Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 4 - Part 7

54

October 31^st 1918

Everybody saying tonight that Miss Mills -Walker and Miss Quartermain got

pneumonia at Sutton Wing, one dead and the other dangerously ill – one can hardly

believe it – they were here about a week ago – went all over the place – dinner etc

Great many sick people now, B18, many very high temp.

Sgt. McLaughlin, X Ray dept, trifle better tonight – over in isolation – recovering –

getting better – transferred to B 31, 6/11.18.

Do hope all my people keep fit – that I do not lose anyone – also pray and hope I

keep well and fit myself to go on with my work.

Must go up to AMP office as soon a s I can get my insurance fixed up - got the

papers from Alice last week – only a little over 300 Pounds and I insured for 250

Pounds years ago.

November 4^th

Col. Campbell left – O.C. Sutherland returned after 3 weeks holiday in France – never

done any service at the Front. Awfully sorry to lose Col. Campbell – so good – so

ready with orders and advice if you want him – such a comfort –wish he could have

remained here and Major Brown go.

November 5^th

Tuesday: Left by 8am train for Westminster and Sutton Wing Camp for Miss

Mills-Walker's funeral – Sisters Martin and Whipham came with me – arrived about

1pm. Ambulance met us – they gave us some dinner, very nicely – then we left (8) for

the church, 5 min. walk.

Coffin came on Gun Carriage – carried by 1914 men – all on shoulder – others

walked beside. V.C. Jacka walked by coffin – we all walked out in 2's after burial in

Church yard of St. John the Evangelist – heaps of nice flowers – we took ours. Also

sisters from Southall and Miss Finley – there must have been over 200 officers and

men, Australians and numbers of Civil People. The Last Post after 3 rounds fired

and all over.

I was very sorry but would like my end to be the same. Just finish my work and

go quickly and quietly, surrounded by the people I worked with for and with.

We got home about 11pm after travelling all day – funerals very sad and heart

breaking.

November 6^th

Another death today – orderly Lockyer – poor Durrington very ill – afraid he

will not do any good.

Found S/N Gordon talking to officer patients when she should have been beside him,

especially when he was wandering – a little delirious but quite right when spoken to –

poor boy has scarcely enough breath to speak.

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November 6^th 1918

Continued: She did not seem to think that he should had any attention of care, when

I spoke to her – Just ordered the orderly to bring her armchair to the hall opposite his

door, ready for her to be comfortable – I cautioned her to be careful and try to look

after him as she did not seem to understand what that meant – I decided to move her –

just left and arranged for another sister to replace her – sent her to wards – I shall

never be able to trust her again though.

Corporal 1026 Durrington A.23 C of E ,44/12, 41^st Battalion – Mother Mrs

Durrington, Ballina - Richmond River – poor boy died – I got a nice Wreath 14/- - I 

was so grieved but all was done that was possible – he was so good and conscious up

till the last minute – sisters were so fond of him – written to his mother (brother came 

from France on 17-11-18 – so sorry)

Pte.A. Bower, 1787, 34 years, 26^th Battalion C of E – 46 months service – wife,

Branxholm, Tasmania – died 4/30pm – 5-11-18

Pte. W. Hopkins, 3316, C of E, 29, 33^rd Battalion – died 1-10am – 9-11-18 - wife

Mrs D Hopkins, Myrtle St. Crows Nest, N. Sydney.

Signaller J.P. Young, 21,37^th Battalion –24 months service –died 11/40am on 9-11-18

Father , J. P. Young - Betley, Via Dunolly, Victoria.

Osboldstone, very ill for some days.

D.I. Gilmore, very sick for some days – died 11-11-18.

McCabe, very ill – D.I. – employed on staff – very ill today.

November 7^th

Still very ill – unconscious 2 days 21-11-18.

Wilson, also very ill, getting on better now, 21-11-18

Osboldstone still very ill, though seems to be going to pull through – conscious –

taking food. I got him some little thing he fancied when he was half delirious.

They have such strange fancies – wish I could get them all they fancy when ill.

November 10^th

Mr and Mrs Gilmore from Glasgow came to see their son – we put the mother to bed

in Senior Nurses Room here – poor things, travelling all night – he knew them though

he was so ill  - died on 11^th .

Parents left for night mail for Glasgow on ....?

Poor things were broken hearted and they upset me so, for you can't do anything.

Sunday: Went to Church 11am Communion Service – Presbyt. – very comforting –

soothing – no fuss.

56
November 11^th 1918
Monday  Peace proclaimed - whistles etc.

November 12^th

Tuesday: Mrs Dick wanted me to go up to lunch but I felt to upset about our men

dying of pneumonia, poor things, though we did all we could – sorry not to meet

Major Fiache's sister.

