Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 3 - Part 3

16
May 21^st 1916
I hope my orders come tomorrow. Should not wonder if the whole hospital is sent
back home. If only I can get off first with my few girls and get a chance to get away
from these.
May 22^nd
All Sisters who were at the Y.M.C.A. on Saturday night's parade, Major Jeffries and
Colonel Martin interviewing them. Porter was rude to the Major then and he, rude to
her the girls say. Terrible and very terrible to think that she is one of the nurses Gould
(Nellie) is sending with me, two other most terrible women too.
No news yet, my eye is better but the Lacrimal duct still very troublesome. No
passage clear through now, just like daddy's was once when I was home for holidays
and it never really got well. One of the signs of breaking up I suppose.
Very hot here, frightful dust and sand - a blessing there is no wind with it. Would be
awful without rain. You go up much over your ankles in white, fine powdery dust and
sand. Goes through all stitching in your boots and socks. Should think there must be a
storm soon. Very cool in the evenings and night here always.
May 23^rd
No further news. No letters. Very hot day again. Some tents and lines closing daily.
Some sisters have had no work, only guarding their equipment. Very little work for
those in the shacks and tents. Several still off or on call and some sick.
A little over and under 200 patients altogether, the night sister tells me, so I am not
worrying about being idle though it is monotonous and miserable to be hanging
around waiting for work or orders. It seems as if "my orders for up North" are never
coming. If I could only get away again with a small hospital.
May 24^th
Nothing, still nursing my eye. Dr. thinks I got a cold in it. Never been quite well since
I got the bad cold at Gehizeral? Duct seems to be blocked up. Anyway, he says it will
not keep me here if orders come for me to get off. He will let me go quite well
May 25^th
Was going to Nice with a party of sisters but as my eye was not very good, did not go.
Would have been out till 12m.n. and up at 4.30 am. Have seen a good deal of France
the last time I was home, so I thought it was not worth the risk of dust and cold again.
Went into town, bought butter, cakes, soap, towels, toothbrushes for the men of NSW,
money that Maitland M.S. sent and some of my own. Butter only 6 Francs a kilo
today. Cake awfully dear, about 2lbs for over 7 shillings. The men love cake, they
never get any and this is not rich either. I have sent to England for plain puddings,
Em. (Elliott) will send them out, I know. 

17
May 25^th 1916
We only get tea for lunch at our Mess now - none for breakfast, say they can't get it.
One gets such a terrible headache, at least I do, without a cup of tea. They wanted to

give the sisters beer for lunch. Miss Gould would not hear of it - she was quite right. I
think they should be made get tea, which we pay for, 4 Francs daily. Of course the
French do not drink tea, never have it. Coffee, wine and chocolate I suppose. I sent
home for some and bought some here at the rate of 4/- per lb and rubbish at that.
Terrific thunder and lightning at m.n. Deluge of rain, no wind much which was a
blessing. Everything will be washed clean anyway.
May 26^th
Terribly heavy storm about m.n. Some tents blown down - torrents of rain, rather nice
to be in a shack these times, you are dry even if they are small and hot. You can't
have both things on Active Service.
May 27^th
No news about our going North yet - went into town- no letters, bought some
nighties. Very nicely made.
May 28^th
No news, hope I get word to go or proceed to some new place. Also hope I am able to
do much good where there is most to do and least comfort. Very windy today.
Eye a bit troublesome, did not go to Church this morning.
May 29^th
No news - awfully tired of waiting for orders to proceed to No1 Clearing Hospital. In
readiness since 14^th inst.
Nell most gushing in her politeness etc to me in the past week. Such a change, you
can't help noticing it. Wonder what she has in her mind?
May 30^th
Nothing new, my eye still seems to be very watery - the pain not reduced - no work.
May 31^st
Same old game - French lesson in afternoon. Wrote 2 French letters. Madame
corrected them. Very few mistakes she says. Sent them to Alice Pinkerton and Fred.
Wrote to Dr. Sinclair and bank re my fixed deposit, also to mother and Al. Mail going
out tomorrow, they say.
Went to Y.M.C.A. hall - patient's concert - fair. Nothing to do here unless you take
trips or go to town. 

