Sketch Impression of Egypt as a Military Hospital Centre

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 4, 1 October 1915, Page 179

Sketch Impression of Egypt as a Military Hospital Centre

All the way thither, war, and the results of war, were m our sight and thoughts. We were on a transport carrying troops to reinforce those fighting m the Dardanelles, and doctors and nurses to help to care for them. We were escorted out of Plymouth by two destroyers , gallant little ships bare of all but guns, and armaments, steaming along on either side. All through the night they were there, guarding us till danger was less imminent and then silently stealing away. In the morning they were gone and we steamed on through that beautiful, smiling sea, on past the great outpost, the gate to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar. There we paused an hour or two and left much needed help, doctors, nurses, orderlies. We could see the hospitals, new and old, on the hill side, where the wounded were waiting for the relief and care we had brought them. On again, and m a few days we reached Malta, and there landed more of our doctors and nurses. Then we went on shore and visited the hospitals, hearing the tales of the wounded, the great lack of nurses on Gallipoli, arid m hospitals more keenly than ever we felt the waste of time m our long journey. We knew we should have been at hand long since, and regretted, that even though it was not our own fault, we should have been able to enjoy that fortnight's stay m London. We felt had we gone to Suez direct we should have been m Egypt just at the very most acute time of need. Well again we had to reassure ourselves we did not know — 'no one m New Zealand knew. At Malta we saw ship after ship of troops, hospital ships, and transports with wounded, war ships belonging to our Allies, destroyers with their bare decks, and submarines above water, m harbour. A scene of activity, not to be forgotten. On again we went to Alexandria, our port of destination. Here we lay m harbour 24 hours before landing. Two hospital ships, transports, and many other vesesls made the harbour a scene of great interest, but we longed to be on shore. Next day we landed and leaving 24 of our number to reinforce the Alexandria Hospitals, the rest of us proceeded up to Cairo. We saw

but little of Alexandria oil that occasion. Through the intense heat we travelled by train and m four hours arrived and here again our party divided, some to our New Zealand Hospital and others to the old Military Hospital, established m the Palace Saladin, m the ancient fortress of the Citadel. Our own base hospital is of course the most interesting to us. It is really a hospital built for the purpose, so m that our nurses are fortunate, even if Egyptian requirements are not m all ways up to the standard we are accustomed to. It is built m pavilion style, with wide verandahs which have been very extensively used. At first there were only 250 beds ; but these are now increased to 300 by the use of the verandahs, and by the addition of large hospital tents or marquees pitched on the bare desert sand of the enclosure, m which the hospital stands. In front there is a garden and shady trees, under which some of the more convalescent patients can sit. There is a separate building m isolation which is always very full. All around this hospital there is the desert and from the flat roof there is a very fine view which at sunset especially (sunrise, say the night sisters) is most beautiful. The distant hills, for there are hills m the desert, are faintly purple, and the sky lovely tones of pink and crimson, while the desert sand takes on its golden surface shades of deeper tones. In one direction also the Mosques and" minarets of the Citadel make a beautiful outline against the sky, while m another, where formerly there lay nothing but the desert sand, there is now a great encampment : tents, tents, everywhere. Again to the East rise the beautiful buildings m stone of a creamy white tone, of the new city of HeKopolis. This city lies near the site of the ancient town and was only built about eight years ago. Here are Australian Hospitals for as many as 4,000 patients. Some of our own nurses who went with the Australian Contingent are nursing m these hospitals. We found one hospital staffed by a .matron, Miss Michel, a sister m the Queen Alexandra Service; who m default of any New Zealand nurses had managed the hospital since first lent to us by the Egyptian Government.

It was the hospital built for the Egyptian Army. Her staff had been composed of English and Australian sisters and often they had worked long hours for lack of adequate numbers. The medical and surgical staff was partly New Zealand and partly English. Miss Michel and some of the sisters stayed on a few days to put our matron and sisters into the way of the military methods and rules, and by degrees the whole of the staff is now New Zealand, with the exception of one medical officer". Our nursing staff, when I left Egypt, was 35, and the sisters speak m good terms of the orderlies, who take an intelligent interest m their unaccustomed duties and are most helpful. In and around Cairo there are 12 hospitals besides convalescent ones, and many of these hospitals contain 1,000 beds. Cairo however, though one sees officers and men swarming m the streets, hotels, and restaurants of Heliopolis especially, does not give one the same impression of war as does Aleaxndria, where besides the busy wharves, when at one time I saw as many as eight hospital ships and almost as many transports with wounded, there are hospitals and camps for men and horses all along the sea front, and on the desert sands near the city, where a number of tents are pitched. In Alexandria there are six or seven hospitals and several convalescent ones. The largest hospital of all is here, containing 1,80.0 beds, a great part m tents on the sand. This is the only hospital where some of the nurses, some New Zealanders among them, are under canvas. I am not sure that some of the younger spirits among the nursing staffs were not a wee bit disappointed to find that m most cases they were housed under prosaic roofs and not dependent on their camp equipment ! One must not, however, run away with the idea that nurses' homes m Egypt are quite on the comfortable lines of the permanent nurses' homes attached to our modern hospitals. No, there are usually as many nurses sharing a room as can be fitted m. Those who have them use their canvas stretchers which make quite comfortable beds. Canvas chairs are m evidence ; but solar I do not think that the canvas baths and buckets have been brought into use. There are nurses sleeping m corridors and