November 13^th

Went to The Bank of N.S.W. to change my cheque from AMP 330 Pounds and 8/-,

then down to the Dicks at Ladbroke Gardens – lunch and then we went on top of bus

to Whitechapel – got off and waited a short time when we saw the King and Queen

and Princess Mary drive past – just mounted Constables riding ahead and behind – the

Queen looked lovely – regal – gracious woman – no paint, powders etc – just natural

red cheeks – looked as though she felt it a good deal of course – it must be very hard

to look and seem happy when all the world turns out to do you honour.

Great crowds in streets everywhere – dancing of tops of the bus as it came along –

dozens of soldiers. Went back with the Dicks to Ladbroke Gardens – had tea and they

came to Charing Cross with me – got home about 10pm.

November 15^th

Friday: Went up this afternoon to Mr. Hughs of Cook, speak in the King's Hall

– supposed to be "Australia Day" – got tickets from Australia House, friend of sister

Greens – several musical items and songs – then old Hughs spoke very well – all

about what Australia had done – what they and the soldiers had done – great

applause  – not one word about the Nursing Service – got home about 12 midnight

– London very crowded – very noisy, silly crowd, though orderly.

November 16^th

Saturday: Went up to the Albert Hall to a united free service – King and Queen –

Lord George – had to go top of hall – hear very well but see nothing but thousands

of faces – stand all the time, would not have got in at all only a policeman pushed me

into a space – could not get me a seat anywhere else – the music lovely – while

waiting for the service to begin 3pm, played "The Lost Chord" – "Land of Hope

and Glory" – "The Rosary" and a couple of other things – quite great excitement

when the King and Queen came in – the huge hall, full of people, stood up as one.

Nearly everyone sang the hymns – such an impressive service.

The King's open carriage, just some red ribbon on the horses heads or rather on their

bridles – no show – about 6 policemen on horseback riding before and after – huge

crowds in the streets, cheering and shouting – waving handkerchiefs and programmes.

Terribly cold – cold enough for snow that will not fall till it is ready – got home by 

5/30pm from Charring Cross station – bus a long way out of proper route on account 

of dense crowds – could hardly walk past Trafalger Square – just one huge great mass

of people – it seemed wherever you went it was the same – there must have been

many thousands of people, more than the usual number in London.

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November 17^th 1918

Sunday: Very cold, not snow yet, awfully cold sharp wind – Church this morning here.

Padre Forrest – very good.

November 19^th

S/N Ripper had to be taken off night duty. M.N. pains and headache – no temp –

looks ill – thinks she is going to be the same as she was in Italy –Kidney? – off duty 4

months.  M.O. saw her – put in sick nurses room. O.C. says he does not approve of the 

method of sending sisters to hospital when the will soon be better – still busy in

wards.

November 20^th 

No change – just the same – complains of frantic headache.

Patients Whist Drive – great many in and they all seemed happy – several prizes and

hot tea and biscuits after for them. Col. Springthorpe gave prizes – they all seem very

fond of him – his own patients call him "Father" – think he is proud of it.

Capt. Spowers asked me to let some sisters go to a dance they were having tonight –

told him I could and would not, but if he got his O.C. to ring up the Matron in Chief

and get her permission, they could all go. He went up to see her himself but report

says she said NO – she rang me up and said NO – perhaps they will be satisfied

now.

Great many sick new in now – several more spine cases from King George Hospital –

all well nursed and backs attended to – poor things, some 4 months in this state –

paralysed - no power – no control or feeling from the waist – just small wounds in chest

– nothing to look at but so fatal.

November 21^st

Thursday: Saw the Dentist here yesterday – some filling fell out of 2 teeth – he filled

one, put a dressing in the other – have to go again. Mr. Hodgson always did them at

once –I am very fortunate, have never seen a dentist since I left Sydney in 1914.

Sr. Green sick – off all yesterday and today, no temp. Says she has a cold and

headache – she does not like B18 or working with Sr.McK. – 4 days off – put her into

wards 26 and 27 – she will do night duty in Miss Whipham and Miss Kitchen's wards

now.

November 22^nd

Friday: Went to H.Q. – got all my work done there – authority for some things

(bought some clothing for myself)

Pte. McCann very sick again – in B18 – influenza?

58

November 23^rd 1918

Saturday: Nothing special – same sick people.

November 24^th

Sunday: Pt. McCabe died at 5/30 am – sent wreath.

Sr. Morley had to come off night duty – cough and cold – hope it will not be much –

8pm, got O.C. to see her.

Daniel of night duty – boils 29^th.

Pte. McCann died – operated on again but nothing found – died of peritonitis.

November 26^th

Tuesday: Patients Whist Drive – great many boys playing – tea – bread and butter and

jam – no biscuits in Red Cross.

November 29^th

Nothing special since - several sick men – influenza also. Pte. Elliott very sick still.