18
June 1^st 1916
All the same - nothing doing. Night sister says about 350 patients at the most. Great
many not very ill. Some dysentery cases ill.
June 2^nd
Went to town to P&O office, could not do anything about my box as baggage clerk
was out. 10/- per cwt (hundred weight) they say. Went to Cooks. They say it will cost
about 4 pounds. Customs here open everything. Have stored it there till I see what my
next move will be. Paper from Emily - my picture in - not too bad.
June 3^rd
No change - no news. Rest of men who were camped here going off to Front today.
Several hundreds. Several went on Monday. Wish I could get off nearer work. Not
doing anything since I came off with inoculation. Waiting daily for orders to proceed
to this Clearing Station they say we are going to. Have not been too keen really.
Hoping that I might not have to take all the staff Nell gave me. One, who never says
one sentence without swearing and two very coarse, loud people. So am hoping there
will be a change. I spoke to Nell about it and let her know that she was making me
take them both to handicap me and because she was always fighting with them
herself.
Just got a couple of things from some Nurses Comforts that were sent out - writing
pad, 2 small bags, 2 little packets, 1 pot hand cream, 2 little packets tooth powder, 1
cake soap for men. The first I've ever had from No2.
June 4^th
Nothing new still. Went to Church 7/30pm. Great many there - very nice service
Y.M.C.A. Sister Wise and I did an hours French lesson after.
June 5^th
Went into town - got 8 letters from Cooks. All well at home - Mother better. Do trust
she gets her share out of the Estate of her brother while she is alive and not too feeble
to enjoy it. Had my big portmanteau of curios etc put into another case and ready for
sending or to take with me, if I have the luck to go. They tell me it will take about 4
Pounds to send it to Sydney and only a few Francs to London. Storing it for the
present.
June 6^th
Did nothing special today - not on duty - nothing really doing.
Hear that English sisters have gone to the Clearing Hospital that I and my 9 were to
have gone to. I'm not really sorry for there was not one sister I knew and three to my
way of thinking very undesirable. So I'll trust to luck to get away somewhere else and
leave some of these people with their unit. 

NO 2 AUSTRALIAN CASUALTY CLEARING STATION TROIS ARBRES
FRANCE XMAS 1917 - NURSES STANDING IN FRONT OF THEIR HUTS
Note the snow on the ground which turned to slush and mud when it melted.
Patients were trolleyed in on the board walks.

Photograph - see original document 

19
June 7^th 1916
Everybody got a great shock today when the French paper came along. We found that
another of our cruisers had been mined and all drowned, amongst them Lord
Kitchener and staff on their way to Russia. It said, off the Orkney Islands. It cast a
gloom and sadness over me all day. I can't forget it and I think most of them are the
same. It is too dreadful to think of. After all his years of hard work, hard and
strenuous work, to be lost like this, never to enjoy a quiet happy rest. I'm awfully
sorry, for I hoped to see him once more when I went to England. It is too sad.
June 8^th
Nothing fresh, can still hardly believe that Kitchener has been lost - dead, when he
was wanted so much and when, perhaps, after the war, he might have had an
opportunity of a little peace at the end of his days. We wear a black band for a month,
as we did for the King and Queen Victoria
June 9^th
My eye still giving me trouble. Think a fly has bitten the bottom lid, swollen so much,
both sides of face. DR. saw it, does not think it much.
Wish I could get away to work somewhere out of this. Dreadful being idle - I do hate
it. Suppose I should be glad that there is so little to do amongst the men. Probably
there will be too much later on.
June 10^th
Nothing new today, gale again last night. Dust and sand covering everything today.
Eye much better again today, reading and sewing.
June 11^th
Nothing new. Did not go to church, too high for me and the Presbyterian man has a
sore finger. They say in hospital and cannot preach. Written 12 letters today.
June 12^th 1916  ORDERS TO BOULOGNE
Sudden orders. Funny people, the Army.
I and my 9 to go to No 2 Clearing Hospital at Boulogne. First. 100 others to
Shaples?? And 5 to Abbeville. No girls who have ever been with me. Packed up. 25 to
go tomorrow. Went to Cooks for my box - closed - half holiday. Will have to go
there tomorrow.
June 13^th
Went in today, they had not finished my box. Promised to have it by 2pm. Luggage
going from her 2/30pm. Service for Lord Kitchener 11am but was afraid to go for fear
I should be back too late to pack.
Letter from Scob and Emily, the latter sending some tea, papers and puddings. Don't
suppose I'll ever get them now that I am moving again - so glad to get away. 

