ADRIFT IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 10

ADRIFT IN ENGLAND

THE LOT OF A CASUALTY HOW A SICK SOLDIER FARES STORY OF A FINE ORGANISATION (By A. N. Field.) London, December 5. Nearly six months ago I made my first acquaintance with the New Zealand War Contingent Association. It waß a summer afternoon, a visitor's day, in one'of tho soldiers' wards of a great London hospital. I was a stray New Zealand casualty in an institution full of Imperial troops. Tired and sore with a new wound—l had arrived from Franco about a couple of days before— I lay there half-dozing 'and looking a little wistfully at the clusters of relations and friends around the beds of the men of the English regiments. -A visitors' day when you lie alone without a word spoken, to you, and peoplo coming to the beds around, is not exhilarating. Presently I pricked tip my ears. A lady was asking for me: a New Zealand la.d.y with a capacious holdall, out of which presently came I forget how many packets of cigarettes, and, treasures indeed, a couple of latest New Zealand illustrated weeklies—later to be passed up and down the ward to open the eyes very much of most of the men as to the sort of country New Zealand was. It was a real pleasure to meet some one from the tight little country down under, and who could give one all the New Zealand hospital news. But I am not done with my New Zealand lady yet. She had one other item to produce from her holdall, a note-hook. What was my number, company, regiment? and so on, the nature of my wound? how was I getting on?—partly my own word for this and partly tho ward sister's, I fancy—did I want any cable messages sent to my people? What did I want in the way of shaving gear? and I forget how many other questions. Any other, things I wanted tho associatioii would get. I had only to sign the order form for them to draw against my pay and they would purchase the articles and send them along. After some more conversation my visitor left —Mrs. I. W. Raymond, formerly of Southland—and what I had thought was going to be rather a dull afternoon became one of the bright spots of; tho week. And so of more succeeding weeks.'and visitors' day,, until finally the New Zealand lady on her rounds found this particular bird had flitted from his nest—up and away for tho afternoon, as likely as not with a matinee party from the War Contingent Association.

That - was my first little experience of the association—just 0110 side of its work for New Zealand in England. But if you want to get into your head what that one side means, look at the visitors' reports in the "Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F." I have 0110 cony'bv me, and adding up the total I find that no fewer than sixty-seven different hospitals were being visited during that particular fortnight—and I leave you to figure out. how many New Zoalanders in hospital had visitors looking for them specially on those visiting days. A Picture of the Scheme, Now, beforo I go on to describe tho rest of the association's work, I want you to picture the scheme of our military arrangements in England. First of all, in the heart of London, at Southampton Row, off Oxford Street, is the "New Zealand Military Ueadquarters," as the placard proclaims on the front of the big seven or eight-story building, packed full of clerks and record files. In the hall on tho groiuid floor the daily casualty lists are posted up, and the lists of admissions and discharges 'at the various hospitals. On 1 the other , corner is the pay office, and in and out through men and officers on leave. Immediately opposite across tho street are the War Contingent 'Association rooms—one floor up. On one side is a buffet with tea-tables' and com.fortablo wicker chairs, cakes and scones a halfpenny each, tea a penny a cup or twopence a pot, and other articles at equally reasonable rates—and everything free to the men in hospital blue and grey. On tho other side are reading and writing-tables, easy chairs, and piles of the latest New Zealand papers. Mrs. Empson is there to answer any questions and give the newcomer in London anjrinformation ho wants. In offices adjoining aro Miss Helen Mackenzie, secretary of the. Hospitality Committee, Mrs. Wilson, and manyother of the ladies who look after the head office organisation. Miss Roes, who, with Lady Hardwicko (formerly Miss Russell, of Auckland), and Miss Mackenzie, has charge of the theatre parties, drives, and so on, is always a busy lady. . And during the afternoon Lord Plunket, chairman of the executive, will.perhaps come out of one of the offices to get his cup of tea and cake from tho buffet. Later on in tho day a party of wounded, who havo' been to a_ matinee, will come in for tea before being motored off home, and in and out comes a stream of men on leave. There is a visitors' hook, and on the notice board arc a score or more of notices of interest to men on furlough -where to stay in Edinburgh, Killarney, and_ wliat not, what to see in London, train time-tables, and so on. Up in Russell Square, a block or two away, 'is the New Zealand Soldiers' Club, also run by the War ContingentAssociation, and opened up at tlio beginning of August, with Mr. R. H. Nolan as honorary secretary. Here hed and board can. be obtained for a fraction of what the hotels charge, and one can niako oneself at home in comfortable sitting, reading and writing, and- billiard rooms. Up to 300 men can be accommodated for the night, and frequently at week-ends, more men apnl.y than can he received. There-is a loss of nbmit £100 a month nn the hostel, a position with which the committee are quite satisfied, and for you to realise how much more the bovs actually get than they pay for. I should i'dd that the cooking and waiting is all done by voluntary unpaid workers.

