Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 4 - Part 4
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April 12th 1918
Friday: Still bad news, I can hardly believe the Germans are at Ploystret and
Steenwercke - yet they are.
Nice day - lovely new moon tonight - trust all will be well before another comes
around.
April 13th
Saturday: Col. Knight rang up, said Lord Darnley anted me to see Daffodils before
they all go - they are lovely- Lady Darnley - Mrs. Knight, also wants us to go over -
me to bring "Spring."
Sr. Harford I put down for night duty on 15th - told her- she says she absolutely
refuses to go till all the sisters have been on - I advised and talked to her - but
she is almost mental about it, quite in fact. Very rude of course and lost all control of
herself - I told her to have sense and go on. I did not want to report her. I had to
report to O.C. Sutherland - he advises and told her to do the same as I did - said she must
go on - if not he would report to Matron in Chief - he had to remind her that he was
O.C. in the way she was speaking.
April 14th
Sunday: I find a letter asking me to forward one on to Miss Conyers - the same
reasons and list of names she says must go on before her, all sisters really - the O.C.
says I must cross them out yesterday when she mentioned them - the whole reason I
am afraid is that they are making a fuss over promotions - this seems to be the chief
line of contention.
April 15th
Monday: Sr. Harford refused to go on N.Duty - had excuse that sisters had not done it
in their turn, was all she gave - sisters cannot all go on at one time - I have 3 on now
and 2 going on furlough - this leaves wards I/C of senior nurse - some S/N's are
absolutely quite good as any sister, but others say they are not paid for that and
won't take responsibility of helping the in I/C - our real chief trouble is that there
is not enough hard work for them to do - too comfortable a time - it make your
heart ache when there is so much sorrow and misery for our men at this time.
Wrote a letter of explanation to Miss Conyers in answer to Miss Harford's protest,
giving reasons for my distributing of staff which was absolutely fair and just.
April 16th
Saw D.M.S. and Miss Conyers yesterday, who said I must tell Sr. Harford to go on
16th and if she will not, then she had to up to them and I must go also. I got Col.
Sutherland to see her again this morning - he talked and advised her but she says she
will not do night duty till all sisters have done a turn - I just wrote what he told me
and gave him - I am to go up to the D.M.S. by 1/10pm train - I feel very sorry - it
is an unpleasant duty but I cannot let this pass unnoticed - because all will be the
same.
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April 16th 1918
Pouring rain - miserable day, but probably good for growth - letter from home dated
Feb 12th which is quite soon - comfort to know that mother is well still and happy in
her chair.
Took Sr. Harford up to H.Q. midday - Matron in Chief asked her about her reasons
etc - and gave her advice - asked if she knew how serious a matter it was -said she knew
and did not care - would not do night duty on principle, so they went to D.M.S. and
returned about half an hour later. Told me then, before sister, that I was to write a
notice saying "Acting Under Instructions, I was suspending sister not to go on
night duty again and being sent to Australia this week." Was to return to Dartford
but may not be away from the hospital for more than an hour, as she might be sent for
anytime - ship leaving any day now.
Very sad news tonight - Bailleul in flames - had to be given up - seems the enemy
are advancing very much - do trust our men are not being lost too heavily - seems so
strange that after all this time and we having had those places so long - that they
should get them again - of course I have been everywhere about there - being near
Neipe? For 9 months with C.C. Station - they moved staff and hospital before
Germans got into Steenwercke which was fortunate - paper says we have had some
action at sea, sunk some German boats - saved their crews.
Very cold today, raining heavily - not unpleasant but you hope and pray that our men
will not be lying out under these awful conditions and it rains terribly in France - of
course the mud now all round - Bailleul must be awful - it was in peace time - or
rather while we were there and now after being torn up bu all this shelling and traffic
- one could almost drown it I'm sure.
April 17th
Very wet, cold and miserable day - Mr. Buchanan came to dinner - seeing his brother
again - nothing very special today - thank goodness no more trouble with theses
women - probably waiting for another opportunity - hope this one being sent home
will be a bit of a shick on some of them - sorry it fell to my lot to do the dirty work
though.
We are supposed to be out of bounds to Dartford people - smallpox there.
April 19th
Col. Springthorpe and I went to Cobham Hall by the 2.20 - arrived about 3.20pm.