on balconies and m one of our New Zealand nurses' homes the favourite place for the night nurses to sleep is on the flat roof, where a temporary shelter of matting has been erected. In spite of the sunlight filtering through, they say it is cool and quiet. This is at Port Said, where we have a hospital established m a Mission School, and where nearly all the patients are under canvas. When this hospital was first opened it was intended only to take convalescent cases, and six of our second contingent of nurses, under Miss Cameron, as matron, were considered sufficient with orderlies. to staff it. Then a ship load of sick and wounded to the number of 400 arrived direct from Gallipoli, and for a few days until reinf orc e d by s ome C anadian nurses , it was night and day work. Now there are 30 of our own nurses there so they are well off -if indeed the hospital has not already moved on nearer the front as was hoped by the staff. There is a lovely view of the sea from this hospital and the staff, also the convalescent patients, bathe here. The sisters have a nice bathing shed and generally run down m the evening for a dip. At Port Said the great interest is the Canal, which is guarded by French ; war ships. All along the Canal one sees evidence of the fight there. There are the trenches and dug-outs which can be seen from the Canal itself, and from the rail way line. There are camps m various places, of Indian soldiers mainly. Staying m Port Said one is awakened at day break by the tramp of horses and waggons passing through the main street and looking down from one's balcony one sees long lines of troops bringing their horses up from their morning dip m the sea. The lighter side of a nurse's life is not absent m Egypt. In ordinary times they have very fair hours off duty. Owing to the climate the matrons have mostly arranged that instead of a short time off each day the sisters on day duty should all be on m the morning from 7 a.m. till luncheontime (dinner is always at night about 8 p.m.) that half should then remain on till 8 p.m., and half go off for the remainder of the day. This all the sisters like as they can, on the alternate half -day off, rest and go out m the cooler part of the day. At times when a fresh convoy of wounded comes m some

of the staff must return to duty and remain on longer at night, and as a rule the sisters are far too eager to do all they can for the poor men to mind this extra work m the least. When a convoy is mit is all hands to work ! From this arrangement of hours alone it can be seen that of late months the shortage of nurses is not so serious and that they can all have a reasonable time for recreation. The chief amusements are of course the excursion to the Pyramids and Sphinx, which is usually made soon after arriving, very often the nurses can be taken out m motor ambulances which have intervals between convoys when they can be used m this way and so help to keep the nurses m good form. Dinner at the hotels m Cairo, Shepherd's and the Continental, is another recreation, and as it is m the openair, is very pleasant, though rather expensive, being ss. for nursing sisters. Tea or cool drinks, at Groppy's is another amusement. Trips .up the Nile are delightful. One was arranged during my stay, for the sisters and doctors of the N.Z. Hospital, and was an excursion not to be forgotten. It was a lovely day^hot, but under the awning quite bearable, and the scenery all along the banks of the river made one

forget heat. The picturesque dahabeyahs with their lantern sails and pointed prows loaded with hay or melons were constantly passing us. We halted for an hour or so at the landing for Memphis, and some of the men got donkeys and rode to see the Collossal statues. A flock of sheep came down for water and Arab shepherds and children came to see us and made a delightful picture with their bright blue, green and yellow garments. The women with all black draperies, but rows and rows of bright coloured irridescent bead necklaces. The return trip m the fast -fading Eastern sunset was lovely, cameras and one paintbox endeavouring to seize the quickly changing effects. In another place I mention the rest home for nurses at Aboukir Bay, a truly delightful place. So, as the nur s es went away thinking of hard work and probable hardships one can but feel that so far their lines have fallen m pleasant places. Notwithstanding if they can leave their comparative ease and comfort, they are ready, and many have their names down for transport duty to the Dardanelles which involves both risk and hard work. Some of our sisters have already gone on this duty and all I think are eagerly anticipating their turn.