All. trains bringing Now Zealand troops on leave from France are met by members of tlie committee, no matter at what time they arrive, and some come in at odd bours on cold and foggy mornings before the milkman starts on Ms rounds, and after tlie latn birds bave- gone to roost. The men get a hearty welcome and guidance up to the hostel—and t.lio harpies who bang about the stations looking for forlorn colonial soldiers to bleed don't find business very brisk, so far as the men of the peaked hats are concerned. The New Zealand Hospitals. Out of London there pre six New Zealand hospital and training centres. The New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital is at Brockenhurst, in Hampshire, the No. 2 Hospital is at Walton-nn-Thamcs, the No. 3 at Codford, in Wiltshire. At' Hornchurch is the chief convalescent enmp, and another at Codford, adjoining the hospital there, where is, also tho depot for men coming •in from convalescent furlough. The training camp for the reinforcement drafts arriving in England is on Salisbury Plain at Sling, near Bulford, about fourteen miles north of tlie town of Salisbury, while Codford lies ttio same distance north-west of Salisbury, a disfan"" of seventeen miles separating Codford from Sling. Tho Engineers'' Training Depot i« at Brightlingsea, in Essex, whence it was

recontly removed from Christchurch, between Brockonhurst and Salisbury. Thcro is an Officers' Convalescent Hospital at Brighton, and machine-gun training classes, etc., at Grantham and Tidworth.

Walton is tho oldest New Zealand centre, so I will describe it first. Tho hospital is situated at Mount Felix, a country mansion, standing in forty acres of beautifully-planted grounds, which run .in a sweep around a bend of tho Thames. It is an hour away from London by rail, right out in the country, about half-way between Hampton Court and Windsor. The olclfashioucd little village of Walton is near by, and just below tho garden wall are two boatsheds, whore'punts, canoes, and row-boats can bo hired. A ploasant enough spot in which to wilo away the time—at least I found it such during mv brief stay there in tho summer. The house, of cream-coloured stone, with a graceful tower not unlike that of the old Government House at Wellington, was at one timo the residence of Lord Evesham, and afterwards of Mr. Thomas Cook, of Cook s tours fame. Originally the hospital, it is now the administrative centre and nucleus of a mushroom growth of temporary buildings, wards, recreation hut, and so on, and now the hospital has overflowed again into a big hotel not far away. The establishment of the Walton Hospital was the first undertaking, of the War Contingent Association—not quite the first, perhaps, for tho members originallv busied themselves with the weffaro of the dependants of the men who ioined tho British section of the Now 'Zealand Force. At the initial meeting of the association in August 14 1914, it was suggested that arrangements should be made to establish convalescent homes for New Zealanclers, but when the time came for talcing up the matter on the opening of tho Gallipot campaign the War Of&ve desired the establishment of a hospital. This led to the opening of Walton— hv the associatioii with Government assistance—and finally about the mirtto'c of 1916 the institution was taken completed over by the military as the No. 2 Hospital. • At Walton Mrs. Ruth von. with many willing helpers, superintends the _ entertaining of tho men, arranges drives, river trips, concert parties, and supervises the librarv and recreation hall generally. This,' with, the visiting, is the association's principal work there.