Col. and Mrs Knight there - awfully glad to see us and I was so pleased to see them
all. Both Lord and Lady Darnley took me round parts of garden, showing me flowers,
trees etc. I bought home quite a lovely armful of daffodils - we all had afternoon tea
with Lady D. -left again 6/20 and got home 7/30pm. Mr. Buchanan was over again -
I told him to bring Mr. Harrison with him
Some better news today from France.
Glad mother is well and all at home are getting on splendidly.
Had a whist drive for the men tonight 7-9pm - about 120 - 2 prizes - all very keen
about it.
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April 20th 1918
Sr.Harford left with S/N Brown for London - met by Matron in Chief who saw her on
train - now I hope I'm done with the her - of course I know she will misrepresent things
out there, but it was out of my hands when I told the O.C. She wants to be made a
sister - get more pay and do alternate work with the Head Sister - no private could do
that with his Col. or general and we rank the same.
Sent Sr. Brown to Matron in Chief re anaesthetic for removal of corn in foot -
permission given, which means that everybody will be done here now and none go to
the Sisters Hospital - she is to be done tomorrow at 9am.
April 21st
Wild, windy wet day - S/N Brown had anaesthetic -corn removed from sole of foot
by Capt. Newton. I sent her up to H.Q. to explain and ask Matron in Chief - D.M.S.
granted permission.
Mr. Buchanan came to see his brother - a patient here. I asked them both up to tea -
the former to lunch and dinner. Gave him a photo to send out to his mother
Very quiet all day except wild weather - no paper today - I only get the "Times", 3
pence now - very dear - letter from Scob. says she put 10 Francs in but it was not in the letter - she has forgotten
Thursday: Very good concert for men.
April 26th
Friday: Went to London 10.30am train - took taxi to Grafton Galleries - saw pictures
(war), so good - went to H.Q. saw about a few things - met Col. Knight there - is
coming with the Darnleys soon he says - gave particulars to pay Sgt. In bill section re
refund of my expenses while in London with H.S.ASSAYE Miss Conyers, Matron in
Chief asked to Windsor Castle today, they say lunch with Queen Mary.
Letters from home - dated March -very quiet.
April 27th
Saturday: Mrs Farmer and ladies gave patients a whist drive and aft. tea - very nicely
done and all enjoyed the change.
April 28th
Sunday: Mr. Buchanan came down to see his brother, kept him for lunch and dinner -
gave both aft. tea - O.C. came up with account whist drive etc - says they paid it - I
said no, they must produce my receipt - say they gave me the money and there was no
form of receipt - that Sr. Brown was present. She says she was present when I signed
a paper for 19/3d which is the first and only money they have given me for what I
have paid out - the Q.M. then said he would go through the cash in his safe and say it
could have been put in there instead of being paid out, as they have drawn it out of the
bank and say they have no receipt from me and I have not the faintest recollection of
being paid, in fact I an absolutely certain I have not had the money
30
April 29th 1918
Very cold day again. Pte. Price very bad A5 - A2 Blake, head case - several lumbar
punctures - head wound Finley, 21.very bad hand.
Whist drive for men - great many turned up - the prizes bought with 1 Pound given to
me by Capt. Langdon who also gave out the prizes to winners.
Sr. Weigall came up to tell me she had lent Pte. Howson who was in the tel.
Room 46 Pounds for a boy named Henderson, who was a school boy of her fathers -
she could not get it back, though he had promised it often - he also borrowed some
from Sr. Thompson, she got hers - he was A.W.L. -has not returned - I had to report
to the O.C.
April 30th
Tuesday: Wild day, not much change - same duties - 1187 patients - come and go
very quickly - took a couple of hours off this aft. I had a pretty bad cold - did me
good - felt better by dinner time.
May 1st
Things much as yesterday - men seem to be the same - not much better, though still
alive and apparently not a great deal worse - staff sent a notice of whist drive - they
want sisters to join in - the O.C. wishes them to know he was asking Queen
Mary's W.A.A.C's which means handmaids etc.
May 2nd
Thursday: S/N Moyes taken off night duty - took a big dose of aspirin -twice -said
she fell down twice in ward - menthol for throat also - vomiting T.P. has been very
troublesome about her foot - would not eat proper food that had been prepared - off
till 6th May then sent by car to Southwell Gardens.
