Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 2 - Part 8

44
Dec 19^th 1915
We have had no men from this action, perhaps a few hurt, trust so.
Several badly wounded on board today - half full now.
Lovely calm weather and beautiful days - moonlight nights, clear and cold. So good
for our poor men - no rain or winds for a few weeks.
Dec 20^th
Many more wounded today - rather badly - arms - legs- 2 amputated legs. One man
with both hands off, poor fellow - so cheerful a patient too.
Glorious day, sunset and full moonlight, not any wind.
Shells firing, see flashes, searchlights and rockets going up. Seems such a shame to
see such destruction going on under such a glorious sky. Most beautiful day and
evening.
Sailing 4am tomorrow - 371 patients.
Died on journey from Helles to Alexandria trip
1911 Hart P. A.S.H.4.45pm. Shrapnel wounds head and both legs.
2094 Joston _ 1^st Susses Regt. D. Squadron - abdominal wounds
2382 Horsbaugh .B. Pte. 1/5 H.2 Infantry - aged 25, Prebyt. Wounds head.
L425W Davis. W.T. R.N.D. Drake Battalion - 19yrs,Presbyt. Died 22^nd. Comp.
Fract. Femur and head.
9160 Halley J. Sgt. K.O.S.B. (Greek) died 9am 23^rd.
Lt. J.E.K. Hall. 3^rd Sth. Wales Borderes. Gun shot wounds chest and
shoulder, died 22^nd Sept.'15. H. Ship "Assaye"
Buried at sea. Lat. 39-57. Long. 25.36
Dec 21^st
Sailed 3.30am. - gale sprung up - most fierce and ship rolling badly.
Arrived Mudros about 8am - too rough to take on the 30 naval people we had to keep
beds for, so were sent off without them.
Left Mudros again about 1.40pm for Alexandria - fine weather but good swell on,
everybody a bit seedy but able to do their work in wards.
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Dec 22^nd 1915
Several deaths - nothing new - many sick and some awfully bad wounds - same
routine - hope to reach Alex., noon tomorrow.
Dec 23^rd
Alexandria 11am - berthed about 12.30. Patients went off at once. Finished by 4pm.
Went to see Miss Oram - very kind - leaving all on ship still.
Wanted to know whether I was still satisfied and if all were doing right and keeping
her rules etc.
Got about 10 letters.
Dec 24^th
Patient much better, wound not so offensive - may be able to go off.
Bought several things and fixed up Xmas gifts for tomorrow - cushions for 3 -
calendars, cards etc. Got enough cake at Malta for orderlies - 1 large iced one.
Dec 25^th 1915
Great fun at breakfast, all merry and happy opening all their parcels etc. Had awfully
nice service - orderlies and all the sisters but 2. R.C. Capt. Caldwell took the service
and Major Crossthwaite read lesson.
Minister had gone to Cairo. Nicest service we've had.
Lovely lunch of course - large 3 tier cake iced and decorated beautifully, which was
brought up last and which, I was told by Purser and Captain, was my duty to cut for
everybody - the latter helping me and the multitude clapping. Rather embarrassed me
for a moment but at my age one soon recovers.
Everything was awfully nicely done. At 12 noon the Captain sent for all staff and each
had champagne with him.
Went ashore in afternoon, could not get any goods or trace of parcels from Newcastle.
Sent a cable home and hope mother better etc.
Big dinner again tonight - ships do things in a big way, even in wartime. I got a pretty
piece of tinsel decoration from cake given to me.
Going in to berth again 8am. Take on patients for ship at Mudros - going to England -
orders are now.
Lady Brassy came aboard yesterday A.M. bought some books for patients - very nice
old lady - very lame, poor thing.
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46
Dec 26^th 1915
Got all wards disinfected - beds made - all working very hard.
Patients came aboard 10am., after all full, going to Mudros - disembark on another
boat for England.
Leaving Alexandria daylight tomorrow.
No trace of my parcel or cases of books.
Dec 27^th
Left Alex. for Mudros 8am - about 350 patients on board on route to England.
Sea a little rough - several sick. I was just able to keep up all day. Took little to eat at
dinner - of course, sick after.