More Hospitals. Brockenhurst, the No. 1 Hospital, is away in the New Forest half an hour by train from Southampton, and about the samo distance from Bournemouth. 1 have not been in the hospitelas a patient but have> visited friends there several times. Hie village is a small place of one street with a. picturesque old church. Around stretches the forest land, with its ancient and gnarled oaks and ope i heaths. On the outskirts of the ullage a e two well-built modern hotels fortho summer visitors. Both of these have been taken > over for the New Zealand Hospital—the »f k » Hotel for the officers, and the Baliicr Lawn Hotel for the men-it is at Balmer Lawn that the annual sale of the New Forest ponies is.lied. The headquarters of the hospital arc at In town"-* bg temporary building hospital with about twent wards, connected .up by an apparently endless scries, of corridors. At the Morant Arms, a picturesque old inn, with extensive additions, 1 lound the overflow from the other hospitals accommodated under the. British \ .A.D. (Voluntary Aid Division). About a thousand New Zealauders were in Hospital at Brockenhurst on the occasion of my last visit. Tho men who arc able to got about have the freedom of the village during tho best part of tho day and early evening, and from timo to'time are able to obtain opportunities of visiting Bournemouth and {Southampton. Concerts,' billiards, and card tournaments form the most popular nmusemonts for those up and about, and each of the hospitals has a comfortable recreation hall. In' addition, thcro \3 in the village, in a position central to the various buildings, a Y M.C.A. but well patronised by New Zealanders, and.now the War Contiii-.■ gent Association is opening one of its buffets and recreation rooms there. What a War Contingent Club hut means I will tell you when'l come to describe Codford. The No. 3 Hospital is at Codford,.and contains, I believe, somewhere between 300 and 500 men. Like most military hospitals in England, it is another "tin-town" of temporary buildings, which, if not impressive or elegant from without, are generally bright, airy and warm within. Codford is a small village one hundred miles from London, usually reached by the Great Western main line to Westbury, and thence by a'branch running to Salisbury. It lies in a valley among tho rolling grass country of the Wiltshire Downs and not far from Salisbury Plain, the great military training centre. Tho place is surrounded by canin.s —the hut camp variety—and immediately adjoining the hospital are tho camps, Nos. 8, 9, 10. and 11, in use as the Now Zealand Command Depot. In other neighbouring camps arc Australian and Imperial troops. Camps on Salisbury Plain. As all the camps on Salisbury Plain are on the samo plan, except, of course, the pre-war .permanent brick buildings, a description of them may bo interesting. The men are housed in huts, each designed to hold about 24 men. Tho walls are weather-board with a lining of three-ply. In each hut is a slow-combustion stove. There are no stretchers, but each man lias a straw pallias and five blankets, and makes his bed on three boards which he lays at night on a couple of low trestles sir inches off the floor. During the day beds and pallinscs arc folded mo anil tho boards stackod along the wall. A. table and a couple of forms complete the furniture. The camps are lit by electricity, and the huts are warm anil comfortable' in the cold weather—at least such as I was in were.

There arc forty of these huts to a camp^—enough to accommodate a battalion—and each camp is self-contained, with mess-rooms, bath-houses, etc. The men have their meals in two largo messrooms between which lie thp kitchen, pantries, larder, and so on. There aro special sheds for drying clothes in eac'h with an orderly in charge to stoke up and he responsible for the clothing, while drying. In another building are the orderly rooms, and near by the dry or wet canteen, rorpnrals' mess, sergeants' mess, and regimental recreations and supper rooms. The officers' mess and quarters are also to he found convenient to each camp, and stables, storo.-slieds, miniature rifle range, and so make up the balance of the buildings. Tho buildings are arranged to suit tho lie of the ground, but the design and complement for a camp are practically tho same everywhere. A word should bo said about tho camp bath-house. It is a most convenient little building containing forty showers, each screened from the other, and with a fixed carthonwaro tub below in which one can have a sit/, bath, o rwash out clothes in tlm excellent supply of hot water available.

