Casualty Clearing Station

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XI, Issue 2, 1 April 1918, Page 76

Casualty Clearing Station

Letter from New Zealand Sister

Hotel Be I/Estrecn,

Cannes,

France, 21/12/17.

I came to France last May, and went to Amiens, but only had a feAV days there, and came up north Avith the unit. T started duty m the theatre, and after six very busy weeks — we were there for the Messines " push " — I left for a casualty clearing station m Belgium We, Sister Mcßeth and I, came away with surgical teams. A team consists of a surgeon, an anesthetist, a sister, and an orderly. The

team Sister Me Beth was with was made up from our own staff, but the one I was with was rather a mixed one. The anaesthetist and sister were New Zealanders, and the surgeon and orderly were English. The surgeon was a colonel from a British Casualty Clearing Station. First we went to a CCS. m Belgium, our team going to No. 10, and the other to No. 17, both British and quite close to each other. We were only there a few days when we got orders, at 11.30 one night, to proceed at once to another CCS. So we had to pack very hurriedly and depart. On these :c excursions " one carrya all one's belongings, bed, bedding, etc., and the moving is all done by motor ambulance. I hadn't time to let Sister Mcßeth know that I was moving, and I thought of how surprised

she would be m the morning to hear that we had gone, but I got the surprise, for I was just going off to sleep at our new destination, when sister walked in — her team had been sent also. We stayed at that CCS. for four months and had the most interesting time there. The unit, when we arrived, had only been there four days, and the place was still m a state of chaos ; but it was wonderful to see how quickly things were got into order, despite the fact that they had to take m patients the day after they arrived. The whole place, with the exception of the theatre, was under canvas, and, being the middle of summer, we found the life very pleasant. The surrounding country was beautiful, every scrap of land there is cultivated ; it was a grand sight to see it when the crops were ready for cutting. The operating theatre was a large wooden building, with light tables. Four teams used to work at once, each surgeon runing two tables, so there was no time lost between the cases. The place was well equipped m every way, plenty of instruments and gloves, and all the appliances for operating, and the giving of anaesthetics. As a rule the day teams worked from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., and were then relieved by the night teams, but when there was a great rush of work the day teams would go on working until 12 p.m., and by doing that managed to keep pace with the work. The system of work at the clearing stations is excellent. There are always two or three stations close to each other, one will be receiving patients for twenty-four hours, or perhaps take a certain number, and then the next one will receive ; this gives each one the chance to get through all their operations and clear up ready for- the next receiving day. The patients are evacuated almost at once, only those who are too ill to be moved are kept back. We had rather an exciting time whilst there, through the air-raids. The enemy planes were over nearly every clear night, and twice they dropped bombs right m the stations, the second time Sister Kernp — a New Zealander with an English unit — an orderly, and two patients

being killed, whilst soveral were wounded. We were all supplied with tin helmets and gas masks, and were supposed to go straight to the dug-out when the noise of the antiaircraft guns started, and if that was not possible we were advised to lie flat on the

ground. Each time I happened to be m the theatre, so I adopted the latter scheme. I think I told you before that we were up there for four months, and gradually the teams returned to their own units as the work lessened, and a fortnight after we left the CCS. was moved to fields and pastures new. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the English, but whilst there I also worked with Americans, Canadians, and Australians. At one place m a theatre where four teams were working together, there was our own, which was a mixed one, next to us a Canadian, then an American, and the fourth table was " All British." Whilst we were up there, the town where our own hospital was, was shelled, so we returned to quite a new place. T was surprised when I saw it, for it covers a huge area, and sprang up so quickly. All huts and tents, the former are the " Issen " huts — this shape O —each has fifty beds : and on the whole, very comfortable. I was hack for two or three weeks on night duty, and then got my leave and came down here. Leave m the south of France has only been just granted us. lam the first of our unit to come. I left our hospital at 8 a.m. on a Friday morning, and arrived here at 8 p m. on the following Sunday, having a day' and a night m Paris en route. It was iovely to leave the winter behind and come here into the warmth. Up north it was winter

with a vengeance, bitterly cold, and here the sun is hot and the foliage and flowers are beautiful. This hotel has been taken over just as it was for six months, for nurses on leave, and those who have been sick, but do not require any nursing. There is accommodation for about sixty ; the place is in charge of Lady Gifford. It is the most delightful place imaginable, situated at the foot of the Esterd mountains, and quite close to the sea and the town. The Riviera exceeds my wildest expectatkns. Yesterday I went to Nice, and to-morrow we visit Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Mentone, and ! believe we may just cross the Italian frontier. There are nurses from all countries here. I think those from overseas predominate, for the English sisters, the majority of them at least, go home for leave. We are looking forward to a very pleasant Christmas down here, and when we return, at the end of our fourteen days, for active service again, it will be with fresh courage. I am sending you a few snaps, taken by a little French girl when I was up at the CCS. I hope you receive them all right, that they will not be removed by the Censor. We often wonder when we are all going to get home again ; everybody is, to use that very expressive term, " fed up," and the cry from everyone is " when is it all going to end." I did not mean to let this grow into such a long scrawl, but I did not knowhow much there was to tell you. M. Davies, N.Z.A.N.S.

The following interesting account of a " gas school J appeared recently m the Sydney Morning Herald, sent m by a nurse: — "We have had some excitement. The night before last I found my name with others to draw rations and helmets,

and to report at the Gas School for instructions on Saturday morning. We went, and I can tell you it was not a nice experience at all First, we were taken into a marquee and told to remove our hats, and had instruction m getting into the helmets. Then the helmets were tested, and we got into them ; and finally were marched into a room full of gas, where we remained for five minutes. Of course, there was an officer, an R.A.M.C man, and two sergeants with us, so we were well watched. We were told to talk and walk about, just of course to give us confidence really ; and when we received the order to remove helmets our eyes just poured as the fumes rose from our clothes. It was like the fumes of formalin. To-day we went to the school again. We left here m a transport car, went up to the bull-ring, which consists of a parade ground, school of all sorts, and camps. We were met by an officer, who took us to a tent, where we removed

our hats m readiness, and had a lecture for an hour ; then were shown how to got m and out of helmets, which we are supposed to do m six seconds. The first time I did mine m nine seconds, the second time m five and a-half seconds. Then he took us to a trench, which was full of poisonous gas. The trench had a swing door at each end, and, of course, when you go m you must go on, as you can't get back. The officer went first ; then with his right hand he held the left hand of the sister behind, and so on. We were all holding hands — six of vs — with an officer m front and at rear, the one m front telling us the way to go and what to do. The gas was just thick ; we could see it , but never felt a thing . It took us a minute to go through. It is most wonderful. I have confidence now, and would not worry one bit about a gas alarm if I had my helmet. I am pleased it is over, and I have my certificate.