No very bad cases -  few bad feet and a few sick but not the usual bad conditions.
Dec 28^th
Beautiful day - smooth sea - usual routine.
Dec 29^th
Arrived Mudros 7am. beautiful warm sunny morning.
No boat waiting to take our patients. "Egypt" and "Dunlace Castle" just came in
"Grantilly Castle" just left for Cape Helles.
Dec 30^th
Nothing new today - no ship to take our sick, so still here, nothing happening.
Dec 31^st
H.S. "Brittanic" came in 4pm. We went alongside about 5/30pm. got all our sick and
wounded off by 8/30pm. I went over a good part of the ship. Is most beautifully fitted
up - such space and lovely large wards and cabins, sitting rooms etc. Could take us
inside altogether. Matron had a lovely large bedroom, office, bathroom etc. All her
own. Everything new - carpets and furniture.
The sisters rooms also very large and every comfort. Col. of "Brittania" would not let
sisters from here go over, nor his staff come over here. Is very strict. He is new to this
work - we'll soon have to alter that. Was sorry for my girls - would like them to have
seen it all but they may have an opportunity when we return. Expect to got to Helles.
January 1^st - 2^nd 1916
Lying beside this ship tonight - huge great mountain beside us
Left "Brittanic" 7am Moved out into stream - very strong gale blowing and cold.
Prepared all wards for new patients.
Captain Adams in isolation ward A - slight fever - 2 orderlies sick also.
Sister Leary 100.4, 8pm 97.8 -A.M. had Aspirin Gr.1, says she feels very well.
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January 1^st 1916
8am. Crossed out 9.30am. Left Mudros for Cape Helles - heavy gale blowing.
3 hospital ships left in Mudros.
Arrived Cape Helles about 1pm. Very strong gale here also.
6pm. First load of sick and wounded came alongside, great many walking cases -
some small wounds, pneumonia and fever.
Men seem sorry to leave Gallipoli they say after all they have done and lost.
Say they laid mines - put Bully Beef tins along on wires. When the enemy drew up
these tins to eat contents, the drawing up would set the mines off and they would all
be blown to pieces. Very dreadful. Say shell killed 5 of them coming down to beach
today. Good deal of shell firing all afternoon and evening. - Do not seem to be many
tents left on the point - not like when we have been here before.
Do wish we could be the last ship to leave Helles. Would love to see the last of it.
Wish I had been there for the first landing. What a glorious work. What a lot of hard
working women could have done then. The poor soldiers would have been dressed
and looked after. Some wounds I saw in Alexandria were not dressed for 6 days,
simply awful. The smell frightful, poor boys.
Another lighter full of sick and wounded - ship now half full - strong gale still. Very,
very cold. - busy - some badly wounded.
2 operations, depressed fractures -shell wounds, legs ,both bad.
Jan 2^nd
17821 John Falchoner. Pte. K.O.S.B. aged 30, Presbyterian came in today - wounds
chest and body. Only lived till 6.20pm - not quite conscious, could not ask for
anything or tell me anything, though I think he wanted to speak. Had no pain - had
morphia.
Jan 3^rd
Still shelling from our ships and Asiatic side. Sister Leary 98.4, better - in bed still -
had to send Sr. Dickson to theatre.
Jan 4^th
520 men on board now - 4pm. - no change - still taking on patients.
Shelling from Turks and our guns all day. Several men killed as they came down to
beach. Very badly wounded, some of them.
One poor man No.34506 - Austen D. Sapper. R.C. standing on the pier had both
legs blown off above knees - fell into water. French boat picked him up and came
across to us at once. They tied femoral arteries but could do nothing more - gave
saline etc. Poor fellow, seemed to be a little conscious and asked for a little brandy
and water to moisten his lips - died a little later.
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Jan 4^th 1916
Left Cape Helles about 4pm. Arrived outside Mudros about 9/30pm. - very wild
windy night. We had to come away without being relieved - nearly always the same.
Hospital ship passed us about half way.
Kennedy - Thomas, Pte. 1^st Dublin Fuseliers, died 6pm today - amputated left leg
before coming aboard yesterday.
