Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 3 - Part 9
65
January 5th 1917
Got up early, went in Trolley (supply) car to Steenwercke to see Sr.Earl off for
No2 A.G.H. She did not want me to go and when she found out I was going, asked
might she walk to station. I let her go – told her she should go in car. Pte. Duff went
with her. They did not arrive till a few minutes before train left. Then left luggage
for someone else to put in. Very funny, I nearly collapsed at the pathetic, fond
farewell – turned away.
Major Sneddon seems better, also Mr. White. Made them and 3 others chicken broth
again today. The second chicken I've done for them. Chickens 10 Francs each.
They (the men) are so bad, I don't mind.
January 6th
Awfully cold again, some snow at night –melting – awfully muddy and dirty
now.R.E. finished our fireplace – lovely – such a comfort – a big fire – no smoke –
warm room – great deal of firing all day.
Report says Germans got another one of our air balloons today – one we can see
about. Great firing –aircraft, some hundreds of shells – down in flames. Hope men
safe and that it came down in our lines.
January 7th
Hospital train supposed to come 7am, very early. Arrived 8.56. 56 patients left.
Mr. White, abdominal case – had intestine cut in 3 places – went down – so well.
Hope he does alright now. Quite well here having solid food for days.
Pte. Eldridge who was done same day (abdom) did not go, stitches taken out a few
days ago. Coughed – cavity opened up all – bad – anaesthetic – restitched. Was bad
for some time. Seems safe now. All cases from tents sent into huts after evacuation
this morning.
January 8th
Major B. wants me to let sisters go their train to a dance. The O.C. will give him
permission if I do. I'm not going to do any such thing and told him – too much
sadness here.
January 9th
Mr. Dermer back – brought all nice new illustrated papers for men.
Good many patients – 8 ops –some bad cases.
Mills, arm amputated at shoulder, poor fellow – right arm too, doing well.
January 10th
Nothing new – letter from Alice and Lil, very cold – snow not melting – crunches
under your feet. Looks beautiful – wish we had cameras for a picture of it.
66
January 11th 1917
Train 12 m.day – 61 patients leaving, some very bad - arms and wounds – good many
sick – many in fact nearly all Australians. One poor English bow shot in back.
Paralysed, poor boy – sent to Base by train.
The actual dates of the notes in the following transcripts of Bessie's original
diaries were seldom recorded as she wrote in several different diaries in the same
week
January
Sister Smith off all day, sore throat, temp 100', poultices, off 5 days.
Good deal shell fire again today – much snow falling.
Sister Smith still off – poultice – gargle – should go to Hazebrouck really today but
Colonel Stacey thinks she will be alright and he will not evacuate her. Sisters need a
good deal of attention when sick. My throat was very bad and I felt ill for a fortnight,
lately but was afraid to mention it for fear I should be sent to base and then back to
unit. If I had a chance of going on my own again, I would have gone to bed.
Sister Smith still off – poultice - 4 ply, I hope she will not be much longer off duty.
Very Cold – very busy day today, Sister Dickson in theatre from 4pm till about 11pm.
did not get up to her tea til 7/30, then back again – 2 tables in op going – some very
bad wounds.
Mr. Shand and Capt. Craig came to tea when we asked them. We forgot it was our
receiving day – bus – bad cases. Sr. Dickson in theatre till 11pm.
Sr. Smith still off duty.
Everything the same – awfully cold – snow – all frozen, everywhere.
A few bad cases – train came back and took about 19 patients away.
I curled myself into the size of 3 pence when my hot water bag burst in bed –
awful – wet everything – worst – was had to be in it – no other dry bed clothes
etc. terrible catastrophe indeed – cold and miserable but was so funny. I had to
laugh. Had given it a few kicks in my sleep I suppose. Anyway, Niagra was a
small torrent, compared to it. Soaked mattress through also and a nice job to dry
these things by fire for next night.
