Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 2 - Part 2

1

TUESDAY 6^TH MAY 1915

Left Abbassia 6pm for Mena House, on duty, Surgical—53 patients—slight wounds. 
Put on Night Duty (in charge)---called at 1am. No sleep, called 12 midnight, hot 
afternoon. Not feeling too well after rush at Abassia getting beds ready for wounded 
who came in the night we left. Other Sisters up till 2am.

11^th May

Went to bed 2am on Tuesday 11^th. Orders at 8pm for Alexandria for Duty. Left 
Cairo for Alex. With 5 others. Miss Gould came to R.S.T. and paid us for month. 
Left about 9/30am. Pleasant journey, about 3 hours. Arrived midday, no one to meet 
us. 
After leaving station, about 5 minutes from central in Alex, discovered that they had 
put out all our luggage and left us. We never heard or understood that we should have 
got out. Did not matter though really. As soon as we got out of course I range up the 
P.M.O. to know where we were expected to go for Duty. He did not know but wired 
Surgeon General Cairo wo told him No 17 General. Sent 2 cars, one for us and one 
for our luggage, which we picked up as we passed. Great fun to see our luggage safely 
on a railway station & not marked Alexandria & we sailing off to Alex, never looked 
at our tickets or anything. No time to look at labels on luggage at Cairo, after all, it 
was only a few minutes in a car. Our tickets and luggage were taken for this station 
as it was nearer the Hospital. 
Such an awfully obliging boy chauffeur to some General was at the station to meet the 
General who did not turn up. He did such a lot for me, going to place s about cars etc. 
Would have taken us all to Hospital about 5 or 6 miles away, only his car could only 
take 3 and we were 6, of course, could not leave 2 or 3. 
We arrived safely, made very welcome by Sister in Charge, who said they were very 
pleased to see us. They had been so busy. No off duty time for days.

15^th May

6 very bad cases left for England. Hart...very bad leg, a great many went from this 
Hospital No new ones yet. I now have only 27. One dreadfully bad arm Treveet, 
anaesthetic to dress daily.

16^th May

No change, getting ward into better order, was terribly dirty, badly managed and the 
poor people had no time to do anything but try to look after patients.

Miss Osram who was in South Africa, now a Principle Matron here for the first few 
days says she saw Miss Gould appears to be organising her hospital staff. Suppose 
Nellie (Gould) will send for me the first chance she gets. I like this place very much, 
also the Sister in Charge who leaves you alone to your work. No petty lectures etc.

Mena, Egypt. c. 1915.

The Mena Hotel which was close to Mena Army Camp and the Pyramids. The hotel was 
converted to house No 1 Australian Army General Hospital and No 2 Australian Army 
Stationary Hospital.

(Photo: see original document )
 

2

16^th May 1915

No letters. No news of any sort today. Not been off Duty at all 'till 8/30pm for dinner 
then bed. Since we came here, sleeping in tents, 4 in each, go for meals to Hotel about 
10mins walk away. Car takes us when we catch it, on the edge of the sea. This 
Hospital quite close to sea. Very hot midday, dusty but always a cool breeze.

A great many very dreadful cases in here, spine, shot through chest, paralysed case 
very heavy, dreadful backs, all before they came. Poor fellows, terribly wounded, 
some of them suffering dreadfully now, dressings not done for 4 Or 5 days or so, 
become almost gangrene, bones shattered etc, wounds smell terribly, makes you feel 
faint. Some of them, they bear it so well too. A great many have died too. 
This Hospital can take 1040 patients. Equipped for 800 now in.

18^th May

Great many wounded in Hospital, I have 33, 3 dreadfully bad spinal cases, 
pneumonia also, shot through the chest, bed sores as large as as a bread & butter 
plate, shocking to look at. Poor fellows, they are so patient, never grumble or groan, 
while others are never doing anything else, with very slight wounds. Some bad 
shrapnel & gunshot wounds of joints and thighs, will lose leg I'm afraid Give 
Anaesthetic daily to some to dress their wounds.

Trevett had to have right arm near shoulder amputated yesterday, very sad. Only 
support his mother has and one brother. Very sad about losing, though knew for 2 
days that it was his life or arm.

Standalop—Collins---Strett--(All English) spine cases, dreadfully ill, all young 
men, awfully sad also these cases. It makes you howl to see and think of them.

