Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 2 - Part 11

71

March 18^th 1916

Left Luxor 6pm. for Cairo and arrived Sunday 8am.

Wrote Fred, Mitchell, George, Alice, R. Pinkerton, Lil, Mr. Eyre, mother, Alice, Lily

Elliott, Jean, Fred, Claude, Wearne, Jones - Robbie.

Awfully sorry I could not stay for a couple of weeks at Luxor, I loved it. If only I

could go there again in the winter I would be happy.

The glorious mornings, soft sunshine over the water and the scent of flowers and

orange blossom from the orange groves. Quite intoxicating, the smooth, drifting down

the Nile, clean boat, but dirty workmen as a rule. Singing and sitting about, not

wanting to pull a stroke if there was a chance of a breath of wind coming up for the

sails.

The banks on one side all lit up and big houses and ruins. The other bank chiefly sand.

Donkeys and donkey boys all waiting, hoping you are coming to that side to visit the

Tombs etc. They run for miles alongside your donkey. I love all these Eastern things

and hope I may be able to see it all again once more. Do not hope to though, all too

far away. It all seems to call heart and soul to one - till you feel you can't resist it.

No wonder the Arabs are happy and have no cares.

March 19^th

8am. Arrived at Cairo - got a motor to take us on to Mena - 2/- each. Quite cold here

compared to Luxor. Slept on train and very comfortable - very pretty fields, dates,

trees, palms, really beautiful journey. I loved it all and enjoyed every minute of it.

Forgot all my work of the last year. The whole trip was most awfully interesting.

Would like to have stayed another week and rambled among tombs and statues.

Came back very unwillingly in a way, yet so glad to have had the luck to have seen it

all.

Several letters and papers from N. Johnson and 3 papers from England for patients.

Mr. Yarling came - had afternoon tea and looks so well, is Adjutant to Col. Hughs and

is very well and happy. Is promotion for him and he is expecting to get something else

- charge of a Battery. Hope he does well, is just a boy like John (my brother)

March 20^th

Letter from Captain of "Assaye", Major Crossthwaite sending along papers for me to

sign for the detention allowances while in London. Says they have 395 patients

aboard and thought they were going to England but have to sent patients to Port Said

and return to Bombay. Very down about it. Were a month waiting for new staff and

very dull and tired they say.

Col. Gordon Hall D.D.M.S. came round Mena - said everything was very nice.

Taking Gen. Lords place I believe, says we are going to France, probably very soon.

Nothing more out here. - - Mena to close on 31^st March.

72

March 21^st 1916

Opened up the 16 cases of goods sent from Maitland c/- of Sister Stobo, she asked

me to distribute - Lankan, Holloway and McKenzie helped my awfully well.

We had a great work and a great pleasure fixing it all up. Do hope everyone will get

something out of it. At least all the N.S.W. sisters sent a bundle for each name.

Sister Dickson gave names from Matron in Chief and they must get it from the

Matron wherever they are.

A few parcels left at Mena with Nurse in Charge in case there were any who got 

nothing.

March 22^nd

Went into the Citadel to try and get some soap to make up parcels for our men. Also

tooth brushes. Spent 1 pound at "Steins", had the General's motor (a beauty)

Had telephone message from Miss Cougers. We are all to join No.2 General Hospital, 

moving on to ...?. Hate to go back to Gould and Johnson. May have luck enough to

get away from them. 

Mr. Norris came to tell me we were invited by Major and Mrs. Phillips to afternoon

tea and the concert H.A.C. are giving. Afraid we can't go if we leave here tomorrow,

all packing etc. Wonder where we go to? Wired the two at Luxor - return at once.

Awfully sorry could not go to Mr. Norris's concert at Red Cross Hospital, were too

busy.

He came in and I told him I could not go. He is also going away in a few days, he says

- they are all moving out.

Sent a box of comforts by Major Halsey to Brassa, he is going to Mesopotania, he was

so glad to get them. Hope he gives them to the men who have nothing.

Great work sorting, counting, packing and dividing up there cases that came from Scob

from the funds at Maitland. Saw her on 26^th at Alex. as we were leaving and told her

all I did with everything. Reg. letters and everything I did to her on 23^rd March.

Went into Miss Cougers to be ready to go tomorrow. Join No.2 at railway station, 

Cairo.

How I hate joining Nellie and Johnson anywhere. I shall certainly not put up

with her rudeness and lectures anyway - Never again

Got my money - Matron's pay til 24^th again. Sister's pay from 24^th - do trust I get

charge away from them - anywhere - do not mind.

Got dress allowance 8pounds. Told they will change Egyptian money when we get to

Alexandria.

73

March 23^rd 1916

Captain Sinclair came to see me - very glad to see the old man. Pleased he got the

Military Cross. His wife and kiddies will be proud of him. Stayed to dinner - up from

the Canal for 3 days. Asked him to come today again if he had nothing special to do.