Drying mattress, got too near, burnt half ticking which I had to mend, to add to
my troubles, already a cold and sore throat – great fun these things on Active
Service.
I had to be on one of my pillows and put the other one over me and pretend I was
a German.
Sr. Smith off duty – up for 2 hours today.
67
January 1917
Sister Dickson, standing in front of fire, her dress caught – burnt all her things to
her knees at back. Put a coat around her and ran up. Such a narrow and lucky
escape – stood with her back to fire – gave her a great shock – scorched her
hands putting it out too. After it was all over of course, we killed ourselves
laughing at her – don't know what is going to happen next.
Great deal of firing today – constant bombardment shaking our .
Put Sr. Sorley to bed 11am. Sent Sr. Smith to relieve her, temp 99' has had a bad cold
for a good while but always tells me she is alright. Just hear she went to Bailleul with
temp 102.8' – she took it herself (she ought to have known better) She would go
about with her head off if she thought anyone else was getting more than herself in the
way of teas etc.
Some badly wounded – many ops. Mills, man who lost R.arm at shoulder joint went
by Hospital train – arm so well. Eldridge, abdominal case and Duffrie? Abd. very
well – splendid cases – were terribly bad.
Sr. Sorley 99.8', kept in bed. Colonel says he will keep her here, will not send her to
sick sisters hospital. A terrible cold myself, trying to keep up and do as little as I can.
Take all the care I can, trust I don't have to go to bed with it – would get warmer –
below zero – terrible – everything frozen – hard ice.
Wire to say Sr. Dickson is to leave, report at H.Q.London. Staff nurse Sr. Reagan
came up 8am to relieve Sr. Dickson who leaves tomorrow – very sorry indeed. Capt.
Bassett, Major Barton, Capt. Pearce, Mr. Ampher? Came to dinner – everyone very
sorry to lose her.
Sr. Sorley is up today, 98.4', dressed – bad cough still.
3 bombs dropped by Germans about 4pm in Lancet? camp about 10 mins. From
here – only wounded 2, one very bad head case – the other slight. Killed 12 horses
they say – a very lucky escape. Tanks about all day. Heard the 3 explosions so near –
unlike shells or gunfire – terribly cold still, everything hard ice, inches thick.
Beautiful sun all day for 3 days but no heat in it – lovely days really for peace and
warm houses and warmly dressed and able to get about – no sick people.
I asked the Colonel to get 2 blankets or piece of canvas each to line our huts. Sisters
all have bad coughs – bitterly cold – ice on every roof – thick – inside all day now
– will try but afraid no blankets.
Sorely up – not on duty yet – this is the 6th day off. Lovely sunshine again, bitterly
cold yet, got some blankets to line our huts – soaked through – ice on ceiling never
melts all day even, sorry to trouble the Colonel but I cannot ask anyone to sleep under
these conditions, unless it is absolutely out of the question to get anything better.
I gave Father Clarke 20 Francs to buy some carpet. Colonel came up Sunday a.m., felt
I ought to ask Q.M. to buy paper to paper ceiling.
68
January 1917
Sorley still of – up – very noisy and merry with the usual afternoon visitors. You
would not dream she had been sick. Keeps all the grumps and unpleasant statements
for us. Sending her on tomorrow.
Still very cold – some badly wounded men. Snow no sign of melting – water pipes
frozen. My eyes and cold a good deal better. I wish the eye would keep well – seems
to get a cold in it and gathers painfully, every little while – must be very weak now.
Sorely to go on tomorrow. Seems quite well now. Sr. Derrer, cough better.
Train about 80 patients. Hospital full – everything just the same.
New hut not finished for patients – tents very cold. Some patients have to sent on to
Bailleul if we have no beds or trains to evacuate.
Sr. Sorley better – I sent her on duty. O.C. said she would be able to go on today.
Fairly busy the past week, a good many badly wounded, also sick.
