Diary of Alice Ross-King, 1916 - 6

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

Page 1 / 10

143 May 22 MONDAY (143-223) 5th Month 1916 Knn Morning II patient of to Convit. to ten reearly all my awnt ways out Cibled t Harry tiet waor Pawr. Had aflernoon teo at Chawine home to dinner 144 May 23 TUESDAY (144-222) 1916 31 Days A large Convoy came in this hi. I got a freat man I anied jut a breakfarl time. To we had a tremendon da Red loss important looking man wen- round the waid giving one Cigaretts out of an abdula 6os to each partient. They proved to be wordbie ther Scotch laddies said to me Sister, if ge get me tao Hame I'll geo ye ria kill to mak a braw gown wee - but I fear will be to lonsey i1 for ge to wear. The ing to pitat orderlie are proverbal for bafing. They are camped wilh as at present & the bays have been put on fatignely t0 of them have been engaged 4 day on putting a floor in a new tent of time. The Am. they put- 3 & this asternoon 6 boards down. 9 for the day. The orderly Pergeant came to me this Ad & said the boys were Anxions to leav hurring. could I make tsg of the ?t being very busy fraid per. Tt &disapeand a came at2.45. 4 P.M. taking half the patients to them ti
145 May 24 WEDNESDAY (145-22I) 5th Month 1916 ( 5h 16m a.n. (Greenwich). (Empire Day) Signed a loc of men up for Eng this A.M. We have tome indrn 29 year old with only teet & he has 7 Children is a golly sort altho he as very ill with indigestion. bent into onen will siste macpherson. Ha Shampss & a bath bought some very prety stuf for curtain ha. te with mayor wo 146 May 25. THURSDAY (146-220) 1916 31 Days; nothing very Special I had a very heavy day did norof to work whil wardon did 2spong she two three Anst boys ward, Collir, Whittes were in grone con camp They are having or ile rough tine of
147 May 26 FRIDAY (147-219) 5th Month 1916 Queen Mary born, 1867 Kelly I were to wreet Major Prior for after mean tea in th word miller a Heath were also invited onond-and ct say with whom, ear shirf hent and het we mate all in the same paity. Sandy & the mayor having youes fore he accrt t our deliget i Maron virty Heath Kell & myrely stayed in Ronen to dinner with Santy &rior. We dined at opa a cans. a small room yo stair with about-6 table & a queer little waitrns salew & coren The place is not fasmonal bulles very weg. A great frnce officer duie werd The dlim ancellent & the wind ow so that on taoks anto the busy River one feam on my return I found that wastor is Sente K &that owve to give us any waid to wall & take surgieas but 2.13 Ii the t wll in the 0s 148 123 27 SATURDAY (14S-218) 1816 81 Pa. Stocktaking mook of do very tires &sensilive today. Had to hold on very lighte 6 given up in Have wrn kno ward has to one there thing catting trings from man ther The mer a fai much geal. is Ieveder th in fwen the that om shall be hubh with Major working se welean Tuick t richean is telling eve one that he is delighted to have me but I do as- crust the old do 2 of the dust mining they came a m wd straight to France from l been have. Ocienes Won here & wils rather bad The bey but has ysbads and ty the want surrgeed wss are sent heree. I t tat
149 May 28 Rogation Sunday (149-217) 5th Month 1916 Two records officer after earon Pre both bient Ieam rather Alro a canadia tnca capt willon. Very lowe She han stage of 5 we did nt kne what to do deach +I dined I know of sow a Hotel 1ot. P getting entiarental. on 0 I lile the hew wand. I have very pood mossing orderl. d Dan Watt and Bay Laren toth gramman bays from thetturne. They are 100 You to p up the Roys father donated an Ambulance and oy and I am were suppee t b the deivers. when the t to ecyf Ambalar fac into couve as a in 12 as i 150 May 29 MONDAY (150-216) 1916 s1 Days Rogation Day Convay ly got but san bad one a dpins fract. bullet still in. Bardplagia from the wanst awn voug 25 7ear olo. mames 2 days before coming back slast lease to Eng apterhis I wrote to his wife Another case degred for badly buiht arms & fare. Anthe boy one foot going & wound in 7 different pails of bod the last one only a boy 17 year. Irish
151 May 5th Month 1916 30 TUESDAY (15I-215) Rogation Day Spie case merated upsn clos it removed Very serior condition Shopping I had the da Penie with in thet Fister Kelly, Mcpher, & myself Sandr, rios & sand at Markig dinder a georgiie a night 152 May SI WEDNESDAY (152-214) 1916 s1 Days Rogation Day. 6 Th 37m p.x. (Greenwich) in the wd. Very few patient of Them sent away mow Great improvemet to bug in Apine Care. Som Put him ugtes return. on water bi this afternoon The A.D hs Visitd Tried to be nice than I ol M.C Lean care for to me. came back & said the oppa were all laughing because he was ooking & talking at oe instead of i piet ing the wod. I feer so indig nant no letter. Its very few Ive had from kany altty I know that he has often written. don Ilove that boy.