At Codford ono of tho camps is sot apart as this convalescent camp, to which the men from Droekenhurst and Codford Hospitals are cent. They stn.v thero until in tho opinion nf the medical officer in nhnritn they are fit for light duly. Hoaehini that stage, they receivo a fortnight's leave, with ration monoy at 2s. a day, any back nay due up t<i £10. and a free third-class return ticket {n any plnee in tho British Isles to which th"v may desire In go. TXio Hornchuroli Convalescent Camn in Essex, In which fuller reference will hn mado later, also deals similarly with

convalescents from Walton and the British hospitals. Tlio furlough over, the men report themselves at the depot orderly room. They are then drafted out according to their regiments, and classified by the camp doctor as B. 81, 82, or B3— 71 being the men fit to be sent hack to France ,and B3 the least fit. Tho drill and duties given each man vary according to this class, and all como up for reclassification once a week. B3 is naturally the most popular class, and tlio wily camp authorities to correct this havo decreed that the camp fatigues are to be done by the B3's. The stay of a man at Codford varies according to tho nature of his injury, and, occasionally, he it whispered, his. disposition. Codford is not a popular spot, but as an alternative to the trenches it is Heaven, and the man who has been out and done his first bit is not as a rule quarrelling with the doctor for not pushing him hack instanter. In number of cases, though, I have heard men declare themselves "sick of hanging about here," and apply to the doctor to put them into B Grade. How Thoy Fare at Codford. At Codford is also the I\U. Section, where such of the men of the C, or permanently unfit, class, as are out of hospital are held between tho expiration of their liberal leave and the departure of boats for New Zealand. These P.U. men, of course, comprise wounded and sick, men who havo seen fighting, and men who havo not, and it is noticeable that quite a number have been sent back out of recent Reinforcement drafts without, getting any further afield than England. The food at Codford is good, as soldiering goes, but it is a dull spot, far away from life and bustle. Lifo there would bo exceedingly, tedious and monotonous but for ono institution. That institution, need I say, is the Aotearoa Club Hut of the War Contingent Association. In a big hall with a buffet at ono end and a platform piano and gramophone at the other, are some two score little tea-tables, each with chairs for four people. Around the walls are wicker chairs and settees and a row of writing tables. Judging "by tho spoiled sheets I have picked up on the writing tables, usually beginning "Dearest Mother" or "My Darling Sweetheart," I should say .the Aotearoa Club Hut notepaper, supplied gratis by the association, is fairly well known by the female part of .tlio population up and down the Tength and breadth of New Zealand. In an adjoining room are the billiard tables and bagatelle.

Where All New Zealand Casualties Co. Practically all New Zealand sick and wounded at some stage or other pass through the Codford Depot, and, except to the small minority whoso thoughts do not stray licyoiid the wot canteen, all will carry away pleasant memories of the club hut, and Mrs. Wilder and her numerous lady assistants. It is over those appetising home-mado meals that one buys for a few pence, and that the boys all take turns in standing one another that one sits down for a talk about old days in Trentham, Egypt, and France. . Every day sees new faces drifting in, and every week, when tho draft leaves for Sling, -finds old ones going out. It is' a cheerful spot that War Contingent Club hut, a spot where one picks.up the threads of many old friendships. Then tho ladies see to it that at least once a week we hßve our concert. Sometimes it is a concert by a visiting party, amateur or professional, and excellent programmes wo havo had, tooV Sometimes it is a home-made affair, just ourselves, and these concerts, I think, aro often the jolliest. Now and again the hospital walking cases arc given leave to come to the concert, more often tho performance is repeated at the hospital for the benefit of all. those who can be wheeled or carried in.