3 deaths tonight – very badly wounded – N. cases, McKenzie died 4am. admitted
about 6pm, 31st. Lewis, fractured skull, died 10.30pm, 31st. Hume, chest wounds died
8.30am, 1st. Only admitted 11/30pm.
February 1917
Train, about 70 patients left this morning, some bad wounds. Another glorious day –
snow not melting yet. Nice and warm midday – much firing again – all around – good
many bad cases again last night.
Beautiful sunshiny day, not warm enough to melt snow yet. Great strafing this
morning. Germans over our guns very active – you can hear shells passing through
the air – nearly touch aeroplane but it always gets away. Terrible hard to hit these
planes flying.
Same kind of day – awfully cold still – no sign of snow. Batman did not come on duty
– no fire – no anything, with my terrible cold I had to get up again and make fire and
see to breakfast.
Nothing special all day.
Up again this morning. 2 fatigued men sent along, good help but I had to turn out –
most awfully cold still. Lovely sunshine – such a hazy, smoky day too.
Very little strafing today – all very quiet.
Wrote to Miss Conyers re Mentone. Pte. Powell returned to duty 10am - better.
Quiet day – convalescent patients papering Mess Hut for me, very cold, up early
seeing to sister's breakfast..
Written t Burgers for boots. Those sent were too small. Sold them to Sr. Smith – also
coat. Nothing new – sorry coat and boots were too small for me. Still awfully cold and
freezing – no sign of thaw – the only comfort is there is nice warm sunshine every day
– not very strong but still bright sun.
69
February 1917
Train – 50 patients left. No change in weather, everything frozen – my cold much
better – safe now, I think. I did not go off duty either. I am so very thankful that I was
able to keep up and not have to be sent down.
Sr. Sorley of all afternoon – sitting over fire – pain in the back, she says. Quiet day – only
one patient in A.1, Pte. Carson, dreadful wounds in leg, in A.2 all day. 5 others to
op, 2 to A.1.,1 officer, White, NSW.
Good deal of strafing tonight, sounds like raid – wind rising – still very cold. My cold
feels much better, feet very sore.
Lovely sunshiny day again. Much firing today – sounds like trench mortar shells
bursting. Mr. Kirby, A.I.F. admitted last night – foot amputated and has very, very
bad wounds of hips and legs – is very bad. Major White – finger amputated.
Glorious day, bright sunshine – still frost in am. Mr. Kirby still pretty bad – very
painful wounds – nothing special.
Very warm dry – especially am. cold and going to freeze again tonight – nice
sunshine – atmosphere quite spring for the morning half – then cold – my cold better
but still troublesome, my eye sore – filling up duct as usual – pain gone through.
4 boxes chocolates from Mr. Shand – sent from Aberdeen. Very thoughtful of him.
Captain Higgenson and Mr. Jack only, today. Warmer – dull, little shower, rain and
sleet – snow and ice almost gone from everywhere – looks quite strange to see the
black earth again – pretty muddy now – if it rains, can quite imagine it will be just as
dreadful as the men who were here last year, tell us.
A quaint proceeding next door just now. The farm. Killed a huge pig – we saw
them over the fence dragging him into the field – cover him with light hay all over
– then burn it – turn it over and do the same. The boys discovered, after they do
this instead of putting them into boiling water as we do – they are very dirty people I
think – live in such tiny little rooms – no air and apparently, altogether as far as one
sees, a whole family.
About 90 patients left by train, 10am. also 2 German prisoners – about 140 left – had
over 200 patients in – not often so many.
Warmer, like rain – dull – perhaps will snow again, 'tho no sign of pipes thawing yet.
Sr. Sorley still looks miserable, do not know what is the matter, says she has no
temperature. Spoke to the Colonel.
Received letter from Miss Conyers – wrote to Miss Mc Carthy re Mentone. Very cold,
frost again, bright sun at m.day.Mr. Jack and Mr. Gilchrist came to see about
tomorrow. I hope to go also – 2 others if we can. Y.M.C.A. man also came to see if
they would go to Pierrots Friday. Will see the C.O. if a car can be got.