153 June I THURSDAY (153-213) 6th Month 1916 Ascension Day my Spins came very ill. Set o his wife toda The little brish boy of 1 wtl thn ia fowe plucker an private life & is delighted that his foo i gome, because how no wont havee t return to the Trenches & he may not be inconvemence in la work by a missin nt flin public holida & all the shop are clour Sin aenewy week the Tapertries in the cathedral are very beautif The flowas an lovely. Peonies & Great tulifs in the flower state 154 June 2 FRIDAY (154-212) 1916 s0 Days By Convoy on Sonly Gov. 4 case but they were. very very bad one one care the bulletentared about 3uiche above the nipple lino, pierce the lung & exit below the Scapular. messing the heart by the narrowt one case?Co o have Gangrene operater on at once. his lee in in a fearful mers he a ulso shot through the lung b in the hear. Iam afraid he is dying. His name hulner & he has pleotog of wife & wee babe girl to mos old. he has the sweetest eye. all the men we got in today & very sick. are very dirty I had such a fing litter from an old patient - He Baw - The man who was kickw by the horse what used to bring round the E9gs in our wand is here Last night & thes morn we could hear the grun in Th Sistance Wale Do letter to
15 June MMIN 1818 3 SATURDAY (155-21I) King George V. born, 1865 My sick man died last I was so sad about night it. went to Bon Secoms in after uson. Home & to bee eare ae an ale day depresn about the naval battle. 156 June 4 Sunday aft Ascension (156-210) 1916 30 Days better news of the fighting to da argreat man ver don for afternoon tea. Amongst then a san of Carmon Duicker. he is will no Clearing Hospital. hicl a Cept- Barly. A flh. Aust with an Englnning Corp col I Chean fiven the D.S.O. Col Decrepney gone up Col. Summon the line Acting C.O. thail in 3 letters from &. one from Herberh one from Cril - badl cemond - hove from The one I kany love most evidently can't be bothered writing to me.
June 5 MONDAY (157-209) oth Month 1916 Day Wen. E La Bonill < cauge Coar 10.15 beautiful tirip along the senie pay lovely wooded hills will Challeane + the old Castle of Robert the devil. Saw homen working on Coal barger becut o Tayor Priss as limed be sat having hee could hear the guns firing. 158 June S TUESDAY (15S-208) 1916 m Daye convoy thi A.M. All bas cases. very interested in a man hamed Rice. Septie Hip & fort mining by tm. he are plugging & bags of Ball have been thinking of Bann am quite suere aill day he must bee on the Iway. tiews from Carrs days that all leave was stopped for 2 Wh from Cario to the Canae apt ditestive from and went round & made over 200 avests for descition most of the men being pound drink ere about land. is Col.S. is acting &t bearfull pert
159 7 WEDNESDAY (159-207) June 6th Month 1916 Kitchener is drowned. a first we wd not beleive the truth. how we have to beleive it we are overtnelmed. sadenmong that the Ferman's have broken through the ture at ypre etrward to night. certain. The cuns were much hearer & cleaser last night. But the be our Own faus ay b we have order evacuate patient and fast as possible How terble it all is I comforted myself to sign by developing some punts of Han Hon to know tha he is safe 160 June 8 THURSDAY (160-206) JRSSRN 9l1h 5Om p.m. (Greenwich) C unour moming Hhim that K has came through been picked up & was safe but tonight the open notice ow Cisly Dangla has the 2-Class Rayal reo Cron Iam flad Thoman ha i also Sema though goodnea only know hims Fimdlay why stould have had one. Three alfred hurser have it Dm D.P.D. has also glas about that. hagor Iwick has foue Eng we have been ordered to ecrease our bedd by 200 on loosing Rone Tyres. he word from Eayo
161 June 9 FRIDAY (16I-205) 6th Month 1916 Easter Law Sittings end. Oxford Easter Term ends I heard the in a tha Han Brgands bug land ong heare is deay congeful when I think of him. onr Serman have, had some suacasse at 7pre Han shan pas at little frend shop. Where they bangeed my head about of it. a & Jabbered to each turns ontier all the time, ending up by charghing me 11F. wrote Havg & X lant hight 162 June 10 SATURDAY (162-204) 1816 a Oxford Trinity Term begins not true about Hana dig rigade being Conway in this A-ln Weisick C one boy 17 years old. He is an American and lean away to yoin up tn England, His father and mother divorced. He said they would ndt miss him, O Kitten fre the I stare wendered tt the ward. He asked y he Could have it. I let him have it on his bed. He has lost both feet & one leg has gaogange Idon't think he will reecover. I astted tum of he litted lats anr he said yes they used to coll me rom when I was litte beo always terough houn stray las

