Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1916 - 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1915
Subject:
  • War Diaries
  • Alice Ross-King
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000974
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

119 April went into Helen Sail. it Leopold. bag 45t. a letter photograpen 4th Month 1916 28 FRIDAY (119-247) Ronew 5 P.M.C Eplisnoon teo Bought Ginmetal from & contain Luxor 120 1916 30 Days April 29 SATURDAY [120-246) on duty all do wrote to but oware & the mate
121 30 Low Sunday—I afte Easter (121-245] 4th Month 1916 April on duty all am. 6 Patient all Anstralians Capt arge + Edwards for dring they are Fydney &Bub man with to RaM.C. at us 10. went into the hed for a walk annediately after dinner. florious little wood eweek, buttercuos primwse elc. Came upon slo scrench chattarer magor Prior & capt you for Aflernoon tea They brought a scote Doctor & a new2 oboe. hajor crowen also there & several of the M.Os. We sat an the grass after tea taked Mellicent austrada. I went to dine with Mago know at the hold de caPort. the Shepherds of Ronan. overy thing beautifulg sewve full of ti hals. Iesied home. reserved a letter from Capt. manning i Crow t Hei Bac 122 May 1 MONDAY (122-244) 1916 31 Days SS. Philip and James. Bank Holiday, Scotland. Holiday, Stock Exchange. Royal Academy opens day new all Om duly There is a strong patient impression that we are All the moving from here. stock is being recalled from the wards Capt Slephens by M.O. bon't like him. He is tow nice. He spent-from 9am untill after 1 in the wa with anly g patients. I am the Duly wes wd open Col. Sumon set we thinking to day by asking after to & then sayoig He is most likely as Fnance by now.
123 25th Month 1916 2 TUESDAY (123-243) May Easter Law Sittings begin. 0 5h 29m a.x. (Greenwich) Things much the same in the san to smale from waid. a passing plane of some the middle of an sort in enky black thunder stor mort Curions effect. Sisler Sait &D Miet Major Pror at the Rne Grand Pan disited the inside of st kuon The colored glass wendo an plonans The rialnes Soz the browns &leds & green past anything I have seen tend the window of Keat Bay Mosgoa oyspeal to ae more, althe wese are more delecate the sothic in coloring archetechre 128 is cuppt to be of the surent form there & a blong snaight Co. have with very high suppolt ing pellas which are plany pladed & rese with ton a break of give o sar enormous neigai we back winding climber store stais &got ont amon abaleon the masonry ny which amis completely around the builde wing see a fine vow of Reorn & tooking at Garg Harry berthdan 124 May 3 WEDNESDAY (124-242) 1916 s1 Days Convoy of 20 in 4 aly 9.0 most of the Dome sen sinquedt as all ae bat pretey Fombry Soldiers. we were therefore unable go to mayor friors to diner The orderlie have bad time when conveys lome in the have to get sut of bed & care stuetchers for some nown + them do their tisust wo in the day lene
125 4 THURSDAY (125-241) May Stn Month 1916 I have now 23 patient no more hear long letter from 6 tome from bat. went vnto Roven with & Heath mil met kep May Rrior Mr Gouse for afternoon too In the even wend- to a hona astiton consent given for sister oofficers 126 May 5 FRIDAY (126-240) 1916 31 Days hothing special to report Have has a very One hear day in the ward. to night that we are t letters moving on. yet, either from Aust or from ogypt
105 12 May E SATURDAY (127-239) 5th Month 1916 King's Accession, 1910 A very jag he the ward. N t H Harl & maiden the Cotty et much a horman Brocks wornd the wan told me we are onor Aorte suich Major Prior & the SCote odoctor in the afterno with Heat aullicant, & he we went to maimorite Frein abouts wl thlong turasgove villiage roar at Balliy North when the pas through $80,000 odd ash forily. This is one of the lang fleed Ballnys going. Tormont is a beautiful wild hill of Bauck tree cal tres & undergrowth such charming sn de Worthes lead through the with Clons weld flowers. 040 b to getmen 42 that aftereor tea from Themss Hosk in the wood then Dumer at the hornan It was a delightfue aftern no letter get from Ham 128 May 7 Sunday—2 aft Easter (128-238) 1916 31 Days Large Convoy in this ar. I g.I tent full very sick He 1ge cane. from a sufpering chiefly fam in hoad & beak t he lown limb are quite helple hs new from Hany o it. We hear that egype is no long to be one brce. Major Prior & hr 8 out today I was very tired off it all to see the major anainges I have a whole tomonou Out Mullicent is day le o will un chragr wih I think she nt exception the mont self get met Fire I have
120 May 8 MONDAY (129-237) 5th Month 1916 very depr all day, have a strong impression that sany is in France 130 Mar 9 TUESDAY (130 -236) 1916 31 Days Proclamation, King George V. Half Quarter Day nothing miasual happined very busy day a wai our awrig orderlies are doing toenderful wouth A wenderful parket lien feom enzaude tult thoss. Beautiful five liney sheets cert to lange trantelief sere. seeed wend teon Pavy old gas canrene patients can have their sweating faces wifed. In Egyst Aust patient Jecnce. English Scakh st all ntion
131 5th Month 1916 I0 WEDNESDAY (131 -235) May 1 8h 47m a.x. (Greenwich) still no letters Busy Al het Majon Prior &Cast Lord- had tea with them at the hearpold The say one tine of thenaw is to be given to the aniaes under sencial Budwood. we do not know how time the is Wake rome our favourite comner of the catuseial after toa. 1916 31 Days II THURSDAY (132-234) 132 May
105 137 May I6 TUESDAY (137-229) 5th Month 1916 D.G.M. Inspecter by the & Drilian Hin Ser The waind big Chief ill looked tce. A cnty happened to be the firld visited. I do got like him hurch he tried to gave me the geareye so maike was it that ewear & the patient the d. spoke of it ap Dewd we have a very sick Duemnonia lad 9 18 138 May 17 WEDNESDAY (138-228) 1916 31 Days O2hllm P.M. (Greenwich) Buss horning. Ins picter Fctoing 7 Drue we did not aake an special preparation found afterwars that such hal bean depected The seenied alright? Iwd of her Lady io waiting had hugie holes in the hole of thei stock Mrs Corberk also then, she was in tust weth the The princess Sidle cave out penny Woxes eigarette tha English boas were very dispusted but the aust wece and disapointed because she did not take a fit (The an gpileptic The everal who w with her was an dld warrion, wodld to see present. In one of at the wd he cansaccto one of his old regiment. the expired man are C Is Chap had recli to. has been badly woude winl a vout & has alway o be onli face. There was a very joyous Green
139 May 18 THURSDAY (139-227) 5th Month 1916 Jus pecter by The Sunciff matton Miss Mccarthy Went Dor pianic with Lrane, Lord, & major now Ie hard to keep ever one on the right spot. MazorPa alrng st came home found some beautyul letter waiting 140 May 19 FRIDAY (140-226) 1916 31 Days busy day. Convoy ei D.M in one very sick Phemmon an prractiall speriallof trie. He asked me to wants to be goit in Engla
141 May 20 SATURDAY (14I-225) 5th Month 1916 2 K fou of the boy on 5 2 picne They heere so exaier all the moming Te the ferst time they hav been swaks ✓ we taxitabled rom Roven, saw the best buildings. I bought a straten tast some cases & longue, also a couple bottle of ligi wine & we went about 5 mile into the forest & has one tea. A letter from tan Tuch Goy Tonly wwk old ii. He i adtn 53 Batta & will the of te be over in France my love for him endimons Also a letter from Cnl He is return S Burge. Wstralia Two letter too from fred they ar having very ht weather pb 142 May 21 Sunday—4 aft Easter (142-224) 1916 31 Days Ver Ol duty all day with letter from happy ✓ Mags Lrior Sister top harge number of patiers signed up pow tng have loosing them Foothall match bet. Anzac + Hospilas. Bakery toon. A wee scottly lad operate or He wanted his diner today. which was before the op. was told ho wel can I have by tea to night he ex claimed sadly you wad na gie me ma -too a canna dinner. et mne try eat niae tea. Sister, Ih was ale a great ad for keepin Othings down. that the News came in 20th have been badly hit ep