70
February 1917
Train on 16th, 33 patients left.
No change – nice day – was to have gone to Bailleul to the Signallers to tea and do
some shopping – rang up 2/30, no car to be had – we were all dressed up and nowhere
to go. Sr. Carson, Sr. Reagon and myself. Mr. Dermer came at 2/15, so we all walked
in to Steenwercke – bought a couple of things. Looked through a Church, had
afternoon tea at a French Lepegg's and came home. Quite a nice afternoon in spite of
disappointment. They must have been extra busy.
Great excitement while we are at tea. Guns etc. firing at a German aeroplane
which they say they brought down. Late report says we did not bring it down – we
never know the truth really.
Mr. Kirby left by train – lost foot below knee – many wounds – Mr. O'Sullivan –
dreadful wounds - shock – he also went down. Williams, abdominal case – died about
10/30am – poor boy, said he was worse etc.
4 very badly wounded in midday – 1 abdominal died, Murphy, admitted 9/30,
abdominal wounds, through liver. Spleen, died 11/30pm. Collins died 2am.
Sr. Cawood off duty last night and Sr. Carson put on.
Raining a little tonight, plenty mud now I suppose – even the neighbours hens
have mud on their feet up to their knees –looks so funny as if they have leggings
on.
Sgt. From trenches today tells us that the cold was awful for our men – 14
sentries taken out at once –frozen to death – all on duty – dead. You can hardly
believe it but it is true – others told us too.
Train 11am, about 38 patients left.
Very dull, rained a little – not very busy today – few operations Mr. Pratt Y.M.C.A.
man came up – Scotch – is leaving for trenches. Evidently Y.M.C.A. look after men
much nearer fighting lines – nice old man. Ginger – leg wounds, gas, gangrene – very
bad – died today. Chapman, abdominal case – came in last night – died this morning.
We seem to be losing a good many lately – they come shockingly wounded, poor
things.
Capt. Burne came to say goodbye he is leaving, moved back with his German
prisoners to near Hazebrouck tomorrow. They all say Germans will put gas over now
they have gone. We must be careful.
Mrs. Satchell sent a parcel – muffler – 2 prs. Socks, 2 prs. Mittens, tin sweets –
papers. Written the Orchard Putney London.
Raining – wet and muddy – no water coming through pipes yet. Will surely thaw soon
– probably snow again after this –cold now.
71
February 6th 1917
Raining a little, still very foggy – cold – no news – very quiet day – no letters even.
Sr. Dickson and I went to the train to afternoon tea – very pleasant.
Answered Maud Trent's letter re Pte. Gould who here died of abdominal wounds
16th January.
Godbee , wounds of face – half side of head, eyes shot away – so bad – medical
officer would not dress or touch for 24 hours – poor boy – not unconscious – cheerful,
very deaf, used to tell sister when she fed and looked after him that that was what they
did for him at home. Was always asking and talking of his mother.
February 26th 1917
Quiet day – some bad cases. Rhodes, boy from Grafton – Clarence River – terribly
wounded legs – one amputated. Died gas gangrene 11/30pm. 27.2.1917.
Levit Huxtable – very badly injured arm – amputated 26th.
460 Pte. G.N. Rhodes, 42nd Btn. A.I.F. died 27th Feb, gas gangrene from stump – all
over abdomen in few hours – conscious – so good –talked – told me about his people.
At 6/30 said he fancied a banana. I sent for some by 7am car in morning, fearing they
will never come in time – poor boy, I wish I had some to give him but we can't get
anything like that, near. Gave him 3 handkerchiefs that came to me from Grafton, he
was pleased. Told sister he was better – no pain and would turn over and have a good
sleep. He died quite soon after. I told Sr. Carson to write to his mother and tell her
this.