143 
May 22 Monday [143-223] 5th Month 1916 

Busy morning - 11 patients 
to Eng. I G conval. 
nearly all my Aust 
boys out...
Cabled to Harry, 
Met Major Prior. Had 
afternoon tea at Marome. 
home to dinner. 

144 
1916 31 Days 23 Tuesday [144-222] May

A large Convoy came in this 
a.m. I got a great many 
It arrived just a breakfast 
time. So we had a tremendous 
day. 
Red Cross important looking 
man went round the ward 
giving one cigarette out of an 
“Abdula ” box to each patient 
They proved to be Woodbines.
My Scotch Laddies said to me 
“Sister, if ye get me tae Home 
I’ll gie ye ma kilt ti mak 
ye a braw gown wee - but 
I fear twill be too lousey 
for ye to wear.”
The [[?]]ing Hospital orderlies 
are proverbal for “loafing.” They are 
camped with us at present & the 
boys have been put on fatigue work. 
10 of them have been engaged today 
on putting a floor in a new tent of 
mine. This A.M. they put 3 & this 
afternoon 6 boards down. 9 for the 
day! The Orderly Sergeant came to me 
this A.M. & said the boys were Anxious 
to learn nursing. Could I make use 
of the ?" being very busy I said yes. They 
came at 2.45 & disapeared at 
4 P.M. taking half the patient's tea 
with them.

 

145 
May 24 Wednesday [145-221] 5th Month 1916 
5h 16m A.N.(Greenwich). (Empire Day) 

Signed a lot of men up for Eng 
this A.M. We have one man 
29 years old with only 3 
teeth & he has 7 children. 
he is a jolly sort altho he is very 
ill with indigestion. 
Went into Rouen with 
Sister MacPherson. Had 
shampoo & a bath. bought 
some very pretty stuff for 
Curtain, had afternoon 
tea with Major Prior. 

146 
1916 31 Days 25 Thursday [146-220] May 

Nothing very special. 
I had a very heavy day. 
did more of the work while 
Marllon did 2 sponges 
The live three Aust boys 
(Ward, Collins, Whittle) 
were in from Con Camp 
They are having a very 
rough time of it

 

147 
May 26 Friday [147-219] 5th Month 1916 
Queen Mary born, 1867 

Kelly & I were to meet 
Major Prior & go for afternoon 
tea in The Woods.
Miller & Heath were also 
invited out but did not 
say with whom, so 
our surpise when we 
met we were all in the 
same party. Sandy & the 
Major having joined forces 
we went to our delightful 
Marome.
Sisters Heath Kelly & myself 
stayed in Rouen to dinner 
with Sandy & Prior. We 
dined at Caffe au Panie. A 
small room upstairs with 
about 6 tables & a queer 
little waitress called Georgie.
The place is not fashionable 
but tis very nice, A great 
many French officers dine 
there. The dinners were 
excellent & the windows 
are cut low so that one 
looks onto the busy River 
Seine as one eats. 
On my return I found that 
Sister Warton is sick & that 
I have to give up my ward to 
Watt & take Surgical hut 2, 13 
It is in the best ward in the Hosp 

148 
1916 31 Days 27 Saturday [148-218] May 

Stocktaking most of day.
Very tired &sensitive today. 
Had to hold on very tightly. 
Have given up my old 
Ward - how many kind 
things said to me there. 
Many cutting things from 
a few in the Mess. There 
is evidently much jealousy 
that I'm given the 
hut. I shall be 
working with Major 
Quick & Col McLean . 
McLean is telling every 
one that he is delighted 
to have me but I do 
not trust the old dog. 