19^th May

Very busy always, very nice Medical men, they work on and are no trouble, would do 
anything for you, have got to wait upon themselves. I do as many cases as I can 
and then we both do the biggest ones together. Some take us both and 3 Orderlies, they are 
so heavy. 
I have such good boys for Orderlies, English, work from 6/30am 'till long after 8 pm, 
have never been off 'till then since I've been here. We haven't been off either. 
This afternoon I was supposed, for the first time since I came, to be off from 2pm but 
it was after 3 when I finished & seen Matron about bills at the hotel etc. 
Got a bath today in my tent, got a nigger to bring along 4 buckets of hot water & I 
stayed in it about 40 minutes, get the dirt off for once.

Too tired to go into town, just went to bed, did not even go down for dinner. Sister 
from Quarters sent me some tea and bread and butter which was quite enough.

Several French soldiers camped opposite our Hospital, so quaint in their red & blue 
pants, white & blue tricolour. Do not look as nice as our uniform, perhaps because we 
are not used to them. They have a most beautiful bugle call every night, the sweetest notes. 
Our men always clap & ask for an encore, which they get.

3

19^th May 1915

Every nation seems to be drawn together and all these men who were in this 
Engagement at the Dardanbelles are great friends & understand one another so much 
better. We have no time to talk to them or hear any of their great battle stories--as 
much as we can do to dress their wounds & try to keep the wards clean.

Most comfortable in my tent. ¾ bed, curtains, very hot midday but we are never in it. 
Really, am very happy and thank goodness keep so well. Like everybody I work 
with.

Getting many things for Ward as the place was a school. Of course it is not up to 
Hospital requirements but they are putting on water—lavatory---bath etc. Suppose as 
soon as it is all in working order I shall get a move on again.
Do not mind as long as I am away from Nellie & old Johnston. The old Colonel 
S.M.O. here is pleased with my Ward. Matron says. The old sinner, I made him 
leave a little room he was taking, simply put all my things in it, told him I wanted it 
fitted up. I had the room & wanted him to finish it. He was so surprised that he gave 
me more than I asked him for, which pleased me. His name is Healy, Irish, I guess 
& I am never able to get along with most Irish. However, so long as I get all or nearly 
all I want, shall not care much.

22^nd May
No fresh news. Italy, we hear last night declared war at least with Austria, Romania 
& Bulgaria also declared war.

Same dressings, very heavy Pte. Trevett lost his arm from just below the shoulder, 
very big painful dressing, otherwise he is much better.

No letters. Tried to get a message through to Miss Gould to send them on but so far 
can't get it, though trying again this afternoon.

Got 3 water beds today for these spine cases, shocking cases, shot through their chest, 
small wound, healed long ago. No feeling from waist down, constantly dirty & pieces 
out of each back the size of a bread & butter plate. Terribly heavy cases. Two also 
have Pneumonia, were admitted 7^th May, all from Dardanelles, poor beggars.

Dreadfully hot here today, don't know what we shall do if it gets much hotter Our 
tent very hot on the sand too, though we are never allowed to go to them except for 
bed. Two hours off duty day before yesterday. None yesterday. Getting off 2 hours 
today, though really such a lot to do, feel I should not go. This is a school, not well 
equipped for a hospital. They are making a few necessary changes here, though doing 
all they can to help lessen the work.

22^nd May

Just hear that there are 17 more Sisters & Matron coming. Do not know where from----England 
or Australia. Nothing else new. 
About 900 patients now--- 36 sisters.

4

23^rd MAY 1915

(Sunday) Everything just the same. I am supposed to have charge of both 1 & 2 
ground floors but so many wounds & dressings, have to leave all No.2 to Nurse 
Murhennett. She is very good. We relieve one another now for a few hours off. 
Today she goes from 2 'till 4pm. I got from 5 Or 6 'till 8pm. If any wounded come in, 
can't go. 
Convoy expected today we are told, badly wounded some of them. One man had the 
cap of a shell taken out of his leg – underneath, ½ inch thick, iron & about 3" across-round. 
You could hardly believe that such a large piece of iron could be carried about 
in anybody's body. He carried it about 5 or 6 days. The Doctor here cut it out before I 
came. He had about 6 great wounds in his leg of course. Frightfully septic. Wounded 
on date now beginning to look cleaner but so far the smell is frightful.