VIEW OF A, B, C AND D WARDS OF THE 2ND AUSTRALIAN GENERAL
HOSPITAL AT BOULOGNE FRANCE 1916
Photograph - see original document 

20
June 14^th 1916
Arrived at Paris 7.45am. No one to meet us. No orders. Luggage sent by M.Authority
to Ecueille - one word, "small". Rugs etc sisters took themselves. Did what they
liked. Met at station 12m.d. Left again 12.35pm for Boulogne. Went in car with some
girls who had been left. (2 cars) Saw Notre Dame, Madeleine and drove round for
about 2 hours. I had seen it all before but was so glad to see it all again.
Arrived Abbeville about 4. Shearer and 10 left Etaples about 6pm. N. Eile, Reuben
and...?. Boulogne about 7/10pm. I and 10 met by Miss ...... Divided up. Wakeford
and Gibson to No13 General. Durham, Porter, Sorely to No14 General.
Joliffe, Carpenter, Peters, Haines and myself to no 13 Stationary. The latter all
gone on duty this morning.
No luggage yet. R.T.O. promised me faithfully that it was on the train with us. Would
not let us bring any of it into compartments, saying it would be with us, to look out for
it at Boulogne. No sign of it of course. Got to bed about 11.30, very tired. Had to put
all watches and clocks on tonight (1 hour)
June 15^th
Slept very well, so good to get one's clothes off after 48 hours. Went to see the
Principle Matron to report that I was for No2 Clearing Casualty Station for fear that
they should keep me, as they wanted 5. Says I can't do anything but wait.
Matron has asked me to write to Matron in Chief of our own and ask for allowances.
No luggage - relieving Home Sister this afternoon. Glad to do something. Told
Matron I'll help with anything needed.
Wrote to Miss Conyers, told her we were here. Asked about wearing our R.R.C.
ribbon. Also to Wyse asking her to send on my letters.
June 16^th
Went on duty "Eye Ward" helped today to cut dressings, dressed eyes. Like the ward
very much. Wish I had wards like these. Gloriously warm day and bright. In the
shade, very cold of course. Wind blows strongly. I liked it all very much. Matron very
nice. The sister in ward quite decent also.
I watched the moon rise through my window 9/30pm, beautifully bright. Very nice all
round - lovely buttercups and daisies growing wild at the doors of our rooms and
wards wherever there is a bit of grass growing.
Just on the sea here and only about one hour across to England.
June 17^th
In same ward - very satisfied. Do not mind waiting here for a few weeks but hope I
get my Clearing Station. Sorely came up to see me this afternoon. They are all on
duty. Do not like the British, have had some words already with them. Hope they are
sent off somewhere and that I do not have to take them with me. She came to see me
about the Messing account. Says they have to pay 8 Francs 50 per day. Some of them
have no money but they were paid the day we left. 