119 
April 28 FRIDAY [119-247] 4th Month 1916 

Went into Rouen 5 p.m. ć 
Helen Tait. After noon tea 
at Leopold. Bought Gunmetal 
bag 45/-. 
A letter from x containing 
photographs Luxor. 

120 
1916 30 Days 29 SATURDAY [120-246]. April 

On duty all day 
wrote to Mrs O'Hara and the mater 
 

 

121 
April 30 Low SUNDAY- 1 aft Easter [121-245] 4th Month 1916 

On duty all a m. 6 Patients 
all Australians. 
Capt [[Lye?]] & Edwards for dinner 
They are Sydney & Brisb men 
with the R A M. C at no 10. 
Went into the wds for a 
walk immediately after 
dinner. Glorious little wood 
violets, buttercups, prim roses 
etc. Came upon an old 
French Chattaeu. 
Major Prior & Capt Jon 
for afternoon tea. They 
brought a Scotch Doctor 
& a new 2 officer. Major 
Crowley also there & several 
of the M.OS. We sat on 
the grass after tea & talked 
Australia. Millicent 
& I went to dine with Major 
Prior at the Hotel de la Poste. 
Tis the Shepherds of Rouen. 
Every thing beautifully served 
full of tin hats. Taxied 
home. 
Received a letter from Capt 
Manning. He is at Croix le 
Bac. 