I think I should have ■mentioned' somewhere up above that the drill at Codford consists of about, three hours in the morning, and two in the afternoon, with a half-,dnv on Saturdays and all Sunday off. Week-end leave for London is obtainable for twenty-five per cent.- of the men—or was, before the restrictions on railway travelling came in.

Hornchurch Convalescent Camp lies' in the open countrv in. Essex, about fourteen miles outo'f London in a north-', easterly direction, and a mile or so' away from tho town of Romford, a place of 20,000 people.. At one time Horhchurch was the principal New Zealand depot, but the over-changing conditions find it to-day almost wholly a camp for convalescents, and given up to men in hospital blue. The camp, of the usual wooden hut variety, is in the grounds of a comfortable country mansion, Grey Towers, tho mansion constituting the camp headquarters and officers' convalescent homo. A number of floored marquees are still in use, but more wooden buildings' aro being pushed ahead with. I .was told that about 1800 men were in camp tho other day. Down a side road about ten minutes' walk from the camp, Miss Walsh is conducting a club hut. "Te Wharepuni," for the War Contingent Association, on the same lines as that described at Codford, but not, of'course, on so large a scale. The association has a fine new club in the camp grounds almost completed, and the good worknow being done by it elsewhere frill be repeated here.

Sling Camp, the training ground for tho reinforcements arriving from Now Zealand, I have _ visited twice. Tho camps there, which are numerous, to say tho best are on the lines of those at'Codford. There is a Y.M.C.A. hut in tlio midst of the New Zealand area and numerous other huts, buffets, and recreation rooms in hounds. Tlio AVar Contingent Association has another of its club rooms in Salisbury as a convenient centre for tho Sling men on leave. I have had several cheap and excellent mCals there and wiled away an evening or two. The hut, however, lias been found to he too far away from Sling, ] 4 miles distant, and the majority of tho callers seem to be Australians nowadays.. It is therefore being closed, and. I understand, a new hut ooened at Sling. Within easy walking distance of Sling is Stonehengc, and the ancient village of Amesbury, while about a mile from the centre of the New Zealand camp is tho village, and railway station of Bulford. The opinion of the average New Zealander who has done a snell of training there, is that "Sling is hell!" But judging from the appearance of the men it seems to be a pretty hcalthv sort of hell.

Of the specialist training camns at Grantham and Tidworth, nonr Sling, thp Engineers' Camn at Brightinpsea in Essex, and tho officers' convalescent hospital at Brighton. I am able to tlo no more than record the fact that they exist. The old convalescent camp at Epsom belongs, however, to the past. A Flno Association, "With this my description of the ground which the War Contingent Association has to cover, and the way it is covering it, comes to a close. Of the hundreds of busy -unpaid Now Zealand or ex-New Zealand ladies who are visiting the wounded and sick, working in the club huts—often for months on end in most unattractive localities— looking after the recreation and amusement of the- men, and keeping the records of hospital reports and so on, it is difficult -to say too much. I can hope to give no more, than a rough but generally accurate account of what is going on. At first tho association found the balance of its funds among Now Zealanders in England, not a very large community to meet all that it. eventually became necessary to do. Now tho bulk of the inonoy comes from tho grant of £1500 por month made by tho New Zealand Patriotic (Societies, and

