NEW BASE DEPOT

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 96, 24 April 1916, Page 7

NEW BASE DEPOT

FOR OUR WOUNDED AND SICK SOLDIERS

ESTABLISHED AT HORNCHURCH,

ACCOMMODATION FOR 1450 MEN.

An interesting report relating to'Uie new base depot established at Konichurch, Essex, for wounded and sick New Zealand soldiers has been received by the Hon. James Allen. Minister of Defence. The report was forwarded by Major '£. H. Dawson, Auckland Battalion, commandant otv the depot, to Major Edwin Harrowell, Commundaiu of New Zealand Base Depots, who" in turn Eent it on to Lieut.-General Godley, commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. General G-odley forwarded the report to the Hon. J 'Allen. Major Dawson states that, acting under Major Ilarrowell's instructions, he proceeded to Hornchurch and tcok over the camp from the O.C. 26th Middlesex Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel J. Waul. M-.P.) The arrangements for the transport of. the men from 'Weymouth were made by Major S'pragg, and worked very smoothly, and, though the men arrived in the dark, the work of telling them off to their lints and other details were carried out without confusion. The camp, adds Major Dawson, is pleasantly situated within one mile of Hornchuich station, and two a^id a-half miles from Romford station, and the distance from London is between twelve and thirteen miles. The camp grounds are extensive, comprising in all some 85 acres, most of which is in grass, and affords ample room for parade grounds and playing fields. For" an English camp, it is quite the driestMajor Dawson has seen, and a wonderful improvement. on Weymouth. ' Thi> total accommodation m the camp is 40 officers and HSO othev Tanks. The- hut* used by the men are well built of corrugated iron, lined with wood inside. They, are well raised from the ground.and two stoves are provided in each hut. They ars fitted with stretcher beds and a box for each, as well as being provided with ample shelving and clothes hooks. Each hut i 3 built to accommodate 30 men. Sis huts have been allocated a-s messing huts. The system existing in the camp prior to the ]\ rew Zealanders taking it over was that the men messed in t.heir sleeping hmts, but Major Dawson considered that the New Zealanders, being ex-patients, required more attention than ordinary soldiers; OFFICERS' QUARTERS." The cook-house, Major D&wson add;, is large and- well-equipped. It contains eight 50-ga-llon boilers and two very large ovens. There are two hospitals in the camp. The smaller- one contains duo ward of ten beds. Another ward-is used as.a dental surgery, dispensary, and other necessary conveniences. TiTo hospital is well equipped, and it has not been necessary to add to it to aay great extent. The second hospital has "accommodation for twenty patients, 'and is fitted with the necessary beds', bedding, and othei necessities. The' officers' quarters are situated in the house belonging to the grounds, and are splendidly equipped. ■ The furniture, which is that of an English country-house, has been loaned by the owner of the property. As the camp is.situated within the metropolitan telephone- district direct communication is possible with the OfH-cer-iri-charge of Records, the War Office, and the headquarters of the Eastern command." ' V . FOR EX-ENTERIC PATIENTS. ■■ For the purpose of organisation and administration the men are divided into five companies, as follows :— A Company (Auckland Mounted Rifles, Auckland Infantry). C Company (Canterbury » Mounted Rifles, Canterbury Infantry). D Company (Detail Company, Artillery, Engineers, A.5.C.,-N.Z.M.'C., N.Z. Maori Contingent). ■■'„ 0 Company (Ota-go Mounted Rifles, Otago Infantry). . W Company (Wellington Mounted Rifles, Wellington Infantry).It has been found necessary to establish a sixth company for ex-enteric cases.

Enteric cases are granted six weeks' furlough after leaving Hospital, whence, they are not discharged until they have been subjected to three negative tests. However, in many cases these men arrive in the depot without any information as to their tests, and it becomes necessary to isolate them and to institute.a further system of tests. They will be in huts by themselves, and undergo a series of three tests under supervision of the cnmp'6 own medical officers. The hos--pitals from which these men "have been discharged have been written to for the result of the tests, and when these are received, men who have been declared negative will be returned to their district companies. These men, under Lieut. CnayCor (himself an enteric patient), carry out a modified system of training. Concluding his report, Major Dawson brings under' the notice of Major .Harrowell the excellent work carried put by.the- staff of the depot in assisting him in the necessary Jaborioun work of establishing the depot. -'■' AX OVERWORKED MEDICAL ■■•••; OFFICER. "Major Harrowell, in reporting to TJieut.-General Godley, says it is obviously impossible for ono medical officer io continue to efficiently carry out the "very heavy medical duties entailed with 1600 odd men, all of whom have been ■wounded or sick, and a large proportion of, whom require treatment until sent to New Zealand or to the division. He has therefore recommended! the War <?ffice to add another medical officer to ♦lie depot staff, and has proposed the names of Capt. Campbell, N.Z.M.C. The •War Office says Major Harrowell has 3one all that is humanly possible to give the troops comfortable quarters. -;."Lieut.-General Godley, in forwarding the two reports to the Hon. J. Allen, .(indorses Major Harrowell's suggestion .that suitable action might be taken by +he New Zealand "Government in the direction of. expressing appreciation of. itHe assistance rendered by the officers of the War Office.