March 1917
Mr. Comb Shrapnel in head – very bad – cousin of stretcher bearer here – eye
removed. Thompson – legs and ankle, very bad also. Button – Shrapnel in head –
could not find it in operating room – a little conscious – very bad – improved a little
in afternoon – much pain. Cellulitis, brain protruding – size of an egg – isolated –
returned to ward 4th March. Left by train for base on Monday 5th March, do hope he
gets home to his people.
Very few bad cases today – not so serious – dull and raining a little.
No, 498, A.B. Mitchell 35th Btn. A.I.F. admitted –badly wounded, died hours after
the operation – artery. Mother, Mrs. Eve Mitchell, Albert Street. Nth. Lambton,
Newcastle.
35 patients left by hospital train 10am.
Dinner – Col, 6/30pm. Capt. Burkett and Major Barton – foggy and dull evening –
wet and muddy – very nice dinner – cooked beautifully – table nice - nothing special
– no silver etc. Pretty carnation – they seemed to enjoy themselves – left after 10pm.
Gave the Colonel a supper cloth for his wife, of which he was very proud.
Taylor admitted – chest and abdomen, very bad. Married just before he left Sydney.
Haynes, admitted 5am – shell wounds – head, arms, all over – very bad – knows
Major Barton – Nth. Sydney boy.
72
March 1st 1917.
Germans round again –quite close and round the balloon. Machine guns on him – did
not come down. One man got out in his parachute – 2 minutes, after, the second man
got safely out. Hope they came down safely in our lines. – say they did.
One of the men who came down in parachute yesterday came to hosp. Last night –
strained back – very fortunate, no worse. Was wounded twice before in Battle of Laos
– very quite day so far.
Glorious sunny day – balloon up and of course Germans around all afternoon –
great commotion – he was very keen to get it – fortunately did not. Dozens of shells
bursting overhead – some so near – yet it is hard to hit them – great reports. I was
very pleased when the balloon men came safely down. You could see the black
crosses under the German plane so plainly – he was a brave flier to keep up in
the midst of all these shells bursting all round and so close to him. Yet they never
seem to hit them about these parts – anyway, I wish they had – yet he was so brave,
he deserved his plane and his life.
Received for 300 Francs 10 Pounds.15/-, got 300 Francs in postal note to send home
to mother and Alice for my expenses. Policies etc. due.
Hospital for little time nearly always up to 200 patients we take in every day now for
a time , as there is one Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul, until it has been replaced.
Lovely sunny day – much air duels, Germans after our balloon again.
Letter from 2 AGH, saying there is a case there for me for some time, asking what
they will do with it. They should have sent it on without asking. Written to say to
forward to me Steenwercke Station.
Going to Officers Mess to dinner tonight – a farewell to the Colonel – awfully nice
dinner and evening – did not return till 11/30pm. I was tired – very worried about so
many bad cases. Night sister left at 9pm.
About 70 patients left by train 12md. About 150 left.
Cold dull day – no planes about – a little firing.
Pte. Haynes went down - arm a little better. Mr. Huxtable, Capt. Ackroyd also went
down.
Nothing special – still a few very bad cases. – one or two deaths daily now.
Taylor – N.Z. boy with A.I.F. abdominal wounds – died about midnight Monday,
poor boy.
73
March 1917
Letter from home dated 9th Jan. – mother home.
Lieut. Huxtable, pretty bad after operation – iodoform poisoning 28th March – much
better – left by hospital train for base.
Train went down, about 96 patients – about 150 left.
Sisters from Hospital train came over – very nice girl, one in charge, seems to be
Scotch. Seen a good deal of hard work from Somme C.C.S.(Casualty Clearing
Station)
Saw proofs of the photo we had taken of our huts – hospital and ourselves –very good
they say. I am getting the photo, Padre Clarke arranged.