May 4th
Saturday: Went up by invitation of Misses Fairfax of Sydney to an "AT HOME" - 16
of the patients also - aft. tea - concert - Ada Crossley - R. Maxwell and others sang -
was really very nice - had dinner at the Dean Hotel and then tried to get seats for
theatre - not one in London - all full - so we came home by the 8/10pm and walked
from station - Sr. Weigall and myself.
Henderson - the friend of orderly Howson came to see Sister Weigall - the latter had
been borrowing money from her - said Henderson was "hard up" - Henderson says
he never had it - something wrong - A.W.L. for about a week now - no trace of him
- he had 46 Pounds also 12 Pounds from a pt. In ward.
Sunday 5th
Sunday: Church both morning and evening - Presbyt. Very few at the morning - great
many in evening
BESSY'S DIARY OPENED AT ENTRY FOR 6TH MAY 1918
MATRON OF 3RD AUXILIARY HOSPITAL - DARTFORD - ENGLAND
Photocopy - see original document
SEE PAGE 31:
31
May 6th 1918
Monday: Whist drive 2pm. Sisters provided prizes - great many men. O.C. gave
prizes for whist drive Capt. South told me, out of Regt. Funds. Gave Sister Chaplin 3
Pounds to spend - razor - handkerchiefs - war bonds - supper also given - the maids
say that the O.C. did everything - M.C. etc.
Rec. letter from Scob - my 10 Francs and 140 more to buy her some things - fearful
lot of special dress staff etc - don't feel that I'll choose the right stuff.
Pte. Blake died yesterday - Pte. Price, leg still very bad - Berryhill, comes from
Double Bay Sydney - new patient - T.B.? - very bad throat - says they can do
nothing for him -diseased glands - Wallis - tetanus? - transferred to isolation, very
bad today - 4/30am - died during the night.
May 7th
Tuesday: Raining - play in evening - sisters said, fairly good. Mr. Buchanan came to
see his brother. M.O. gave him bed and his breakfast - had all other meals with us 0
seems despondent - not well - expects to return to France and does not look fit.
Brother hopes to be boarded for Aust. - trust he goes.
May 8th
Wednesday: Bright nice day - Mr. B. left - going to H.Q. - wish they could send both
boys home - so awfully sorry to hear from Major Culpin that his brother had been
killed - glad he was with him - I hope he will be safe on a/c of the little boy - his
wife asked the O.C. again today for the money he owes me for the patient's whist drive,
1st week in March - he has never given a penny of the money he promised - every 2nd
week, sisters buy prizes for the men now.
Miss Yates has been off duty for several days and was sent today to St. Albans .
I sent S/N Brown with her as she was so nervy - crying if you looked at her - I tried
to get Miss Yates away 3 weeks ago but neither herself or O.C. considered it
necessary - now she has to be away for 3 0r 4 weeks or longer.
May 9th
Have asked the O.C. 3 times about this since - said it was there and I'd get it - did not
send it to me, so I sent a message by the Home Sister to quietly ask a master?
Whether it was going to be settled - I would be glad to know before I went up to town
- they bought the cash out while I was getting into the car One Pound 8 shillings and
1pence - I think it was too bad that I had to wait all these weeks and then to be told
that they had paid it - could find no receipt - they must surely have felt very
dishonourable when they found they had not paid it - no record or signature and had
to admit such - no apology or remark.
Sent a strange orderly to pay me. - bringing books etc to show they had drawn the
cheque for items etc and no sign of my signature or anything to show that I had
received it.
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May 10th 1918
Friday: Miss..? Administrator for Eastern Commands W.A.A.C. round -I had
arranged to see Miss Bune about the sister's quarters - I am not satisfied - they are
not kept clean - they have too many girls in the wards - also asked that the N.C.O.
Sexton should be changed. The home sister cannot get on with her. She is rather rude
and abrupt - has been so for some time, I have heard her myself.
Very sad case - a man with nerve injury died in theatre - walking about - died before
he was touched - it is very terrible - patient from A2.
Patients seem a little better today - though still very sick - Price - much pain and
trouble in his leg and knee.