122 
1916 31 Days. 1 MONDAY [122-244]. May 
SS. Philip and James. Bank Holiday Scotland. Holiday, Stock Exchange. 
Royal Academy opens 

On duty all day. 3 new 
patients. There is a strong 
impression that we are 
moving from here. All the 
stock is being recalled from 
the wards. 
Capt Stephens my M.O. 
I don’t like him. He is too 
nice. He spent from 9 a.m 
untill after 1 in the wd 
with only 9 patients. I am 
the only med wd open. 
Col. Simmons set me thinking 
to day by asking after H. 
& then saying “He is most 
likely in France by now. 
 

 

123 
May 2 TUESDAY [123-243] 5th Month 1916 
Easter Law Sittings begin. 5h 29m A.M. (Greenwich) 

Things much the same in the 
ward. Saw the smoke from 
a passing plane of some 
sort in the middle of an 
inky black thunder storm. 
Most curious effect. 
Sister Tait & I met Major 
Prior at the Rue Grand Pont 
Visited the inside of St Euon 
The colored glass windows are 
glorious. The richness 
of the browns & reds & greens 
past anything I have seen but 
the windows of Kiat Bey Mosque 
appeal to me more, altho 
these are more delicate 
in coloring. The Gothic 
Architecture 1428 is supposed 
to be of the purest form. 
There is a long straight loft 
nave with very high supporting 
pillars which are plainly 
fluted & rise with out 
a break of line to an 
enormous height. We 
climbed a back winding 
stone stairs & got out amongst 
the masonry on a balcony 
which runs completely 
around the building 
giving one a fine view of 
Reoun & looking at Gargoyles 

Harry birthday 124 
1916 31 Days 3 WEDNESDAY [124-242] May 

Convoy of 70 in 4 Aln. 
I Got 9. most of the 
cases surgical, some 
pretty bad. All are 
Tommy Soldiers. 
We were therefore unable 
to go to Major Prior's 
dinner 
The orderlies have a bad 
time When Convoys Come in 
They have to get out of bed & Carry 
stretchers for some hours & 
then do their usual work 
in the day time. 

 

125 
May 4 THURSDAY [125-241] 5th Month 1916 

I have now 23 patients 
no more news. A 
long letter from Tessa 
& one from Pat.. 
Went into Rouen with 
Mil. & Heath. met Capt 
Maj Prior & Mr Grouse 
for afternoon tea 
In the even went to 
a Lena Ashton Concert 
given for Sisters & Officers 

126 
1916 31 Days 5 FRIDAY [126-240] May 

Nothing special to report 
Have had a very busy 
day in the ward, hear 
tonight that we are 
moving on. No letters 
yet, either from Aust 
or from Egypt 

 

127 
May 6 SATURDAY [127-239] 5th Month 1916 
King's Accession, 1910 

A very jaggy morn in 
the ward. I have two S. N. 
E. Harte & Warden, the [[Cotton?]] 
[[cot?]] much used 

Norman Brooks round the ward 
Told me we are moving 
north. 
Met Major Prior & the Scotch 
Doctor in the afternoon, With 
Heath, Millicent, & myself we 
went to Marmonte. Train 
for about 5 miles through 
picturesque villages & road 
past Bakery North - where they 
put through 80000 odd [[?oshir?]] 
daily. This is one of the large 
field Bakerys going. 
Mormont is a beautiful 
wild hill of Beech trees 
oak trees & undergrowth. 
Such charming single 
paths lead through the 
woods, with glorious 
wild flowers. Violets, butter 
cups & forgetmenots. We 
had afternoon tea from 
Thermos flask in the woods 
& then Dinner at the Normandy 
It was a delightful afternoon 
No letters yet from Harry 

128 
1916 31 Days 7 SUNDAY - 2 aft Easter [128-238] May 

Large Convoy in this a.m. 
I got 1 tent full very sick 
cases. 1 gas case. He 
is suffering chiefly from 
pain in head & back & his 
lower limbs are quite helpless 
No news from Harry yet. 
We hear that Egypt is no longer 
to be our base. 
Major Prior & his 8 out today 
I was very tired of it all 
Arranged to see the Major 
tomorrow. I have a whole 
day off but Millicent is 
disagreeable & will not 
go out. I think she is without 
exception the most selfish 
girl I have yet met. 