Goulding. F. 7^th Gloucester. 19097. C.of E. Wounds in head - died 4pm
Noor. Lee (Indian) 32^nd mule corps. Admitted 4^th - died 4^th 4.45pm. Reg. No. 1465
5^th Jan
Sister Leary up today - not on duty yet
Crossed through boom at 8am - still gale - cold - rolling a little.
8 hospital ships here - some we seem to have left here when we went to Helles.
6.45am. Pte. G. Ruse - gangrene - leg amputated - very bad. Hope it does not spread
any more. Died 12.30 noon - only with us 2 days - gave me his brother's address to
write to him. Buried at sea - died suddenly.
3 other operations done - gangrene of part.
January 5^th
Report says that this is the night all troops leave Cape Helles. Do wish we were the
ship to be there at the last. We are very busy this trip - very much work - dressings -
operations etc.
Capt. Adams still sick 99deg. N. Leary still off and 3 or 4 orderlies, which is a great
nuisance. Orderlies all work really hard and very happily with sisters too.
One glorious thought we have, all our men are dressed daily, those needing it, 2 or 3
times daily. No one thinks of time off or stopping, all day till 9 or 10pm - later some
times - only leaving for meals ..
We growl because meals on board take an hour, the sisters never think of themselves ,
just plod along all day sponging - dressings and living for their work.
Surely we must be doing good work - men are so very good and grateful.
I feel it such luck - such a privilege - to be here and able to do so much for the
comfort of our men
Jan 6^th
Sr. Leary on duty 2 hrs. in am. Helping N.McCarthy in officers ward .
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January 6^th 1916
2 deaths today.2529 Pte. W. Smith - pneumonia, age 23. 295 Division Cycle Corps.
Pte.W. Player -shot wounds to chest -1^st Essex - died today.
Nothing new today - much work - so many dressings - some anaesthetics, opening
up bad arms and legs.
Wray and Day both still alive - wounds smelling terribly. Temp 101 and 100.8 P.96.
Do hope they get well - the former they don't think can. - is so awfully badly
wounded. Is such a dear old man - they all love him, poor creature - has 4 children
married, his wife died lately, speaks so nicely about them.
Expect to reach Alexandria early in the morning.
Purser showed me the cake that was made for me today. 2 tier, beautifully iced­ -
most lovely one. They put some orange blossom on top. I asked him to take it off
straight away - told him old maids of 60 wanted no orange blossom. He said he
did not do it.
Jan 7^th
Arrived at Alexandria 8.30 am. and disembarked.
Patients -513 - 15 deaths on the way.
Lady Carnarvon came aboard - went to see about my books etc. at the sheds. Is very
good indeed.
Asked me to go and stay with her for a couple of days for a change and rest
Went to Red Cross stores - got all I asked for this time.
I was very cross, so the man said to give me everything to get rid of me I think. Sorry
I had not asked for lots more.
Got several letters.
Nice box of soap - handkerchiefs and a number of lovely things from Miss Mitchell,
so useful and nice, they are good to me.
No handkerchiefs from Grafton - no books from Newcastle.
Dr. A.M. McKinnon A.S.C. No. 164 died 8am today- shrapnel wounds back­ -
paralysed.
Pte. J. McGurk (K.P.260) R.N.D. Drake Battalion abdominal wounds, leg wounds
died 5am.
14 deaths up to landing patients. - -2 frightfully ill , hope they get safely to hospital.
Sending orderly with them to look after them, who understand them.
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50
Jan 8^th 1916
Went to Red Cross - got all things I ordered yesterday, more than I asked for in a few
things.
They said they would not give them but I was so cross about it - the O.C. told them to
give the things to me. I was quite nice again to him, so think he has forgotten - asked
me to come and see them always. It is so vexing when they make a fuss about giving
you the things you want for the soldiers aboard.
Lady Carnarvon came aboard - she is very good seeing about things for me.
No boxes yet from Sydney -the O.C. sent me a box of games etc. for the men, as my
own could not be found.
Another case of giving me something to keep me quiet, I suppose.