General Featherstone - Col. Wilson, paid an unexpected visit - went everywhere -
wards - rooms - laundry - massage dept. etc. - sister's bedrooms - sitting room - I
asked him about a piano for their room - I hope he gets one somehow - thought their
bedrooms very nice - came up and had aft. tea in my office. I sent for 4 sisters he
knew - left about 6pm - don't know what he thought - I do not think he is very
genuinely true - I may be wrong - never saw him before - hope my part of the work
was alright - O.C. was away all day, we all feel it such a lark, for he would be telling
him all about Queen Mary's W.A.A.C's. Sisters would not have seen him.
May 11th
Sir C. and Lady Wade came to see patients - did 4 wards - very nice to the men -
came by motor, also 2 daughters - all had tea in my office - O.C. and Major Bone -
she is going to take 4 men weekly to the theatre,
May 12th
Presbyt. Padre came to aft. tea - went to Church - Capt. Beveridge very sad because
there were no sisters or only 1 and only 3 or 4 patients, some W.A.A.C's - talked to
me for about ¾ hour. I told the Padre that he must go round the wards and talk to men
- he says sisters were rude to him - no one can influence men on wards so much as the
Padre if he goes amongst them - I myself like the Presbyt service best - have done for
years.
May 13th
Went to see Clara Butt "Pageant of Freedom" in Queen's Hall - lovely - beautiful
- thrilling sight -courage - pity - faith - mother and wife beautifully
represented, also France - Clara Butt - lovely Britain.
May 14th
Miss Conyers visited hospital - went all round - not much wrong I think - some
sisters rooms very untidy - things lying about everywhere - they went out in a hurry.
Bowtell, Watkins, Melrose up to see her yesterday re relieving work - said they did
not like it - was not interesting - they are only fairly satisfactory workers so will not
put them anywhere permanent till they work a bit better.
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May 14th 1918
Continued: there are other senior S/N and more capable ones to be placed before
their turn comes - they have not been away from Australia either nearly as long as
others her -(not a year) - S/N Benson - Walker, sick again - another who objects to
work unless she is permanent - no temperature or symptons - pain in back and
headache.
May 15th
Heard this week that Major Culpin has been killed - hope it is not true - his wife
and little boy will be so broken hearted I'm sure - he was such a splendid man -
so good to the men in his wards.
May 16th
O.C. very cross - says some sisters had staff orderlies in their sitting room last night -
he would not tell me their names - they can really take anyone they like I think,
except patients - letter written as Matron in Chief said , about the answer to letter of
S/N who wrote and saw her yesterday - also one asking that S/N Moyes need not be
returned or replaced, I have enough.
Went to concert - only 3 sisters - all very quiet - patients seemed to be walking in
and out al the time. Col. and Mrs Shellshear with 2 lady friends, 2 other officers of
hosp. who did not seem to notice patients.
Sr. Menhennett complaining about noise and not being able to sleep - wants night off
in the 2 months as well as at the end - says she will get nerves - they will all get sick
etc - said I could not give it but would ask Matron in Chief.
May 17th
Saw Miss Conyers today 17th -says they cannot have any more time but I can let them
do less night duty if they cannot sleep with aeroplanes overhead - gave her report she
asked for about Moyes - Bowtell - Melrose - Watkins.
Several old letters from home.
In London all day, frightfully hot - fixed up a good deal of Scobie's shopping -
awfully hard to get things and terribly dear - material from 11/6d to 28/6d yard -
cannot get colours or anything - bought her grey stuff, 6/1/2 yards 3 Pounds 16/9d.
Coat 1 Pound 19/6d - Cape cloth 7/3d - note paper and envelopes 11/3d - hat 15/9d -
brooch 2/10d
May 19th
Sunday: Some M.O.'s and sisters came to aft. tea. Mr Buchanan here for lunch -
Major Bond gave him a bed in his quarters again - his brother still here. Mrs... and
her husband came to aft.tea - I took her all round - the place seems very nice.
34
May 21st 1918
Tuesday: Sister Gaff and I left by 8.5am train for Waterloo en route to
Winchester - arrived there about M.D. little over 2 hours - very pretty - hot but
had a most interesting time - Winchester Cathedral, most lovely - stone carvings
done by Monks - all their seats were very narrow only a few inches wide -
made to make them sit up in a most straight position - the feet keeping them from slipping right off - they could not go to sleep - they seemed to put in much
spare time carrying the most comical and grotesque figures - one man's head,
the teeth will open to allow tongue being seen - al carved beautifully - bought
books - could not write it all here.
