Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 3 - Part 5
BESSIE AND UNNAMED NURSE IN FRONT OF HER HUT AT
ON ACTIVE SERVICE - STEENWERCKE - FRANCE 1916 - 1917
Photograph - see original document
31
August 1st 1916
N.Z. men chiefly. One cooking his breakfast just came out of trench, shot through the
neck. Paralysed from left shoulder, so no use in army poor fellow, over 6 feet and a
young man. Such a nice clean creature, cheerful and grateful. If we could only do
something for him.
A few anaesthetics given, being for small things so far.
August 2nd
Some more patients - one bad head case - not conscious. 2 officers, nothing much to
do for them either - piece of shell through man's legs. Anaesthetic to remove. Put
Durham in operating room, Did her work in tents myself. She did not want to go -
said she could not do the work - her usual language !
Langley N.Z. shot through neck, spine case, much worse, poor boy - quite conscious
– one blessing, has a man with him who is also slightly wounded and who was in the
same work at home with him. Written to his mother etc.
Head case died this afternoon – .....? also died during night.
One blessing, there are many N.Z.'s who will be able to tell their people, also chums
here –have been together.
August 3rd
Guns very noisy and frequent – hardly ever stop. Not many patients considering all
the gun fire. Some more men during the night – still today, abdominal wounds – leg –
head cases – another appendicitis.
1 Maori, leg amputated this morning.
Hospital train alongside – English. 1 sister, 2 staff nurses, 3 medical officers. Took a
good many of our men and going along to other hospital for more. They say they can
take 600 patients.
August 4th
Sister Porter got message to say her fiancè was wounded. In great trouble and wanted
to go. Left by 7pm train for Boulogne. Durham did not want to be parted from her so
asked to go too. Allowed to go as she said Porter was so upset etc. Sorry for this
trouble - awfully sorry for the man. Everyone says he was such a good fellow -
Sydney man.
I was awfully glad to get rid of both sisters. Think Durham will have a nervous
breakdown if she is not careful. Only wish I could get the sisters I want, instead of
them. Don't suppose they will come back. - 2 letters today.
Took Sister Gibson off night duty and put her in theatre. Taking Durham's tents
myself.
32
August 5th 1916
Very much firing all day at intervals and always at night. Big guns and machine guns
– many aircraft about, both ours and the enemy's, always firing as soon as seen by
one another.
A good many operations – many cases – some sick. On all day, myself.
August 6th
Awakened 6am – many guns – just sounded overhead really, about 3 Or 4 miles off.
German aeroplane trying to catch a Howitzer of ours they say. Neither ship touching
the other. Air observation balloons.
Church parade 9am - good many men. Sister Gibson and myself.
Got 22 admissions in another tent of mine,(4 now). 4 very bad - one head case -
Lawson, cold, pulseless and collapsed on admission about 9.30am. Tried to get him
warm - long time. Wrote on paper "May I have a drink please", cannot hear or speak,
poor boy, too weak to operate or dress.. 8pm little better thank goodness. He can
swallow little sips of liquid. 2 other N.Z's very bad also.
4 R.G. officers came to afternoon tea - very cheerful for the little time I could spend -
sisters happy.
Several incendiary shells this evening - they go up and then come down burning -
lovely sight - so long before smoke disappears. Comes down in lovely curves,
awfully destructive they say. Firing all around us tonight - big guns going off
everywhere. Lawson getting warm - better -sent down by train - better. No operation
here.
August 7th
104 patients. Death today - poor boy, wound of leg, practically from loss of blood and exhaustion. Laid out for 2 days. Died about an hour after coming in. Sent about 80
patients on train today - many seriously wounded amongst them, but they will be
better on train and in Base Hospital.
Lawson - dressed in operation room - better, able to travel also -awfully glad. Got
the Col. to see him and let him go. Several more serious cases, operations also.
Runciman - Operation last night, piece of shell removed from arm and piece in
chest somewhere - not found. Hope it will not penetrate to do any harm. Not so much
firing tonight - still shelling Neippe? which is close by.
Just this minute several great guns off together, we never know whether it is very
serious - air balloon still up 10pm. usually down at sunset.
Some of the men tell me the Germans got into one of our trenches last night and did a
good bit of damage.