21
June 18^th 1916
120 more wounded in the night. Some came to G where I am helping. Awfully badly
wounded about eyes. Many losing one and several, 2 eyes. Very sad ward always
- eye wards. It is a wonder some of them do not get brain trouble too. The wounds are
shocking, poor boys. Chiefly Canadians,  few regulars. 48 beds,  4 sisters, 5 orderlies,
all are kept very busy.
Col. Lyster they say has charge. Cono Specialist, a Capt. Whiting, does all the work. I
like it very much. Glad to get away from No2 at any cost and am never so unhappy
with the R.A.M.C. These sisters hate them. Look quite out of their element here. No
doing as they like and when they like and answer the Matron and everyone back.
Simply have to do what they are told. I laugh, I think it is great fun, seeing them have
to bow to discipline. It will do them good. Hope some of them are kept long enough
to go back to their unit they want to go to. Then I might get others.
Note from Miss Conyers, thinks we might soon move on to the Casualty Clearing
Station. Says we should wear our R.R.C. ribbon but never sent a bit of ribbon. I don't
know where to get it here - can't be bothered either.
June 19^th
Same duties, fairly busy. Glad to get the little experience in eyes etc. A great many
operations daily. So many poor boys lose one or both eyes. Some are shot away so
that they must have an anaesthetic to take away the remains.
June 20th
Not so busy - very well. Raining a little. Had ½ day off. Went with Sister Kitchen to
Ardentes. Lovely ride in train. Meadows full of daisies, buttercups and hundreds of
flowers. So awfully pretty. Large paddocks of buttercups, wild, all along the roadside
too. Iris and waterlily on the water. Walked for a long distance in the forest, thick
dense trees and undergrowth. Had afternoon tea at a Cafe. Lovely grounds, all flowers
trees etc. White daisies, red geraniums and blue lobelia. Red white and blue - the
National colours. The same as ours only upside down.
Letter from Emily, says she sent me tea and papers. Have not received yet - 2 weeks
ago.
June 21^st
Wrote to Emily for R.R.C. ribbon and also wrote to Ethel.
June 22^nd
Nothing new, nearly all patients sent to England and Camps to make room for new
ones, none have come yet.
June 23^rd
Sent 5 Pounds to Wal Scobie. Gave 5/- to patient Turner going to England. Badly
wounded and no money. Only about 8 patients left - none in yet - heavy rain today
then fine again. 

LADY GIFFORD - WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PRINCESS LOUISE
CONVALESCENT HOME FOR NURSING SISTERS AT HARDLOTH
NEAR BOULOGNE - FRANCE - A FRIEND OF BESSIE
Photograph - see original document 

22
June 24^th 1916
Major Waugh came up to see about extra pay for billeting. Says sisters wrote to
him.(Carpenter and Joliffe) can do no more than I am doing. Glad he came, now I
shall not bother any more.
On alone this afternoon - busy - 4 operations. 5 helpless cases gone to England. So
much to do getting them ready. Only one orderly to do dressings, Sister Nichols sent
over at 3/30pm.
Sending home 2 night dresses, 2 chemises, good hand embroidered ones from
Marseilles.
June 25^th
Cold still bad, earache also. Seems to have begun in my head. Eyes and nose less
swollen. Col. saw me, though feel quite well. He and the Matron thought I was run
down, so say I must go to a convalescent home here for a rest and that it does not
mean sick leave, just going for 2 days, I think. No work doing anywhere in France
just now.
Came out to home by car this afternoon - about ½ an hour. Find Lady Gifford in
charge so I am quite content. Find there is one person who knows me so don't feel so
lonely. Will be delighted to be with her for a few days. She is most awfully kind to
everyone. 7 or 8 other sisters here.
The house is a place Princess Louise had lived in, her husband used to play golf about
here, Lady Gifford told us. Very nice comfortable rooms, everything beautiful , pine
forest all round this house - quite sheltered.
June 26^th
Breakfast in bed 9am. No cares or worries. First time I have felt free for years, it
seems. M.O. saw us today, said I" to stay a week. Have a bit of a cough today. My
face not swollen though.
Raining, did not go out. Weigh 10 stone, evidently have lost 9 pounds lately - since
my ship duty I suppose.
Hear the shells bursting in the distance here. Only a short way from firing line,
like distant thunder. Reminds me of the times we got near Gallipoli. The shells in
distance before we got at our destined spot.
June 27^th
Went for a long walk. Went in motor to sea - lovely drive, tea and strawberries and
cream in a farmhouse garden on the way home - feeling a good deal better and cold
better.
June 28^th
Several letters today, covered in postmarks - sent on from so many places. Miss Short
says she sent me a parcel on the 1^st May.