Friday: Went to H.Q. – Thompsons – got dress fitted – met Mrs Dick at the Club –

had afternoon tea – 6.20, home – have promised her to go up on Thursday.

November 30^th

Saturday: Mrs Palmer bought some ladies for Whist Drive for patients – also cake etc

– we provided tea, 2/30pm to 6pm.

December 1^st

Sunday: I took 18 wounded men, 3 sisters to Lady Limerick's home – she was very

kind – plenty to eat – plenty smokes – had 3 cars – said they all enjoyed it – Miss

Mack and 2 American sister there – some other visitors – Mrs. Hart –Davis wants me

to go to tea on Sunday next – is very nice – met her last time.

December 3^rd

Tuesday: Patients Whist Drive – 112 players – all enjoyed the evening. Revd. And

Mrs Castells came to dinner and played.

December 4^th

Wednesday: Went to the Officers dance in hall 8 –not so bad as I thought it was going

to be – left 1 -45am – took all sisters with me – got pretty free after 2 am they say.

Had more dances after God Save the King was played.

Sisters and patients say was very noisy – plenty of cakes – coffee – claret cup and of

course whisky, of which some people had quite enough before we left – The

sisters tell me now that M.O.'s took some of their friends to sister's shacks at

4am, looking for beds – woke them all up – I was very annoyed – but could say

nothing. After it is over, I'll take good care we will not put up with any of their

munition workers etc. A pretty swift lot I think.

59

December 5^th 1918

Went to H.Q. – nothing – got my dress fitted at Thompsons, ordered white coat and

skirt in case I'm sent home – bought some blouse lengths – want to try and get one

each for Jean and Mrs Dick.

December 6^th

Got about 200 bulbs - narcissus, from Mr Cooper, planted them – hope I'm here long

enough to see them flower – I do want to see another summer in England.

December 7^th

Nothing special – Sisters had meeting to decide whether they would go to Officers

Christmas Dinner – seem to feel hurt about the dance still.

I am gathering some dolls to give the hospital – London in Whitechapel – little

children. I also want to give the Old Veterans some money.

December 9^th

Sister Green left to relieve Sister in Charge, Weymouth for her 75 days – she will get

hers after, if we are here long enough.

December 11^th

Wednesday: Went to town – got dress fitted – pay book fixed – only 31 Pounds –

good thing I've got my Insurance money – for I want so much money just at Xmas

Time.

Pouring rain – frightfully muddy and wet – getting out of bus near Thompsons –

stood for a minute – then as he slowed, went to step off – then he started off

afresh at a great pace and of course, down I went in all the filthy mud – shook

me up a good deal, but not hurt.

December 13^th

216 sick men left for Hospital Ship – spine cases. Green – Johnson – James – Tomlin

– Regall – Morris and Soloman, several others – I hope the former get home – they

are very bad cases – poor boys.

December 14^th

Nothing special – 9 home letters – say cake and tin biscuits coming.

10 sisters from hospital ship came for billeting until ship leaves.

I have about 20 dolls now for London hospital.

4 Australian officers from Cobham Hall – one man I had at No 2 Casualty Clearing S.

Raffled the doll dressed as Sister – 4 Pounds 10/-

COBHAM HALL - XMAS - DARTFORD ENGLAND 1918

LORD AND LADY DARNLEY'S HOME FOR CONVALESCENT OFFICERS

BESSIE WAS MATRON IN CHARGE HER FOR TWO MONTHS

FROM OCTOBER 26^TH 1917 TO JANUARY 2^ND 1918

Photograph - see original document

60

December 15^th 1918

Warm – dull – little rain – strange to have such nice weather for Xmas.

Wrote letters and sent of cards that should have gone in November.

Patients all much better – few bad cases – only 987 today – the first time we have not

had 11 or 1200 for months – things fairly quiet.

10 sisters still here – 2 more came on – went over to Cobham Hall on Thursday – had

a very nice afternoon – got some holly etc – Lady Darnley gave me a picture for

Xmas.

December 23^rd

Nothing very much happened since last week – busy – not replacing staff so far.

Sr. Plant gone – Brown – Baxter going today.

Went to London Hospital with 5 sisters – we took up 46 dolls – beauties – gave

them to children – one sister did not go and her parcel was forgotten.

Saw Miss Tucker – Matron, who was very grateful for dolls – sisters also – all were

apparently very thankful for so many, will send others up as soon as we can.

Miss Tucker, sitting up at her desk – old – fat – bright – plenty to say – thought it

kind of us to remember them etc – she was there – busy – her committee meeting

today, so I know what that is.

bought things to give sisters for Xmas - could not get all I wanted – too many –

ordered an 11lb cake for all, iced - 3 shillings per pound – also one for maids in the

home –cake so dear.