Major Short turned up also after dinner - first time I've seen him for about 6 years -

stayed for the evening. We played Bridge with a sick officer, sister and he and I.

Seemed to be quite happy. Had to drink his tea in one drop and eat his cake as he left

to catch the last train. We all laughed.

Finished most of packing up - one home letter dated Jan 1^st - quite old.

March 24^th

Sisters Richardson and Buchanan returned from Luxor 8am.

Telephone from Matron in Chief to remain here till she sends me another message.

Wonder how long we shall be here? Telephone from D.M.S., Mena closing on 1^st

April.

Manager sold me 2 cups and saucers, Mena Hospital on. Tried to get one from Luxor

hotel, could not spare them, had all been sold to sisters he said.

Sorry, as they were much prettier than these.

Letter from Sister Stacey - snap she had taken with Capt. on deck I did not know she

had taken it. Anyway I've got my back to everybody.

Telephone from M.I.C. - we're not going today - 4 sisters coming out to relieve us - 

arrived 2/30pm..

Isobel Campbell, Lackey, Parnell and Gallagher.

Wrote to Scob - sent last of things I got in cases. Returned letter (Mrs. Russell's),

cliping of list of things received. List of nurses given to and number sent away to

sister's hospital and some more.

All packed up and ready to move and very sorry indeed to leave Egypt.

March 25^th

7.30am. Left Mena for Cairo station en route Hospital Ship to FRANCE!!

(somewhere in)

119 altogether - 25 M.O.'s - 200 orderlies.

Gould in charge, so all will be the same. My turn will come to get away from her

again, I hope, when we arrive.

I bought my 14 sisters from Mena. Got to station at 8am. all ready and fixed up.

Could not see Miss Gould anywhere to report to. Then about 9am. went along to

another entrance where she was taking the names of sisters. Told me my sister's

names she would not put down for leaving as they had not reported to her. I told her I

had come and tried to find her since 8am. for that purpose.

 

74

March 25^th 1916

Lectured me wholesale, said it was always the same with my staff and a great deal

more.

Everybody on the station all round could hear her tell me all the trouble I, and my

staff always were to her.

I put up with it for some minutes, then when I thought everybody had had enough all

round, took her a little way off and said "That of all the people I had met and

worked with, she was the only living soul I had ever had any trouble with" and

walked off and left her. She sent me to tell the sisters to come to her.

Col. Martin met me, asked what I was doing and where I was going. And he

said "why can't she come up here? I'll go and see her", do not send the sisters. Dr.

Dick was with him. So when I did see her, got another doing She accused me of

going to the Colonel. Dr. Dick knows I did not.

Sisters from Mena with me - Buchanan, Richardson, Holloway - Shearer - Crabb -

Smith - Desier - Leinham - Tamkin - Durham - McKenzie - McCarrow - Stewart

and Carson.

March 26^th

Leaving Alexandria 11.30am. Gangway up - tug alongside.

Scob came over, told me all I did with things, will get my letters soon, no doubt.

She gave me 20 pounds from the Musical Society, West Maitland to buy comforts for

NSW troops and if possible, to Maitland boys. Also at the last moment, 3 cases jams

which will be useful, I am sure.

Poor old Scob. I do wish she was with us - took some letters to post for me. Will send

a p.card home for me and letter to General Donovan, Surgeon General, Southampton

- Alice - mother - Lil - Rube - Ethel - Capt. Elliott, Sapper Hughs and Sapper

Brownlie, who sent me the sketches from Mena.

Crossed out 12 m.day. Harbour full of boats - several hospital ships. Looks beautiful

today, do hope I shall see it again some day. Have gone out here a good many times, I

wonder if this is my last - hope not.

Hope to go to Marseilles, also that we have a smooth trip.

Parade service 10.30am. Seems to be about a dozen Padres on board - wonder if they

are like the usual lot. Do hope and trust I get a chance of doing something good now if

any opportunity comes along.

March 27^th

Up to breakfast, has been beautifully smooth but ship rolling a bit now - nothing of

interest.

They have a staff on board, much the same as ours on the "Assaye" was, 6 M.O's, 10

sisters and 45 orderlies.

75

March 28^th 1916

Nothing special - beautiful smooth sea - no wind. Hope it continues so. Cards - 

writing - reading and sewing.

Concert each night makes the day pass quickly. Some indulge in games, both noisy

and otherwise.

March 29^th

Passed Malta noon today - not near enough to see anything of streets or buildings. Sea

still smooth.

Concert tonight, very good. A number of little swallows flew on board, migrating

homewards.

March 30^th

Nothing new - passing Tunis and other places, a long way off. Very smooth sea.

Colder than what it was. Writing plenty of letters - do not know when they will be

posted or delivered - may go one day.

March 31^st

Passed Sardinia, Corsica during day - cannot see anything, we keep too far out - very

rough and unpleasant - slept most of day.

(Closed this diary here, France and England continued in next journal)