the New Zealand colony finds the voluntary unpaid labour, and supplements this with much generous private entertaining of the boys, who aro well cared for in this respect. Two of the most active, spirits in the control of the association are Lord Plunkot, chairman of the executive, and Mr. I. W. Raymond, chairman or fcho Hospitality Committee, Mr. Raymond, who was for many years a wellknown figure in the public, life of Southland, has been a resident in England for the past eight years. As Unionist candidate, for Carlisle, ho succeeded in bringing the majority of the Liberal members down from a thousand to something in tho neighbourhood of fifty, and. doubtless will before long bo heard of in the House of Commons. Miss Helen Mackenzie, daughter of the High Commissioner, is an indefatigable secretary; Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the High Commissioner, I should havo stated at the outset, is chairman of the association as a whole, and wiMiout his co-operation and often very active support its work would have boon impossible. His many responsibilities as High Commissioner naturally prevent him from giving that detailed attention to association matters that is possible in the case of Lord Phinkefc and Mr. Raymond, indeed, one of the great objects of tho association is to be supplementary to tho work of the military and the High Commissioner. Others who have taken prominent part in tho work of the association are: Ladv Islington, chairwoman of the Ladies' Committee; Mr. F. Waldegrave, lion, secretary of the Executive Committee; Mr. Cecil J. Wray, organising secretary; and Mr. E. M. kennaway, lion, treasurer. The Association Officials. The Committees as elected at the last annual meeting were as follow:— Executive Committee: Lord Pranket (chairman), Lady Islington; Lady Mills, Mrs. J. M. Ritchie, Miss Helen_ Mackenzie, Mrs. Warren, Messrs. W. Ac-tcn-Adams, Gilbert Anderson, James Coates, Captain T. E. Donne, Messrs. C. Elgar, G. F. Gee, E. 13. Hoare, fair Thomas Mackenzie, Messrs. R. D. Douglas M'Lean, C. C. M'Millan, Sir James Mills, Messrs. 1. \V. Raymond, Frank E. Rosher, J. Sinclair Thomson, and Sir Joshua "Williams ■(? since deceased). Ladies Committee.—Lady Islington (chairwoman), Mrs. Alington, Miss Bullen, Lady Emmott, Lady Findlay (hon. treasurer), the Countess of Hardwicke, Mrs. Wolfe Harris, Miss Isitt, Mrs. Mackenzie, Lady Mills, Mrs. Mmchin, Mrs. Leo. Myers, Mrs. Quick, Mrs. Raymond, Miss Reynolds, Mrs. ,1 M. Ritchie, Miss M. A. Rowlands, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Warren, Miss Constance Williams, Miss Helen Mackenzie (hon. secretary), Mrs. Walter "ioung (hon. secretary Scottish branch), and Mr. John Roberts, .juur. (Hon. treasurer Scottish branch). Hospital Committee.—Lord Plcnket (chairman), Lady Islington, Mr. James Coates, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Mr. Douglas M'Lean, Mr. Sinclair Thomson, and Mr. Norman Dalston (adjutFinance Committee.—Sir James Mills (chairman), Lord PJunket, Mr. Gilbert Anderson, Mr. Jawns Coates, and Mr. E. M. Kennaway (secretary). ■ Hospitality Committee.—Mv. I. W. Raymond (chairman); members subdivided into: —

Visiting Sub-committee.—Mr. •I. W. Raymond.(chairman), Mrs. Arthur Russell (lion, treasurer), Mrs. Riddiford Mrs. Raymond, Mr. Guy Scholencld, Mrs. Eiupson, Mr. Bmpson,. Miss H. Williams, Lady Islington, Mr. C. J. Wray, Miss Mackenzie, (lion., secretary), Mrs. Wilson (assistant hou.. secretary). Entertainment Sub-committee.—The Countess of Hardwieke, Mr. E. B. Hoare, Lady Mills. Mrs. Stewart, Mr. I.- W. Raymond. Mr. F. E. Roshor, Mr. H. Jonks. Mr. C. J. Wray, Mrs. Miohic, Mrs. Leslie Harris, Miss Mackenzie, Miss Nolan. ..

Various changes have occurreH, since these committees wore set up, but, indeed, it is almost invidious to mention names where all are working so loyally in tho interests of the hoys at the front and in hospital. -When the history of New Zealand's share in the war comes to he written not one of the least of the chapters in it will he tliat dealing with the work of the JSfew Zealand War Contingent Association—that is, if the uovs' who have been through, tlio mill and know what it all means have anything to do with the writing of .the book. °