26^th May

Frightfully hot today, came to dinner 1/30 after waiting about in the sun for 20 
minutes. Scolded all round. Too hot in tent to breathe so sat out in dining room facing 
the sea 'till it got a little cooler. 
Patients going to Cairo today, more expected in. Some leaving for England this week 
also. Blazing heat all round, sea very calm.

Standaloft died yesterday- spine case. Sent a not to his wife with one he had written 
to her enclosed. 
Tons of dust too. 
Letters—2 from Alice & Mother, 1 Grace, Short, N. Johnson, Chriss & Glad all well.

Grace says at least George is coming over as Quartermaster, how happy they'll be if 
Georgie gets a medal or two eh? Don't suppose I shall come across them. Sending a 
message to Emily Elliot by Pet Trevett who lives at Bournemouth he says. Lost his 
arm last week, pretty well now.

27^th May

7 more men fitted, some medical—gunshot wounds shoulder- back & legs, not 
very serious. 
Smith leg very bad- to be amputated 29^th, very heavy case- 6 tubes in- smell 
frightfully- pus pours out. Just the same since it was opened up again, admitted 7^th 
May, 4 days before I took the Ward over. 
Frightful day, never felt anything like it, hot wind, flies, dust & heat. Some of the 
M.O's say it was 120 degrees in their tents today. They are a short distance from our tents. 
We have marquees with 4 sisters in, they have small Bell tents, only 1 in—all on sand.
One more of our spin cases died Standaloft. Wrote a few lines to his wife which I 
closed before him. After he died I wrote a few lines to her & sent both on to her. Poor 
thing, 2 small children too. His Colonel came and saw him during the afternoon. 
Came again yesterday, very concerned about him, said he would write to his wife too.

Very hot today again but not nearly as bad as yesterday.  
Still have Sister Baines, works very well, is very tidy & good to her sick patients.

5

31^st May 

881 patients in Hospital just now ---240 beds. Sultan came to some of the Wards

 1^st June

Many patients sent to England today. Trevett went, arm cleaner. Pte. much better 
since amputation. Gave him a letter from Mrs Elliott at the "Gordon" at Bournemouth 
, his other lives there. 
Another Convoy in yesterday & day before.

2^nd June

1050 patients in Hospital today.

2359 admitted here since 30^th April

Terribly hot again yesterday.

A patient got a good snapshot of the Sultan for me on Monday 31^st. Hope it turns out 
well when developed. Also got one of the building and Ward & ofPte Smith with the 
piece of iron (cap) that was taken out of his leg, resting on top of stump, he wanted 
this badly. 
Ward looking cleaner, beds, patients etc. Floor still dirty looking & dark

4^th June

Went into town with Sister. Did a bit of shopping. Could not get collars or cuffs. Had 
afternoon tea. Went to see Miss Grierson. 
18 Sisters left here for Transport Duty today, says she has not enough to do the work 
& wash & clean the patients properly. Went through some Wards & they were very 
airy & clean, did not look as though they had too much to do. Patients also did not 
look very bad really, most of all the very bad cases everywhere have died for got a 
little better. 
Heard the we are to be sent back to No2. Others from England coming to take our 
places. Awfully sorry if it so. Shall hate going back. 
Sent some films to be developed, hope they turn out well - one of the old Sultan. 
No letters for 2 weeks. Nellie will never send them on.

21^st June

Nothing special since last entry, just the same daily work, plenty of it & dreadful 
heat. Everybody feeling it very much, going about with as little clothing on as 
possible. Nothing but pants to the knees and the Dr's & a good many soldiers wear here. 
You feel you wish you were a man to go about in the same way. Lovely breeze most 
of the time here, we are on the sea so it is much cooler than Cairo.

At last we get letters from Cairo, I got 9, one from T.N.A. New Year card posted on 
"Kyarra", Ethel, Rube, Lil, Mrs. Elliott & the rest from home. Very glad to get them 
& to know all well. Been too bush to write at all lately. Just the same sick—few 
wounded. Some boats expected. Got Nurses Journal, several papers from N. Johnson, 
2 from Chris.

