Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 29
140
Two diptheria cases today,
so more isolation.
Poor old Ray is still down
with it. Major Lorenzo was
sent along to the 11th Bn
today to take over duties
so as to relieve Ray, who
has been ordered to stay
in bed. The poor old
chap feels the cold [?]
I wish he could get over
to Egypt, but no further
[?] has come about it
yet. People who have
spent winters in England say
this is colder than anything
they have ever experienced.
I can quite believe it!
Tuesday, November 30th 1915
Quite a lovely day today
for a change. The doctor
and I had arranged to walk to
Thames, where there are hot
springs, but the C.O. called a
meeting of officers for 12 o'clock
and as it takes practically the
whole day to go to Thames
and back we had to cut it
out. Instead we decided to go
over to the Australian Hospital
where the Doc left his coat
and [putters?] the other night
when it was so [w?t] wet.
Afterwards I was glad I stayed
in camp, for at lunch time
Major Lorenzo came along to
tell me Ray was going to
hospital at 2.30. After lunch
I went across to see him, and
stayed there till the ambulance
came for him. I have collected
up all his private papers and
142
gear for him, and have them
in my hand now. Poor old chap,
it is just as I always said;
as soon as the strain and tension
of active service was removed
he began to relax and the
inevitable reaction set in. He
is not seriously ill, just seems
down, and a good long spell
of rest and nursing will pick
him up. I wish they would
send him to England. It is
rough luck, though, for his
rank of Lieut. Colonel is only
temporary and he reverts to
his substandard rank of Major
as soon as he goes to hospital.
Later when we reached
the hospital I saw him
again. He is in a big
marquee tent, with a good
bed and plenty of blankets, as
he is better there than in
a bell tent over on this
bleak side of the harbor.
On our way to the hospital
-----oh, but wait, I must
tell you. I am going too fast.
Since coming here there have
been several cases of infect
ious disease and today we
got word that the whole
brigade was to be isolated
from today. That means, of
course, that we can't go out-
side the camp boundaries,
nor can anyone else come
within them. The Brigade
Major gave me the
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