May 22nd
Got a paper from Miss Conyers - asked how many sisters had not been to France -
have to send in names and a note as to their suitability first.
Major Brown came up - says the O.C. sent him - he would like the sisters and the
M.O.'s to be better known and wants us to have them all up on Sunday afternoon for
tea - he does not suggest that they send along milk and eatables - I now have some of
them every Sunday with several sisters - those who care to come - every Sunday for
about 5 weeks. I have tea, sugar and my own butter - not mess things. Milk is a big
item and I will not pay extras for these men - I don't mind for the men who are
obliging and do anything kindly for me - have told the sisters they must settle it by
Mess meeting tomorrow night.
May 23rd
Message from H.Q. - S/N Gallagher - Adams - Cullen - Callender to go up to H.Q.
this afternoon, draw kits for France on Saturday - sorry to lose the first 2 from staff,
though I want them to go over - hope they get on well, would love to be going over
too.
May 24th
Meeting tonight of sisters re having aft.tea on Sundays with M.O. staff here - they
are to have it - sisters act as hostesses in turn - those who are for this are to collect
money between themselves to provide milk and extras - no one to be asked to
subscribe unless they wish to give - Major Brown seems to have promised them lots
of things from Q.M. I wish I might be able to keep out of it - I may be able to manage
it.
May 25th
Srs. Adams, Gallagher, Cullen and Callender gone to France.
Watkins, Melrose transferred to Harefield.Letter from Scob. from N02 Boulogne -
on night duty - sent all her things over now - she will find they are pretty dear - hope
she likes them all - very hard to get just the right and best things now.
2 Sisters from Southall -(Sr. Tucker) spent afternoon and had dinner - seemed to
think everything very nice and comfortable here - better situated than others.
35
May 26th 1918
Sunday: Sr. Crowly sick - off night duty - perfect nuisance just now, all on night duty
- they don't like it - say they can't sleep etc. More aeroplanes now and more noise -
taking them off in a month again -I'm very sorry to have to do it, because they asked
the O.C. - he had told me the week before not to take them off before the 2 months -
they will have to go on oftener anyway.
Went to Church at night - too busy in morning - kept till too late - 2 or 3 of them
came to tea - 4 sisters - did not ask O.C. or Major Brown.
May 29th
Wednesday : Nothing special - one patient, aeroplane accident - gone to Woolwich -
not much hurt - plane caught in a tree so broke fall - nice boy.
May 30th
Thursday: Col. Knight rang up - wants me to go over to the Darnleys, concert,
afternoon tea - take Col. Springthorpe, Col. Shellshear and wife and I took Capt.
Langdon and a sister Keppel - very nice girl - had a lovely day - Col. Knight sent
ambulance to Gravesend - Lord and Lady Darnley very kind - great many people
there - everything awfully nice - very good to us - Lord Darnley said I could go and
get flowers to take home - I got such a lot - some wild - all beautiful -Col. S. took us
then to the "Leather Bottle Inn" of Dickens fame - had nice tea about 7/30pm.
Saw old Church - the brass figures (centuries old - best in England) - the wives and
husbands of all the Cobhams from the beginning - one had 18 children- another had
3 husbands and so forth - all very interesting - then the Alms houses behind the
Church where the poor old people live - some with husbands - a person over them -
each, little sitting room and bed - then we left by 10.8pm train - got home before 11.
May 31st
Friday: Major Cole - M.O. who was here - now in France, has a new baby son which
his wife brought here to be christened in this little Chapel - Capt. Beveridge
performed - Col Sutherland, Godfather - he did look a great galoot - not
Godfather - am sure he never heard the prayers by his answers.
They all came up to our dining room for the aft. tea which some of the sisters
provided -they knew Mrs Cole, a nurse I believe.
Lovely day again - glorious sunshine - cool breeze - flowers look lovely that I
brought home yesterday - going to service at St. Pauls tomorrow.
Very bad news I think re war - Germans seem to be getting everything.
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