6

21^st June1915

Several more Nurses came here today. 
Mrs. Purchace, Major Purchace's wife, died last week, Enteric, was working as a Red 
Cross helper, he was here, also son & niece. Poor thing, was very nice, 2 sons at 
Front. A good many Medical men have either Enteric or Dysentery here.

Only 941 patients today, some gone out, will soon fill up again. Col. Plan Wesleyan 
Parson who came over with us, came from the Dardanelles today. He said it was 
dreadful over there, I had no time to talk to him & don't think they do much, most of 
them. 
General Babtie coming tomorrow, hope I see him. False alarm, did not come, 
mistaken message. Col. should have gone with him. Hope he comes along later.

24^th June

Off for half day. Matron let me have car, so went for a long drive, lovely, Sister & I 
did a good deal of shopping after, I bought some things to send home to the boys, 
also things for some of my sick patients, poor fellows. 
Very hot in the am, cool after, 80deg at night in our tents.

25^th June

4 wounded patients left for England, all very well except Smith whose leg was 
amputated, was very septic, but he needed a change badly. 
Nothing new, more men yesterday. I did not get any. Had 15 empty beds. Men sent 
out on purpose, filling up another Block first. Very badly wounded they say, some of 
them.

26^th June

Just heard from Matron that we are recalled to return to Cairo on 28^th. I rang up Miss 
Gould & asked her. She said yes, but that I might be sent on a transport. I told her I 
expected to go on transport so did not think it was worthwhile going to Cairo. Miss 
Oram is coming here tomorrow and she may know something about what we have to 
do. Think she will do something for me. Matron says she recommended me for any 
pioneering work.. I asked her to do so, told the Colonel too. Both have been very good 
to me.

28^th June

9 of the Nurses left for Cairo, I have been given transport duty, thank heavens, 
don't know where I am going to, hope Dardanelles.

30^th June

Awfully hot day, so glad I am here, told Miss Gould to send my letters on when I 
spoke to her on the telephone. She has not done so, though she said there were some 
there. 
Have got Transport Duty so am very happy, hope I get along well.

77

Rules for Member of Q.A.R.A.N.S. and Reserve serving on Hospital Ships or returning as Patients.

1.	Sisters and Staff Nurses are under the immediate orders of the  Matron on and off duty for all matters of duty and discipline.
2.	The Regulations and Standing Orders governing the Q.A.R.A.N.S. are  equally to be observed by members of the reserve at all times.
3.	Sisters and Staff Nurses will maintain at all times strictly  professional relationship with the Staff of the Ships.
4.	Sisters and Staff Nurses will have no communication whatever with  Medical Officers, Ship Officers, or Officers who are patients,  except in the discharge of their duties as Nurses.
5.	Sisters and Staff Nurses will keep to their own part of the deck  and sitting-room accommodation for recreation purposes: they are  not permitted to mix with Officers when off duty.
6.	Sisters and Staff Nurses are not permitted to go on shore with any  Officer belonging to the Ship.
7.	Sisters and Staff Nurses I'll not remain on deck after 9.30 p.m.  and will, if required to do so by the Matron, go below earlier.
8.	Smoking is strictly forbidden. No wine or stimulants are to be  taken by any member of the Q.A.R.A.N.S. or Reserve except under  Medical orders; such orders to be given through the Matron, to  whom the Nursing Staff will at once report themselves if they  require any Medical treatment.
9.	Any failure to comply with these regulations will render the Sister  or Staff Nurses liable to be removed form the Hospital Ship.

(Signed) Alfred Keogh,

Director General

Army Medical Service.

War Office,

E. B. Stacy

K. L. Com

M. A. Paton

J. Leary 

7

2^nd July 1915

Just got 6 letters from Cooks, glad all went well at home. Sorry Lil's baby boy died, but 
glad she is well herself. Glad mother is well. 

Went to Pay Office today, try to fix up about my money in case I leave in a hurry. 
Just hear that Creal (Matron) is coming out here, she will have to work, I hope it will 
do her good. Hope she gets a dose of the heat just like we have done. Sorry George is 
not to well yet and glad that Freddie got his Scholarship & a good position. Hope 
Claude does well too. Fancy rain & mother out. I've seen rain, only a shower once 
since I left Sydney. 
Wrote home---Lil, Lil Att. Fred, Rube, & Mr. Mitchell.

