable it
was. The faces of the orderlies
were beaming with smiles &
nothing was too much trouble
for them. We were short of water
& there were few comforts but
the chatter & laughter & sudden
rise of spirits made me realize
how unhappy we had been
amongst the Imperials.
Miss McCarthy, the big Chief Matron
of the R.A.M.C. has arrived in
Reoun. She is very indignant
at being us being recalled. She says
she never heard of orders being
questioned before. All the Imperials
expressed sorrow at leaving. They
said "fancy people speaking our
own language & we know so little
about them". The V.A.D.S envy us
greatly. One Dr said to Millicent,
"You Australians seem to enjoy being
alive". She said "Yes, we do". He then
said he had seen a good many happy
faces dimmed by the R.A.M.C. & he hoped
we wd not be treated in the same way. It's true
they are a very unhappy crowd. 

112 
1916 30 Days 21 GOOD FRIDAY [112-254] April 

Wakened this morning to the happy
chatter of our own girls. How happy
we really are. Margery Yuille has
mumps. sent to No 8.
Wet heavily raining all
day. Went to bed early
Visited by the Matron in Chief B.E.F.
Mrs McCarthy. At first she was
inclined to be nasty but after
a talk in the office to our
big quiet O.G. she was very
modified in her acidity. 
This is Easter Friday, but
we notice no difference here.
Our memory is strong of the
last sad Easter Friday in Cairo.
My heart is breaking for a
letter from Harry but - no mail
comes to hand yet. 

We have shower shelter -
our heads show above the galvan 
izediron & our legs below. All
cold water. The orderlies keep
a copper of hot water and we can take
a bucket-full to sluice down &
there cold showers. 
 

113 
April 22 SATURDAY [113-253] 4th Month 1916 
Easter Even 

One big thing shines out of the days
events. A letter from Harry.
4 of them. My love for him is
deep & intense, & his is evidently
the same for me. Oh love of my
heart, it seems impossible to live
away from you. 
It has rained steadily all day -
went into Rouen in A.M. & hair
shampoo etc. The people in all
the shops are most interested in us 
as Australians & always ask
if we are Australian or British
Came back & was most depressed
& miserable for lack of letters & then
at 4 P.M. they came. One from
& also one from Tessa Thomas. 
Went into Rouen to Afternoon
tea. Met Capt Ford + Major B
A.S.C 13th had afternoon tea
with them. Afterwards met 
Col Fahr. He had just arrived
from England & leaves tomorrow
for Cairo. The paystaff is
going to make their head quarters
in Roeun. Col Fahr saw Andrew
Fisher in Eng & told him of
the way in which the R.A.M.C.
are behaving towards us. He
is going to make a stir about
it. Russians are supposed 
tohave landed in France today. 

114 
1916 30 Days 23 Easter Day [114-252] April 
St. George 

Went into Notre Dame to the service
this A.M. The huge building
was crowded with soldiers
of all nations & civilians
in all kinds of dress. Pompous
men in red silk hose & velvet
suits & gold braid marshalled
things about. The singing
was beautiful & the organ
glorious. In the after- 
noon Major Prior & Capt Ford
came to afternoon tea & the
O.C & Col summoned us to
dinner. Maud Bakervery 
rude to me. We have the
mess looking very nice now.
In the evening a lecture given
by Mr Best of Cambridge
University - in the Y.M.C.A
buildings by on Napoleon.
It was very good. It was
repeated a second time
for the Australians as we
did not know of it when
first delivered. Our O.C.
took the chair & we were
very proud of him. 
The searchlight was out
looking for Zepps &we have
two Anti Air Craft Guns.

115 
April 24 Easter MONDAY [115-251] 4th Month 1916 
10H 38M P.M. (Greenwich). Bank Holiday 

Went to the Florist to purchase
a gift of flowers for the Matron
of No 1 Stationary & paid
1/2 Franct per piece for
lilac. 
Met Major Prior & Ford in
the afternoon by appointment.
Major Prior is my particular
friend. He is a married man
of about 45 & I like him. Ford
is about 30 & very good
looking & I think he is straight
but I'm leaving him to Millicent. 
We had afternoon tea then
visited a beautiful old church 
It was just glorious. 
We open up the hospital 
tomorrow. 

116 
1916 30 Days 25 Easter Tuesday [116-250] April 
St. Mark, Evan. Cambridge Easter Term begins 

All day we have been opening
& equiping the wards. I
have a surgical tent of 24 beds 
A glorious sunset tonight -
delicate grey & pink in the
sky. I'm feeling very
depressed tonight, longing
for Harry. The paper
today tells of fighting on
the Canal. 3500 turks close
to. Our [[?]] have to
retire. Wrote to Tessa
& Edith Fincham. 
 

117 
April 26 WEDNESDAY [117-249] 4th Month 1916 
Oxford Easter Term begins 

Busy opening wds all day 
Concert at [[ ? J.MC.G.? Y.M.C.A ?]] at
night. Met two Aust Capt
with the RAMC, Capt Lye
& Edwards. They walked
home with us. A
telephone message from
Major Prior asking us to
go to the Cathedral. 
Millicent too. 

118 
1916 30 Days 27 THURSDAY [118-248] April 

Waiting for tents to be
fitted up all day. 
Went into town at 
5 P.M. Met Moira Gibson 
Home [[?this can at.......?]] 
she is full of nonsense
about men. Waited 
3/4 of an hour with her
at the Normandy. Could 
not get attended to & had 
to come away without our 
ice. Paid F2.70 for 1 qrt 
meth spirits. 
Played bridge with heath 
Miller & Bleach? until 
1pm. A big 
Convoy went away to 
England yesterday & 
another one comes in today.