Written to Matron in Chief re 2 sisters leave. Runciman sent down by hospital train -
very well.
33
August 8th 1916
Patients sent by Hosp. Train today.
Sister Durham returned by 2pm train today - did not put her on duty. A few bad cases
today. 8 operations, (major), very badly wounded. Matheson better - sent down .
D.M.S. here - came round, was anxious to know whether we were comfortable in
every way etc. Not very comfortable as far as meals and service go, but could not tell
him of course. We can't do much better.
French girl wants 2 Francs per day for doing what she does. Wash up and wash out
bedrooms once a week. She is really not worth more than 1.
Received my allowance - 1 Franc per day up to July 22nd.
Not much firing today - very warm - millions of mosquitos - very trying.
August 9th
Another death. Evans - lived only half an hour - was lying out for some hours.
Miss McCarthy came around - saw wards and our rooms - no complaints. Told her
we would get things by degrees. We were very busy. Will send me 2 more sisters,
also asked me what I wanted and whom. I told her and she promised to send me the
people I want. Says she will do anything. Very busy - sent away about 60 or 70 more.
Evans operated on for abdominal wounds - tubes in a couple of places - intestinal,
very bad. Died next day.
August 10th
160 patients - sent about 70 more out this morning, filling up again.
Fallon from Ballina, Richmond River. Died in operating room pm. Was to have gone
down but vomiting began, he was talking to me about 20 min. before going to theatre.
Poor boy.
Major Matheson, chest wound being involved - seems pretty bad.
Mr. Officer - only a boy, femoral exposed for some inches, 3 large wounds and
fractured arm. Operation - very collapsed - very bad yesterday - little better today.
Sgt. Major Naylor - operation again today - leg looks a little, though they will have
to amputate. Very ill. I'm writing to his mother. Many bad cases in wards.
Guns fairly silent today around here.
August 11th
Paid French girl 22 Francs for 11 days.
Not taking in today. Everything quiet. Went off for the afternoon - worked in
quarters. Sisters all getting off now.
34
August 12th 1916
Surg. General Howse came round - seemed satisfied - came up and had afternoon
tea in our tent. he asked me was I going to give him tea. I said no, I had not thought
of giving him tea, but would love to. Said he was hungry. Enjoyed his tea, was very
amiable. O.C. Col. McLaurie , Mr. Murdock and R.T. Another man also came -
made them promise to send me a lot of things.
Sister Durham left to report to 24 General -British.
Sister Earl came between 12 and 1am for duty here.
August 13th
Not very busy here. M.Day, S. Peters and Haines came for duty here.
August 14th
165 patients in hospital.
Nothing special - letter from Miss McCarthy, Queen Mary's Needlework Guild
lists.
Very kind letter. Sorry she could not give me the sisters I asked for but will try when
we want relieving again.
King George supposed to have passed through today. Wish he had had the time to
call here for a few minutes - would have been beautiful. Say he was over to see the
Kaiser re peace ??
August 15th
Paid Jack 5 Francs for last weeks work for Sister's Mess.
very few cases yesterday - not bad ones.
Poor Torangi, the Noumea (Maori) man, pneumonia, dying. Got a man who knows
him and had come over with him (all the time), so he can let his chums know all about
him.
65 patients left by ambulance train at 9.30am.
Several heavy showers today - trying to get some spouting to catch rain water. The
water we use all over the hospital smells frightfully, worst I've ever known. Very
dirty and smelly as though something dead had been in it. All over our hospital, the
same. Got a little in my washing basin. Very hard too.
The French people who live next door and who own this ground have their living
house, produce store house, stable, fowls and everything, all around, sort of facing
one another and in the centre a huge circular hole, covered with straw from stables
etc. Into all this, all the filth is thrown. The odour from this yesterday, when the sun
shone brightly after the rain was too dreadful. I wonder they don't die of some
fever or other. Other houses are built almost over a creek it seems and the larger hole
is full of water, which is covered with a great green scum with flies, mosquitos etc.
you never hear a frog here, don't believe they could live.
35
August 16th 1916
Lovely day, nothing new, no serious cases so far. Very little gun fire, a few shots at
aeroplanes.