4^th July

Just been told that I'm to be in charge of Hospital Ship. Matron says, so suppose 
they can't go back on that. Good to be in charge anywhere. Am sure the Surgeon 
General would give me anything he could.

7^th July

Left Bean Rivage, having meals at Gatehouse. 
Home, 17^th General, still in tents, 3/- per person 
Several letters from home, dated 25^th May 
Wrote Rube, Al, Lil Attwater today. 
Had day off the first,--8^th July

9^th July

Frightfully hot, very busy, many very sick & badly wounded cases in this week, some 
amputated arms. Sister told me one was black, very bad head cases & very bad 
Medical cases also. 12 admitted to my Ward today, 14 went out. Some got out of bed 
to make room for others. 
Awfully tired tonight, worked 'till 6/30pm, then kept 'till some time after as no Sister 
to relieve me. Felt heat, I had not done all I should have done. Will soon be very tired. 
Hope to get away as soon as possible on Transport for a change. 
Just got a bath in our tent, great joy to get a wash. Lucky enough to get one each after 
a lot of trouble----3 Arabs & 3 Piastras which is a little over sixpence.

10^th July

Been very seedy for the past few days, awfully heavy cases in ward. Surgical &

Medical, pneumonia, only one orderly. One man who knows nothing.  
33 patients, none out of bed. The Matron took away my 3^rd to stay Special with a 
pneumonia—delirious. Slaved all day. Frightful heat also, very bad for poor sick ones.
Could only wash & sponge, try to keep them cool. 
One delirious pneumonia told me they had washed him 6 times already. I had to do 
him again in the face of it. He was wet through, even pillows & mattress with 
perspiration, had to change all. Anyway he is getting well so we are all very proud of 
him & ourselves.

8

12^th July

Feel a little better today, food a little better actually. Little meat for lunch, little square 
of toast & poached ½ egg I call it. Anyway, better than it was. 
Letter from Mrs Mackinnon re a friend coming here to nurse in Red Cross. I could 
not recommend her, only plan would be to come over & chance getting attached to 
some hospital when she arrives. 
Letter also addressed to A. Pocock, not mine when I cam got open it. Written from 
Lower Tooting.  
Letter from G.P.O. no trace of my letter from Kodak with 12 films, sorry, some good 
ones in it. 
(Letters and photos turned up in September, had been to Victoria Australia & back 
again, instead of Victoria College Hospital in Alexandria)

17^th July

(Written in indelible pencil) 
Nothing special since last entry, hard work, heat etc. 
Orders came to be ready for transport a week ago. Last night orders to say that we 
were to leave Alexandria 9am train for Port Said. Myself in charge & 7 others going 
on H.Ship "Assaye". Some one bungled orders etc. We waited from 7/30am, then 
when I fussed round & made them do it, they found that no one had seen to the 
transport of me or our luggage to the train. 
Someone said Matron said we should do it ourselves, which is absurd. The colonel 
came along, said it was bungled & we would have to jump onto the first thing that 
came along. Only had 20 minutes then to do ½ hour journey. 
So he commandeered a lorry & we jumped. Me in front beside the driver so got no 
sun much. The others on top of our luggage in the open & flew to the station, just got 
there in time. 
Several men & officers going too. Have seen some of them in hospital, so feel alright. 
Hope we got to & from Dardanelles for a time. Also hope I am not sick and that I'm 
able to do extra good work. 
Left Alexandra 9/15am train, a bit late, probably stuffing our luggage in. 
Lovely interesting Country but intensely hot. While the train moves you can breathe 
but when she stops it is like----well, hardly Heaven, yet the crops, gardens, trees, 
everything looks beautifully green, nothing dead & water lying about everywhere.

17^th July

Left Gate House 17 General Hospital 9am. Paid messing account for 10 days, 2/6d a 
day as I had my laundry done outside & had to pay for that extra twenty five shillings 
for 10 days.  
(Tea, B&B, cakes, awfully good & nice, only 1/- each, best since Egypt)

Just arrived Damanhur 12.10am, all mud brick ruins apparently. Native town here at 
station anyway. A good deal of the way is by a canal, small trees growing along the 
bank on the opposite side of the railway line. Natives lying in the shade, donkeys, 
oxen & camels near them, or sitting in the water with tiny youngsters leading a great 
big cow or bullock., a great big bony framework, much bigger than ours & short legs. 
Look so funny.