2 of the Aust Mining Corps 
in my ward. They came 
straight to France from 
Aust & have only been 
here 2 weeks. One is wounded 
rather badly. 

The big hut has 40 beds and 
only the worse surgical 
cases are sent there. I have 
a good staff.

 

149 
May 28 Rogation Sunday [149-217] 5th Month 1916 

Two records officers this 
afternoon. Pearson & Price 
both Lieuts. Seem rather 
nice. Also a Canadian 
Capt. Wilson - very lovely. 
The men stayed on & 
on & we did not know 
what to do. Macp & I 
dined ĉ Prior & Ford at 
Hotel Post. P. getting 
sentimental. 
On a 
I like the new ward. I have 
2 very good nursing orderlies - 
Ian Walt and Roy Lauren - 
Both Grammar boys from 
Melbourne. They are too young 
to go up the live. Roy's father 
donated an Ambulance and 
Roy and Ian were supposed 
to be the drivers. When they 
got to Egypt the Ambulance 
was put into convoy and Roy 
and Ian into Hosp. as nursing 
orderlies. 

150 
1916 31 Days 29 Monday [150-216] May 
Rogation Day 

Convoy in - only got 
7 cases but very bad 
ones. One a spine fract 
bullet still in. Paraplegia 
from the waist down. 
Only 25 years old. Maimed 
2 days before coming back 
after his last leave to Eng. 
I wrote to his wife. 
Another case liquid fire badly 
burnt arms & face. Another 
boy one foot gone & wounds 
in 7 different parts of body. 
The last one only a boy of 
17 years. Irish.

 

151 
May 30 Tuesday [151-215] 5th Month 1916 
Rogation Day 

Spine Case operated upon 
Alot of C removed. Very serious 
condition. 
I had the day off. Shopping 
in the A.M. Picnic with 
Sister Kelly, Mcpher, & myself 
Sandy, Prior & Ford at Marmone 
Dinner ĉ Gerogie at night. 

152 
1916 31 Days 31 Wednesday [152-214] May 
Rogation Day . [full moon] 7h 37m P.M. (Greenwich) 

Very few patients in the wd - 
sent away most of them 
to Eng. Great improvement 
in Spine Case. Some 
reflex return. Put him 
on water bed this afternoon 
The A.D.M.S visitd 
Tried to be nice than I 
care for to me. Col McLean 
came back & said the Officers 
were all laughing because 
he was looking & talking 
at me instead of inspecting 
the wards. I felt 
so indignant. 
No letters. It's very few I've 
had from Harry altho I Know 
that he has often written. 
How I love that boy!

 

153 
June 1 Thursday [153-213] 6th Month 1916 
Ascension Day 

My Spine Case very ill. Sent 
for his wife today. 
The little Irish boy of 17 
with the leg off is a fowl 
plucker in private life & 
is delighted that his foot 
is gone, because now he 
wont have to return to 
the trenches & he may 
not be inconvenienced 
by in his work by a missing 
limb. 
This is a public holiday 
& all the shops are Closed. 
Tis Ascension week & 
the P Tapestries in the 
Cathedral are very beautiful 
The flowers are lovely. 
Peonies & Great tulips 
in the flower stalls. 

154 
1916 30 Days 2 Friday [154-212] June 

Big convoy in. I only got 14 cases 
but they were very very bad ones. 
One case the bullet entered about 
3 inches above the nipple line, pierced 
the lung & exit below the Scapular. 
Missing the heart by the narrowest 
shave. One case of Gas 
gangrene operated on at once. 
His leg is in a fearful mess 
he is also shot through the 
lung & in the head. I'm 
afraid he is dying. His name 
Milner & he has photog. of wife 
& wee babe girl 10 mos old. 
he has the sweetest eyes. 
All the men we got in today 
are very dirty & very sick. 
I had such a funny letter 
from an old patient - He 
said - "The man who was 
kicked by the horse what 
used to bring round the eggs 
in our ward is here." 
Last night & this morn we 
could hear the guns in the 
distance. 
I wrote 7 D.I letters tonight.