Received uniform allowance 16 pounds. - Salary 4 pounds.
Received all stores - many more things than I asked for which will be very useful.
Jan 9^th
Went ashore to church - "St Marks" -very nice service - chiefly soldiers, officers and
sisters. Nice singing, everyone seemed so earnest.
Had lunch in town - returned in launch of H.M.S. "Magnolia" -naval, carries 4 guns
(small). Commander in Chief and second officer came over - saw the ship and had
afternoon tea with me. I asked Sister Bromley. Very nice men - rather funny meeting
them. I missed our own launch and was waiting , when this boy came and asked me to
come on his launch. He would be pleased to take me over to the "Assaye". When I
was going off he said he had not been on any hospital ship, so of course I asked him
to come on. Said he had to go back to another ship in port but would come back in a
few minutes.
He came back in about 1/2 hour, bringing his Captain and another officer. I laughed at
him - they seemed quite happy. Lord Seymour is the captain, brother of (..forgotten!)
Who is doing orderlies work in hospital because he was too old to get in for anything
else. Mjr. Martin tells us he seems to be 2nd in command.
"Magnolia" sailed Sat 15^th Jan.
Jan 10^th
Lovely day again - still coaling. Went to Miss Osram's office - away still - returns at
3pm. Posted fancy mats and cushions to Alice and several letters to everybody.
Saw Lady Carnarvon - gave me some comforts for my ship's stores - she is
thoughtful and kind always.
Did not go over to H.M.S. "Magnolia" for afternoon tea - they came to us.
I went ashore, saw Miss Osram. She is leaving me on the "Assaye" so long as she is a
hospital ship, unless my unit sends for me.
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Jan 10^th 1916
Says Sister Cougars has been made Principle Matron over Miss Gould and everybody
from Melbourne etc. Knowles, Graham and everybody. Of course I am not
mentioned, do not mind for I should hate a position like that. I asked both General
Babtie and Colonel Howse to leave me here as I am, so I don't mind.
What a life the Principle Matron will have with some of them and what will Nellie
Gould say. They tell me she has been dreadful - lecturing them at meal times lately.
Saw Miss Reuben today - down here for 3 weeks holiday. Very slack and not very
interesting in Cairo just now. Thank Heaven I am not there.
No further orders - finished coaling- I fixed up and arranged al my Red Cross stores.
Very full supply this time - an extra case of books and magazines sent to me - also
large case of cards, games etc.
Lord Seymour brought his launch to take us for a trip. I would not go - let 5 of sisters
go. Nurse Reuben was one, she came on board to see me today.
Orders to move further down stream - not going to Mudros now, nothing definite.
Hope we are not long idle. "Salta" and "Glengorine Castle also lying close beside us.
Glad we are here idle and not in Mudros Bay - is said that many other hospital ships
are waiting for orders there now. Nothing doing anywhere apparently. Another
hospital ship alongside "Carrisbrook Castle" also in.
Jan 12^th
No change - no news - still waiting for orders - having a rest- went to see General
and Lady Douglas - away in Cairo, am sorry - I wanted to see the General on some
business.
Saw Miss Oram - does not know what we are to do yet - nothing doing anywhere -
may know tomorrow - perhaps take patients to Mudros bay to board "Brittania" or
"Aquitania", no one knows for a day or two what is to be done. Some hospital ships
are to be taken off.
Wrote to Lady Bridges, Mrs. Smith (London), Annie Chittenden, Lil, Claude,N.
Ranken, Alice,Fred, Mrs. Hall, N. Wearne, Alice Pinkerton, N. Robertson -Ethel
Allen, Nana Glen.
Jan 13^th
No orders yet, sudden gale sprung up this morning. 3 hospital ships next to us got
mixed up. Dreadful gale all day - still blowing
5 sisters went to Cairo for 2 days. I sent them to Miss Oram but she could not give
permission, sent a message to me to write a note to Colonel Saxton. He evidently said
yes for they have not returned.
6 more letters today - no parcel - nothing to do on duty. Sewing and mending up my
things.
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January 14^th 1916
Fine day again - storm over - went ashore - saw Miss Osram -no orders yet.