A Band Sergeant from "Sherwood Forrest" telling me that he had been in German
trenches at the "Somme" when all their men advanced and took some ground. One
German trench was 40 feet deep, cement, sloping sides down to bottom, where there
was a piano, picture show and women's clothing. Heaps of good food etc.
One officer they took prisoner said they never thought the English or French could
possible take these trenches. They would not be able to make such good ones again
and that they would not give in and the British would not give in but only one ship
would carry home to England, all the men they had left, after they did win.
He says that some M.O.'s and men are so good to our wounded and treat them just the
same as their own. Others of course, are very cruel. Also says that we have men just
as cruel and men just as kind. Is bringing his band tomorrow to play for us. I asked
him also to see if he could play for our Church.
August 17th
Little over 100 patients yesterday in hospital - no very serious cases.
Quiet day - no evacuations today - about 165 now. One appendix burst - very bad, on
table - artificial resp. etc. Better tonight.
Went over about 5pm to Capt. Higginson. R.E. train. Had promised to go ever since
we came. The others had all been a couple of times - very nice men.(109 pts.) They
come over here every Sunday for tea. Will do anything they can to make you
comfortable. Going to put some spouting and cask for rain water from our bathroom
roof. The water is dreadful here - poisonous.
The King did go to Somme C.C.S.(Casualty Clearing Station) and everywhere, they
tell us. So sorry he did not come here, say he saw everything that was going on.
Heavy thunderstorm, put out all basins, dishes, etc. Caught a drop of water from the
roof of shacks. Everybody had a great wash and everybody washed their heads.
August 18th
Wards look very nice today, sisters have them so neat and tidy. Got a few flowers to
give around, a few to each tent.
Evacuation 9.30am and 65 patients left.
F. Partridge and Bert Kilday, special head cases left. So well, such nice boys and
so young. Both very bad on admission. Frank had all the temple and half one side of
head blown off - never hurt eyes - never got meningitis, which was a miracle.
Everyone here terribly interested in them. We must keep head cases 10 days now, I'm
very glad.
36
August 19th 1916
Nothing special, some firing etc. Still showery - getting a little rain water in basins -
tastes of canvas from huts, so cannot have tea or drink it. A treat to get it and have a
wash with.
Band of "Sherwood Forrest" played from 7pm to 9pm. Very nice for patients and
everybody.
August 20th
Church service in open. Band of "S.F." came again. Very nice hymns. Col. Stacy, Mr.
Laurien?, Padres, Mr. Crawford, Capt. Higginson, Mr. Davis, R.T.O., Mr. Walls? All
came to afternoon tea. Seemed to enjoy one an others society, very cheerful.
August 21st
Work still very light - about 100 patients, train took about 60.
Letter from Miss Conyers saying she does not want the sisters to have any expense, so
advises grey aprons. These girls do not like grey. I don't care which it is only all must
be the same. I like gowns best.
About 120 patients again.
One very bad head case, operation pm. - could not find bullet, unconscious. R.T.A.
Byrne. R.C. Padre wrote to people. had lovely asters and marguerites for his cross,
poor man.
Went to Baillleul 2/30pm car, Sorley, also Capt. Burkert, Padre, Tucker. Saw two
Churches, very nice carving in one, one very gaudy, showy. Went along to soldier's
graves there. So beautifully kept, rows and rows. Just a wooden cross with name etc.
on it at head. No big headstones, long lines and ling lines of flowers, all colours.
Cornflowers, yellow - white - red. So very nice.
Went to a garden - got lovely flowers and pot plants for wards. Car was full. Capt.
B.had some money to spend for men, so got that for us. They gave me the only "La
France" roses (2) they had. Were so nice about them. I felt quite honoured when we
came back for our purchases and got the lovely little bunch from the child.
Joliffe's leave granted, said man she was engaged to was going from Egypt to
England. Had been sick, now tells me he is at Salisbury Plains training.
August 22nd
Train took about 45. About 90 patients remain.
Cross I made for Byrne? Looked very nice, the men told me. Have a few flowers on
all graves. Machine and rifle firing nearly all night. German Zeppelin over about 6am.