 

155 
June 3 Saturday [155-211] 6th Month 1916 

King George V. born, 1865 
My sick man died last 
night. I was so sad about 
it. 
Went to Bon Secours in 
afternoon. Home & to bed 
early. 
We are all very depressed 
about the naval battle. 

156 
1916 30Days 4 Sunday aft Ascension [156-210] June 

better news of the fighting 
to day. 
A great many visitors 
for afternoon tea. Amongst 
them a son of Carmon 
Tucker. he is with no 2 
Cleaning Hospital. 
with a Capt Baily. A Sth. 
Aust with an Eng Mining 
Corps. 
Col McLean from the D.S.O. 
Col DeCrepney gone up 
the line. - Col. Summons 
Acting C.O. 
Mail in_ 3 letters from 
X. One from Hubert 
one from Cyril - badly 
censored - none from 
Harry. The one I 
love most evidently 
can't be bothered writing 
to me.

 

157 
June 5 Monday [157-209] 6th Month 1916 

Day off. Went to La Bouille 
Caught boat 10.15. beautiful 
trip along the Seine. 
Past lovely wooded hills 
with Chatteaux & the 
old castle of Robert the 
Aevil. 
Saw women working 
on Coal barges. Went 
ĉ Major Prior. as 
we sat having lunch 
we could hear the 
guns firing. 

158 
1916 30 Days 6 Tuesday [158-208] June 

Convoy this A.M. All bad 
cases. 
Very interested in a man 
named Price . Septic Hip & 
foot running big temp. We 
are plugging ĉ bags of salt. 

Have been thinking of Harry 
all day, am quite sure 
he must be on the way. 
News from Cario says that all 
leave was stopped for 2 wks 
from Cairo to the Canal & 
a pte Attestive from Aust 
went round & made over 
200 arrests for desertion. 
Most of the men being found 
drunk etc about Cairo. 

Col. S. is acting O.C & is a 
fearfull pest.

 

159 
June 7 Wednesday [159-207] 6th Month 1916 

Kitchener is drowned. 
At first we wd not believe 
the truth. Now we have 
to believe it we are 
overwhelmed. 
A rumour that the 
Germans have broken 
through the line at Ypres 
is abroad tonight. 
Certainly the Guns were 
much nearer & clearer 
last night. But they 
may be our own guns. 
We have orders to 
evacuate patients as 
fast as possible. 
How terrible it all is. 
I comforted myself tonight 
by developing some 
prints of Harry. 
How I long to know 
that he is safe. 

160 
1916 30 Days 8 Thursday [160-206] June 
11h 59m P.M. (Greenwich) 

This morning a rumour 
came through that "K" has 
been picked up & was safe 
but tonight the official notice 
is out. 
Sister Douglas has the 2nd Class 
Royal red Cross I am glad. 
Jessa Thomas has it also 
though goodness only knows 
why. Miss Findlay 
should have had one. 
Three Alfred nurses have it 
X. has a D.S.O. Im 
also glad about that. 
Major Quirk has gone to 
Eng. 
We have been ordered to 
increase our beds by 200. 
Im loosing Rose Tyres. 

No word from Egypt.

 

161 
June 9 Friday [161-205] 6th Month 1916 
Easter Law Sittings end. Oxford Easter Term ends 

I heard this A.M. that Harry's 
Brigade is in England. 
My heart is very sorrowful 
when I think of him. The 
Germans have had some 
successes at Ypres. 
Hair shampoo at a little French 
shop - where they banged my 
head about as if it was a 
turnip & jabbered to each 
outher all the time, ending up 
by charging me 11 F. 
Wrote to Harry & X 
last night. 

162 
1916 30 Days 10 Saturday [162-204] June 
Oxford Trinity Term begins 

Not true about Harry's 
brigade being in Eng 
Convoy in this A.M. 
very sick cases 
One boy 17 years old - He is an 
American and ran away to join 
up in England. His Father and 
Mother divorced. He said they 
would not miss him. A kitten 
from the Q Store wandered 
into the ward. He asked if he 
could have it. I let him have 
it on his bed. He has lost both 
feet & one leg has gas gangrene 
I dont think he will recover. 
I asked him if he liked cats and 
he said "Yes! They used to call 
me "Tom" when I was little becos 
I always brought home stray 
cats"

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