December 24^th

All officers, sisters had Xmas dinner together 7/30pm. – turkey – plum pudding

etc – not too much turkey to spare of course – dance afterwards till 12.30am.

December 25^th

Patients dinner today – very nice – heaps. M.O.'s of wards carved, turkey – ham –

vegetables –plum pudding – sweets – beer – some wine for sauces etc.

Only 789 patients in hospital today – on leave – went all round with O.C. to judge

ward decorations – Mrs Leaver – Mrs Fay –so hard to judge, because all wards looked

so nice – gave 1st prize to B22, because it was unique – most original and well

done.

All voted for 22 and I really think it was the best.

A16 convalescent ward, they gave a special 1 Pound prize for A9 done by masseuse

for men's tea.

I don't suppose it will please everybody by any means. O.C. did not judge, so he

won't be blamed. Dancing etc amongst patients and sisters after tea in the wards.

61

December 26^th 1918

Thursday: Boxing Day: W.A.A.C.s dinner at 7/30pm – about 90 – same as others –

great time – they also had dancing till 11pm. in hall after.

December 27^th

Friday: Our entertainment for patients – dance – cards – games etc. Big supper – beer

– tea – coffee – soft drinks – heaps of cake and all sorts of things.

We gave each 10/- and all had a great time. Everybody dancing mad – went on till 12

midnight.

Some very sick men in wards still – hope a ship soon goes that they can get home, if

the live. Number of patients reduced from 1206 to 804 now.

December 28^th

Mr. Heward came on his way from Cobham Hall – looks well after his typhoid – says

he was very ill.

Sr. McKinnell asks me tonight to let them have a "Pierott" dance. I must ask Miss

Conyers. I think it is a very wrong thing to want sisters in hospital under these

conditions - should not make these requests – she is about 6 feet and I don't know

how she thinks she will look – gaunt and old to say the least – worse than I could

even look.

WAAC's having fancy dress dance with patients on Mon. night, so it would be

sister's turn later on in the week – they seem to me to want to divide honours with

WAACs.

December 29^th

Few people came to afternoon tea – nothing special.

December 30^th

WAAC's fancy dress dance - was asked to judge costumes – Mrs Leaver M.O.'s wife

and O.C. 5 prizes for women, 4 for men – they danced till about 2am – I left M.N.

31 patients, Whist Drive and dance for all comers again – we gave card playing

patients very nice supper – saw old year out – sang and played a little in A8 –

dancers danced till 1.45am again.

January 1^st 1919

New Years Day: Got to bed 3am this morning, very tired – very nice weather.

Letter from Miss Henley, Comforts Fund, saying 2 cases were there for me – sent

them on – jam from Mrs Mackay – Arambah W.A. – only received 1 case but paid

freight on 2 – 6 tins in the case – about 7 lbs in tins – so sorry lost 1 case – written to

Railway Authorities about it.

62

January 2^nd 1919

Lovely day, but awful wind – cold – calmer now.

Another sister going on transport tomorrow, Sr. Shaw – 2 going to Sidcup on 13 – M.

Brown and J. Keirnan – 1 came today – Nellie Reid S/N.

Another dance Saturday night by sisters, to officers and outside people.

January 4^th

Lady McBride brought tea etc for 70 patients. O.C. and Registrar sent in – about 168

now. Miss Oman – Red Cross worker – sick again – told me the people were here

before I knew, so I told Lady McBride before him?

We had to cut up B&B etc and everything at once – he also had to tell the men at

table?

Sister Paton came down to stay till Monday morning – she is at Purflet? Hospital –

was on board the "Assaye" with me.

Dance seemed a fair success – everybody wanted to go on after 12 of course –

O.C. came to me to tell me, as they had sinned by dancing 2 dances on Sunday

morning, they might as well gon on sinning – I said NO, I'm sorry, you can have

one more then have "God Save" – if you don't, I'll make a great fuss – Sisters

have to clean up and wash up all crockery etc afterwards.

January 5^th

Sunday: Telephone message from H.Q. today, 5^th, Sunday – S/N Murphy and Sr.

Coombs to be off duty and transport at an early date – very busy day today - ...? Left

for hospital ship at 8am. – went round and saw them all – very tired, up early after

being so late up at the stupid dance last night – could not go to Church all day – too

late tonight – cold but nice day – no snow yet, which is wonderful.

Another urgent appendix this afternoon.

Smith left by Hospital Ship today – leg put in Thomas splint, very painful ,poor boy

,almost more than he could bear – comes from Sydney – seems to be no ...?

Prentice – very bad – emphysema – operated today – much pus –  seems brighter and

better tonight.

Some admissions – men from H.Q. from furlough – 1 bad hand in A1.

Very busy – some sisters to come and go tomorrow. Sr. Paton enjoyed the dance last

night, though she only looked on – had a quite, but happy I think.