Our guns opened fire all around - great noise - did not touch it of course. Very hard
to hit the aircraft. Must have been just over us, very high up in the clouds. You can't
always see them, but you hear them. Some bullets fell on our pathways and the cap of
a shell. Several of the men got pieces. Firing still at intervals. 2 more bad head cases,
wounded during night - 1 back case.
37
August 24th 1916
Sent 3 Pounds to Emily Elliott for Union Jack for mortuary patient, Oliver, died.
New patient, King , shot through leg - femoral shot through. Very pale and collapsed
on admission. Died during the night. Flowers for both, had to share, no more.
Went to see graves and mortuary. Want to do up the latter. Clergy have already
decided what they would like, so will leave it. Table with wooden cross, flowers, so I
suggested Union Jack and flags. Sent to Em. today for them, hope she can get them.
Gave men 2 more puddings - sent their note of thanks on to Em.
Had a letter from Sec. Q.M.N.G. (Queen Mary's Needlework Guild) saying things
were coming and when. I wrote to her, also sent a few lines to the Queen, which she
gives to her. Hope things come soon. Am dying to write that note.
August 25th
About 130 patients.
Nothing special - easy day. 3 officers in. Wounds of legs, had gas - dressed - not
much.
Lt. Harper, Lt. Barnes, Lt. Langlands - Flying Corps were out - Germans fired
into them - plane came down in our own lines, about 10 min. from German lines.
August 26th
About 50 patients left by train 10am.
Officers ward empty. A.T. empty. Our day to take in today. No serious cases at
present.
Joliffe leaving 7pm. - 14 days leave.
Earl going on night duty. I take Earle's ward.
Very few cases. Pte. King, trench, mortar wounds - legs very bad - shock. Died 2.35
am. Poor boy. Leg bad haemorrhage, plugged on field.
August 27th
Quiet day. All went to O.C. tent for afternoon tea. Lovely band for patients. Scottish
Regiment. Many of the men here just now, about 17 officers from other places. 2
from No2 A.G.H.
Was glad they now see how other people treat us. All worked so nice too and happy
together.
Hope I'm left here as long as it is busy and I want to stay. Am perfectly happy and
unless to go nearer the Front and begin again, do not want to move yet.
All but 2 sisters went to Presbyterian service in tent at 8pm. Quite full, very nice
service, men liked the singing too.
38
August 28th 1916
No new patients yet. Very little firing last night. Winds stop the observation craft
going up. German plane about 5am. 2 or 3 of our fighting planes after her. Very high
up, several shells over hospital tents. One piece flew past, making a great whizzing
sound. Of course we all went to see - some ducked, some in bed covered their heads
with pillows. It fell just a few yards on the opposite side of tents, in a bit of the field.
The Belgian workmen dug it out, (6 feet deep) a bad shell, broke in half - no nose cap
but enough to cut anything to pieces. of course ,one of our own shells. I have it as a
souvenir - pretty heavy.
August 29th
7 more patients in during night - some bad wounds, afraid one poor boy will die.
Bladder involved - very bad - urine in abdominal cavity, sister tells me. Great many
operations, another for appendicitis (orderly Lipscombe) do dozens of them. They
will not have an orderly for duty soon, don't seem to be happy till they get their
appendix out.
Train today, about 60 patients gone. Storm and torrents of rain, inches deep. All our
casks full - lovely - everyone had hot bath. Fresh water - great treat. The engineer
just had all the pipes fixed and finished today, most comfortable, we have nearly
everything in the way of comfort now for Active Service.
August 30th
Sister Earle sick - could not go on tonight - put sister Carpenter on.
Some bad cases, nothing special. Stable fell in a storm where there were from 600 to
8oo horses and many men. Several men came into hospital crushed or hurt. They say
that 13 were killed and 32 horses. Great gales of wind for a few days and rain.
August 31 st
Sr. Earle better today, had asthma.
Goods came from London - 31 bundles, very nice and warm and comfortable. Lovely
feather pillows. Nice fine days again.
The Col. went down and saw some of the bales opened and thought them good.
Letter from Lord Roberts, coming over a s soon as he has time, to see the hospital.
Orderly Dent left after only 1 days work. Regan back, awfully deaf, poor boy and
dirty with everything.
September 1st
Cummings had op. Very bad, though seemed a little better after op. So good, do hope
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