THE VOLUNTEER NURSES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 439, 7 July 1915, Page 4

THE VOLUNTEER NURSES.

OFF TO TRENTHAM. A dozen women —11 volunteer nurses and their organiser, Miss Ettie Rout — formed the centre of interest at the railway station last night. They grouped themselves in front of the bookstall, the nurses trim and business-like in their print uniforms, blue cloaks, and mannish Panamas, the organiser looking every whit as capable and practical, although she wore no uniform. She dispensed tickets and directions regarding the short train journey to Lyttelton, keeping up an intermittent conversation at the same time with friends and well-wishers who clustered round the outskirts. Dozens of people wanted to say how glad they were that Christchurch was sending her share of nurses to look after the sick soldier boys at Trentham. It's the personal touch that always counts, for there is many a Christchurch boy in 'training there.

The Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs H. Holland, came along to give them the glad hand of approval, and to thank them beforehand for what they will do for '' our boys.'' They, by the bye, have a fine young son at Trentham, but he, happily,, has had no need of nurses or doctors so far.

"You'll have plenty of liard "work," the writer remarked to one of the volunteers, and she of the blue cloak smiled quietly.

"Well, we expect that," she answered. "We're not going in anticipation of any picnic." Looking at the group, one sensed at once that they fully realised what they were going to face —hard, trying, strenuous work, under conditions that will make it doubly so. They were no romantic girls, going with the idea that holding a sick soldier's hand and fanning his fevered brow were the main features of' nursing. They were all capable, sensible women, each of good physique and bearing the stamp of good health.. The erowd stood and admired. ' -*•

"I've got a boy at Trentham," remarked a poorly-dressed woman who was looking on wistfully; she would, one felt sure, have liked a word with the nurses —liked to tell them to be good to Jack, or Dick, or whatever his name might be,, should he fall ill. A woman with her answered the unspoken thought. "Sure, they'll be good to the poor lads," she said comfortingly, with a delicious brogue that made one think of peat fires smouldering in the Emerald Isle across the sea. '' I know they will; it's fiue women they are. I've got no one there, but if I had I'd trust them to look after him, I would."

The whistle blew —"All aboard!" Tliey scrambled in—one in this carriage, two in that. No special accommodation was made on the train —the time was so' short, and it was hardly worth while. A score of farewells .in as many seconds, and then a "Hip, hip, hurrah!" rent the air as the train puffed out of the station. The crowd dispersed and went home with a vision of their arrival in "Wellington this morning, and their immediate departure to Trentham, where they will put their hands to the plough at once.