Territorial Force Nursing Service

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 April 1915, Page 74

Territorial Force Nursing Service

Elizabeth Haldane

December 28th, 1914.

Dear Madam. — I have much pleasure m telling you a little about cur work for the sick and wounded m Great Britain m so far as I have come across it. My main work has been m connection with the Territorial Force Nursing Service of whose Advisory Council I am vice-chairwoman. I expect you know all about its constitution, but perhaps I should say for the benefit of some who may not do so, that the scheme for establishing General Hospitals m different parts of the Kingdom, each with a staff of surgeons, administrators, and nurses, was part of the medical organisation of the Territorial Army. This organisation was instituted (during the time Lord Haldane was Secretary of State for War), by Sir Alfred Keogh (Director-General of Army Medical Service), who was indefatigable m bringing it so far as possible to completion. Twenty-three hospitals were instituted m different parts of the country each having 520 beds, and staff to correspond. All this staff was m peace time voluntary, and those who entered upon it were still performing their ordinary civil duties. The buildings were likewise, merely public institutions fixed upon as suitable for conversion into hospitals. No new building was undertaken, but when required the adaptations were quickly and easily carried out. When the army was mobilised the staff appeared with lightning activity. The first business was to clean and arrange the buildings, and get the necessary furnishings, but everything was ready before the patients began to pour m. All the members of the nursing staff (originally over 3,000 m number, but now considerably more, than, 3,000), are certificated nurses, having passed at least three years m a training school, and male orderlies assist them. The matrons have all had short training m military hospitals m order to become acquainted with military routine. I wish you could have seen how wonderfully quickly everything was brought into order even when the buildings were schools or other institutions not easy to adapt. The first patients were sick territorials, but after the battle of Moiis all the hospitals began to fill up. This is an account of the first arrivals given me by a sister : "" The little station in' the grounds was lit by electricity and the, paiths by great

flashes of paraffin gas. The orderlies were all ready and the stretcher-bearers waiting. We stood upon the top of a high bank and the excitement was intense as we heard the train rush along. The officers stepped m, and we could see them pass along the corridor, and then we were breathless while the first man stepped out ; a Highlander m a kilt with his arm m a sling ! Never was there greater stillness I think for a second and then such a burst of cheering." Many trainloadfuls have come since then and whenever the tiain came m, by day Oi night, the Red Cross men are leady to help m their work of disembarkation, plenty of motor cars are waiting when they are required. When long journeys are taken, the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment women " refresh v the occupants of trains which are passing through certain railway stations and m their white caps and aprons with red cross m front, give a cheery air to the grimiest depot. Sisters always accompany the trains as well as a medical officer, so that the weary travellers are well taken care of. The arrangement for the " cot cases," i.e. .lying down cases, are wonderfully complete. These twenty-three great military hospitals have " relief " hospitals (not territorial) which take less serious cases as a rule, as well as semi-convalescent, and these are posted under the Red Cross Society. Theie is a staff of trained nurses, perhaps one for every eight or ten patients, and the membei s of the local Voluntary Aid Detachment act as probationers, as well as ward maids, portresses, assistant cooks, etc. The Government gives a grant for each patient to these Red Cross hospitals, but the grant is supplemented by voluntary contributions and the greater part of the staff accept no payment. There are many admirable hospitals of this kind, and these m their turn often send out their convalescents to country houses where arrangements have been made for taking patients m. This applies specially to the Belgians who have, alas, no homes m which to complete their re covery. The Belgians have formed an important part of the work of the nursing sisters m Britain. TKe Government undertook to deal with these poor wounded lnen who are fighting so nobly for our cause and consequently large numbers are to be found m most of our hospitals. Never were there

more delightful patients, even although they are all anxious and troubled about their friends as well as sore and weary m body. Only the sisters know the nerve-wracked condition many of these men are m. Their dreams are disturbed by visions of horror hard to forget. But there is a bright side too, for relations thought to be lost are sometimes unexpectedly found, and there are sometimes letters that cheer as no medicine can do. The first Belgian to reach a Scottish hospital got such a welcome from his Scottish allies that I do not think he will ever forget it. Hemaynot have fully understood the words but no Scottish soldier fails to believe that ' broad Scotch talked loud ' is comprehensible to the dullest foreigner! Since the Belgians came the music of the wards has certainly become more melodious. 4 Tipperary " sufficed at first, but we were soon led on to the Brabanconne and much else that we knew nothing of before. Then m the Military (Territorial) hospitals there arc the Germans, too. One would think they might be difficult patients, but after all they are, many of them, lads like our own far from their mothers and needing the same care as the rest. They get this as

they are ready to acknowledge, and a good deal of fun comes their way, too. The Christmas celebrations ! I daresay you know what they would be, but to me they seemed to exceed my imagination. The Allies flags and colours everywhere gave fresh colour to the holly and evergreens, and Santa Claus remembered all his children, having no dis inction as to race or language. These few lines may give you an idea of what is being done for our wounded m this country. Others will tell you of Queen Alexandra's military service working at the base hospitals on the trains m France. Some of the Territorial nurses are helping there too, for twelve are allowed to volunteer for foreign service from each hospital. And the hospital ships were a revelation to me with their beautiful wards and real beds, such as millionaries alone aspire to m our liners : a naval nursing sister could tell you best about these and the splendid work the}' are doing. I am looking forward to meeting some of the New Zealand sisters who will I know have a warm greeting from their fellow workers m the Homeland across the ocean.—