 

 

129 
May 8 MONDAY [129-237] 5th Month 1916 

Very depressed all day, have 
a strong impression that 
Harry is in France. 

130 
1916 31 Days 9 TUESDAY [130-236] May 
Proclamation, King George V, Half Quarter Day 

Nothing unusual happened. 
Very busy day in Ward. 

Our nursing orderlies are 
doing wonderful work. 

A wonderful packet of old 
linen from Penzance 
Red Cross. Beautiful fine 
linen sheets cut to large 
hankchief size. Sented 
with lavendar 
Such a boon! 
Poor old gas gangrene 
Patients can have their 
sweating faces wiped. 
In Egypt Austn patients 
France English Scotch 
Irish all nations. 

 

 

131 
May 10 WEDNESDAY [131-235] 5th Month 1916 
8H 47m A.M. (Greenwich) 

busy a.m. still no letters. 
Met Major Prior & Capt 
Ford - had tea with them 
at the Leopold. They 
say one line of trenches 
is to be given to the Anzacs 
under General Birdwood. 
We do not know how 
true this is. Walked 
round our favourite 
corner of the Cathederal 
after tea. 

132 
1916 31 Days 11 THURSDAY [132-234] May 


 

 

137 
May 16 TUESDAY [137-229] 5th Month 1916 

Inspected by the D.G.M.S 
of Drillian. Him very 
big chief. The wards 
all looked nice. My 
tents happened to be 
the first visited. I do 
not like him much 
he tried to give me the 
"glad eye" so marked 
was it that even 
the O.C. & the patients 
spoke of it afterwds. 

We have a very sick 
pneumonia lad of 18. 

138 
1916 31 Days 17 WEDNESDAY [138-228] May 
2h 11m P.M. (Greenwich) 

Busy morning. Inspected 
by Princess Victoria. 
We did not make any 
special preparation & 
found afterwds that 
such had been expected. 
She seemed alright Two 
of her Lady in waiting 
had huge holes in 
the holes of their stockings 
Mrs Corbert also there, she 
was in Aust with the 
Dudleys. The Princess 
gave out penny boxes of 
cigarettes the English 
boys were very disgusted 
but the Aust were only 
disapointed because she 
did not take a fit. (She 
is an epileptic.) 
The General who was 
with her was an old 
warrior, too old to serve 
at present. In one of 
the wds he came accross 
one of his old regiment. 
A time expired man who 
had reinlisted. This chap 
has been badly wounded 
with a bomb & has always 
to lie on his face. There was 
a very joyous greeting! 

 

 

139 
May 18 THURSDAY [139-227] 5th Month 1916 

Inspected by The Principal 
Matron Miss McCarthy 

Went for a picnic 
with Crane, Ford, & Major 
Prior. Tis hard to 
keep every one in the 
right spot. Major P is 
alright. 
Came home & found 
some beautiful letters 
waiting. 

140 
1916 31 Days 19 FRIDAY [140-226] May 

Very busy day. Convoy 
in A.M. 
One very sick Pneumonic 
I am practically specialling 
him. He asked me to write to his 
girl in England 

 

 

141 
May 20 SATURDAY [141-225] 5th Month 1916 

Took four of the boys 
out for a picnic 
They were so excited 
all the morning Its 
the first time they have 
been out for 8 weeks. 
We taxicabbed round 
Rouen, saw the best 
buildings. I bought 
a straberry tart some 
cakes & ox tongue, also 
a couple bottles of light 
wine & we went about 
5 miles into the forest 
& had our tea. 

A letter from Harry 
Such Joy. Only 2 wks 
old it is. He is adjutant 
of the 53rd Battn & will 
shortly be over in France. 
My love for him is 
enormous 

Also a letter from Cyril 
Spurge. He is returning 
to Australia. 
Two letters too from Fred 
They are having very hot 
weather in Egypt 

142 
1916 31 Days 21 SUNDAY - 4 aft Easter [142-224] May 

On duty all day. Very 
happy with letter from 
H. 
Major Prior visited 
hosp 
Large number of patients 
signed up for Eng. 
hate loosing them. 

Football match bet. Anzac 
Bakery & Hospital. We 
won. 

A wee scotch lad operated on 
today. He wanted his dinner 
which was before the op. 
Was told "No" "Well can 
I have my tea" "Yes" 
tonight he ex claimed sadly 
"You had na gie me ma 
dinner, & noo A canna 
eat mae tea". "Let me try 
Sister, Ah was alye a 
great lad for Keepin 
things doon". 

News came in that the 
20th have been badly hit 
up 


 

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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