NURSE WRITES EXPERIENCES

Southland Times, Issue 24472, 27 June 1941, Page 7

NURSE WRITES EXPERIENCES

Evacuation Of Greece

Writing to her cousin, Mrs F. C. Beere, Ness street, Sister Alicia Tothill, of the No. I N.Z. General Hospital, Middle East Forces, tells of her experiences in the evacuation of Greece. Sister Tothill, who was born in Invercargill, went as a child with her parents to live in Christchurch. She received her training in Melbourne, and before going overseas was tutor sister at the Wellington Hospital. The following is Sister Tothill’s story as she wrote it:—

“We returned from Greece last Thursday, and it is very nice to be safely back here after all our adventures. We had enough adventures to keep the Boys’ Own Annual supplied for years! The main thing is that the great majority of our troops have been evacuated safely. At the time we really wondered how it could be accomplished, but thanks to the wonderful work of the Navy the miracle happened. If only we had had more tanks and planes we could have carried the day, as our troops were the far superior soldiers. But it wasn’t to be, and regrets are useless. It was just unfortunate that we lost so much equipment. Our lovely hospital, which was nearly ready to admit 1000 patients, just had to be evacuated as it stood. We were so happy there—only 20 miles behind the line, and the closest hospital to the front. We worked like slaves to get it going, and had over 400 patients within a few days, and with x-ray, laboratory, dental and operating theatres all functioning like a base hospital. Our mess was very picturesque—beside a little creek with a grove of lovely palm trees coming into leaf. We were warned that we might have to evacuate, as we could hear the guns booming and air raids were making things a bit hot. And then at 11 o’clock one night we were called up to pack immediately. It was a great rush and we were all ready within an hour. Word came to say we would not leave till morning, so we snatched a bit of sleep and then, after an early breakfast, set off in Army trucks, sitting on our luggage. It was a perfect day, luckily, and the view driving over the mountain passes was really beautiful. The dust was terrific, but no one worried. We reached Athens about 9.30 p.m. A passing truck hit the side of ours and knocked my hand case out, distributing a stream of underwear and other clothing for half a mile along the road. The padre very kindly hopped off and collected them, very much to everyone’s amusement and my relief!’ CONTINUOUS AIR RAIDS We were billeted at various hotels that night, much to our relief, and weren’t we glad to slip into a bath and bed! Athens was looking lovely, with spring flowers everywhere and orange blossom scenting the streets and parks. The fifth column element was very apparent and we were glad after three days to move out to the pretty suburb of Kerfissia, where we were billeted before oging to the front. Three empty houses were placed at our disposal, and we waited there for a week until our disembarking. Continuous air raids kept things fairly lively as we were close to the aerodrome. Then off we set again in large Army trucks, accompanied by British and Australian nurses, making 169 altogether. Alter an exciting night, partly spent shelterin., among the poppies in the cornfields or under olive trees, from old Jerry, we pulled up at dawn to breakfast —biscuits and marmalade. Then just as we were setting off again, our truck overturned on a ben dand by a miracle landed across the bridge, saving us from a sheer drop into the river. Several of us were hurt. I got a seven-inch cut across my crown, but am quite O.K. and no scar will be visible, thank goodness! Two Australian ambulances picked us up, and we took shelter for the rest of the day—luckily, because an air raid occurred within half an hour and we were machinegunned and bombs missed us by inches! So we were glad when darkness came and we moved on again. We travelled all night over a perilously winding pass and just got through in time before parachute troops cut off our exit. Then we were taken across to an Australian destroyer in a little naval yacht, all in pitch darkness, with wounded troops, and wasn’t it a thrill to feel the security of the Navy. CRETE REACHED Our sisters had a great night, many sleeping on the deck, hiding under guns and down torpedo shoots, and the sailors tucked them up with blankets and served hot coffee. It was all most intriguing—especially when the guns went off and we brought down a plane. About 11 a.m. we saw the hills of Crete and were very pleased to step ashore and find that' a lot of our troops were already there. We were driven out to an English Camp Hospital and I, with the other injured ones, was admitted to the Anzac Ward—along with two Australian sisters. We were very well looked after and had lots of visitors from the various units—and all had lots of exciting tales to exchange. “On the fourth night we moved off, reaching the port at dawn, and so the last stage of our journey began. Our ship looked a tiny tub, but was really very good. Australians and New Zealanders manned her and they were just great. It was an exciting trip, with all sorts of happenings—but we had a marvellous escort, which looked like the whole of the Mediterranean fleet. We had all lost the bulk of our luggage, having had to leave it in Greece; so with no plates and only an odd knife and spoon we had lots of fun. Army biscuits and paper served for plates! But everyone was in the same boat.

After lunch at Alexandria we caught the Cairo express at 3 p.m. and so here we are, all mending up fast.