Very busy day – many ops, evacuations and trying to clean up the place after – quiet
so far – very dull – like rain – cold – maybe sleet 3/30pm.
Cloudy night – little moonlight. Balloon up about 8/30pm –not very usual.
Nothing very special happening – the usual work. – Captain Higgenson came to tea –
said he enjoyed it all. Left 10.45pm. All seemed to be very merry.
Wrote to Miss McCarthy – lovely bright, sunny and warm m.d. cold at night – wind
rising – several to afternoon tea. Patients from ward also. I left and went round to see
new cases admitted. Some very bad. Sending some from wards to B.2. making beds
for night cases who may come in.
Hospital train 7am. 76 patients went down – 180 remaining – generally about 200
patients in now.
4 or 5 inches of snow fell this morning – a little rain and warmer day melted it all by
afternoon –glorious moonlight night now – clear white thick fog. Some firing
tonight.
Mail closed here last night for Australia – frost again – sunny for a few hours – rather
windy and cloudy for a time. Very changeable weather now, my buttercups trying to
struggle up – will look pretty when out.
Srs. Cawood – Smith and Reagan – went to concert at No. 1 C.C. (Casualty Clearing).
Col. Dick and the 2 sisters returned about 10/30pm.
78 patients left this morning by train about 11am. about 150 left – terrible winds today
and very cold.
2 sisters went Bailleul, so 2 others could not go to concert in Y.M.C.A. hall,
Steenwercke.
74
March 3rd 1917
Pte Graham Maitland boy, multiple wounds – bad –came yesterday – died today.
Hayles also died 10th March 1917. Admitted 5th March.
Beaty died Sunday 4th March 1917, bad abdominal cases.
1839 Pte. Barker (Henry) died 6th Jan. '17.
Keogh admitted 1.30am, 9.3.17, gun shot wounds, abdomen, chest and hand. Taken
to Op. theartre – died before anything could be done, unconscious before and seen by
Father Clarke.
McFarlane very bad case – abdominal, had some obstruction ? castor oil Ziii added
to other things. 3 0zs. A great deal.
Pickering another abd. case, very bad, both admitted 7.3.17
March 9th
Ross admitted 4/30am 9th, unconscious – head case and pulseless.
Gyler also head case – not conscious since admission.
March 11th
Sunday – Col. just came up to tell me that the D.M.S. told him I had to leave – no date
yet.
Sent to Alice to mind for me – 1 afternoon tea white lace tablecloth – 1 nightdress, 70
Francs – 1 coloured Egyptian cloth – 1 piece Egypt. White silk. Reg. cost 5 Francs-
60.
March 16th
Got up to 8am. breakfast – wrote letters all morning, went for motor drive with 2
Canadian sisters. Spent afternoon at Lafayette –had tea and got home 6pm. Met
V.A.D. who told me about Sr. Sorely, when she was sent to No.14 General in June
last year. Left very bad impression
Seemed a nice girl, leaves for Le Touqet tomorrow 7am., had nice day. Miss Finlay
from No. 1 going to Mentone tomorrow – had champagne for supper – great treat –
small bottle, 5 Francs 50 here. Bought corset and bath slippers today.
About 240 patients in today. Train I hope tomorrow. 8pm. went to church hut to see
men of unit give the O.C. an address and photos of a few places they had been in
since they left Australia – very nice – made in the form of a stretcher – everything
coming from some place of interest. He also came to tea with us at 6/30pm. Mr.
Stewart from Y.M.C.A. also came in about tea time and stayed.
Col. Clogston came up about 7/30pm. to see O.C. was sorry he did not come sooner
for tea – had had no dinner and going on to Armentiers.
Train 9am, 88 or 90 pts. left for base – letter from Miss McCarthy telling me she had
arranged my leave for next vacancy at Menton. Miss Davidson will relieve me. Very
nice note, says to take nothing, only necessary things, that I shall return to my position
here. Letter from Alice date 16th Jan.
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