Colonel Saxton did not let sisters go to Cairo - they could not get aboard last night ­-
too rough. Had to go back and stay at the hotel last evening - returned this morning.
Miss Oram says she does not like them going about like this.
Got P.O. Order from Alice, 5 pounds and 2 letters.
Jan 15^th
Glorious day, went with Sister Paton for a walk on shore, we are only a few yards
from land here but must take boat. Went into Alexandria 2/30pm. Cooks say that one
box of mine is at Cairo, they are sending for it.
Concert given by Coy. "Pierrot and Pierrette" very good. 7 sisters from "Glengoran
Castle" with Captain of ship and all medical staff came over - they all seemed to
enjoy it. Deck beautifully got up with flags etc. - looked very nice.
Jan 16^th
Glorious day - went to Church, St. Mark's in the morning. Was very late as I saw
Miss Osram - thought she was coming here.
Went to Presbyterian Church 6pm. - very nice service - better service than in the
morning. Came back by train and had to wait for the rowing boat here. Only about 2
minutes to the ship but one can't walk on the water.
Beautiful moonlight - one sister came with me - got on board 8pm.
"Glengoran Castle went to berth this afternoon, report says going to England.
Jan 17^th
Six months today since I came in charge of this ship.
Heaps of rain at intervals today and a bit stormy - did not go ashore at all - wrote
letters - no orders.
Major says he was told he might go to Bombay - wish we would. Wish we might go
too but I think if they go to Bombay with Indian troops, they will perhaps not carry
British. There is only the Persian Gulf for them to come from evidently, so there will
be no chance for us to do hospital ship work. I would not like to be on board and not
be busy after all these months of constant work at Gallipoli.
Jan 18^th
Orders came over about 11pm that ship was going to Bombay. All sisters to come off
tomorrow - only to carry Indian troops. No sisters wanted.
All medical officers off , except Major Crossthwaite.
To go and see Miss Oram tomorrow
Awfully sorry to leave ship
Ships officers gave sisters a "send of" this evening.
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53
January 19^th 1916
Went to see Miss Oram - all to go back to our own unit.
Dickson, Cawood to No 2.
Bromley, Wilkins to No. 1
All others to Alexandria to Grand Hotel for the present.
Packed up -awfully sorry to go - more than sorry to go to Cairo again, anyway
perhaps things will be a little different now there are new people in authority.
Again gave sisters a send off - they are a nuisance and the Major really the worst of
all - they all seem to be happy so I left them to him.
Had to write about their pay tonight for the while at Southampton - also move all Red
Cross stores tonight - the new people want the room.
Also entered them up in book.
Jan 20^th
Left Hospital Ship "Assaye" at 10am to catch train to Cairo.
Returning to No.2 General Hospital.
Everybody very sorry to say goodbye to us, they say. All said we had worked hard
and peacefully and were a good help. Want all back again if ever ship is refitted up for
British soldiers.
No lighter for luggage - Major went to see Col. about it. Was so long away I went to
R.T.O. who said they were not told etc. Of course we missed our 12. train, went by
the 4pm train. Did not matter, arrived in Cairo about 7/30pm. Motor car met us, took
all and luggage to Gezerah and the 2 others to Heliopolis, for once these two were not
rude to me on arrival.
I have a dreadful cold, chest - cough. Had a lovely journey down. Sisters very sorry to
break up and all came to the station to see the last of us.
All say they want to come with me again.
Jan 21^st
I told Miss Gould I had orders to report to the Principle Matron here - she told me not
to go till I had seen O.C. He said not necessary. Later on in day she told me to go as
soon as I had lunch. We went 3pm. She seemed to want Dickson for something.
6 going to Ismailia tomorrow - they are to be attached to Major Powell. I had been
there last year. Glad I am not going to him.
Saw Col. Millard, asked him to send us down there or somewhere from here - still a
bad chest and worst cold I've had for years - not sick.
I have just been told I am to go in charge of Officers ward. Miles - Walker going
down to Ismailia , in charge tomorrow. I am not very fit for duty - hope I shall be
alright.
3 letters from Claude today - papers from N. Johnson.
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