News from our Nurses Abroad

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XI, Issue 3, 1 July 1918, Page 126

News from our Nurses Abroad

A letter received from Miss Berry, wellknown to so many nurses, mentions the big fight going on for the registration of nurses, which Miss Bern' says is a very big thing, and with many prejudices in the way, but she foresees many changes pending in the nursing world in England. Miss Berry is still staying with relatives in Preston, and hopes before returning to New Zealand to take her midwifery course. * % * * News from Sister Brandon from Gre} 7town Hornchurch, mentions that she and

to show how one fares if they have no coupon for meat. This is rather funny ; one scarcely knows what one is eating in some of the places, and ask no questions. But in camp we get New Zealand supplies, so our mess is quite good. Poor civilian population gets very little sugar, no butter, very little meat and margarine." ;t: # ifc # Sister G. Bennett writes from Walton-on-Thames, where she was stationed after the arrival of the " Athenic." The sisters enjoyed their trip, though some were very

Sister Commons had started the massage course for which they have been specially detailed for service under the Public Health Department. Sister Brandon says : 8 When we can spare time from our books we enjoy some lovely walks. Spring is wonderful here, the trees are covered with buds, and primroses are in great clusters under their pretty leaves all over the banks. Daffodils are all along the banks of the streams, and the fruit blossoms pink and white in such profusion, it is glorious. Tomorrow ' curfew ' comes in in London. No hot meals after 9 p.m., lights out at eleven, theatres begin 7 p.m. I enclose a menu

sea-sick. They had a few hours ashore at Balboa where they were most hospitably entertained by Mrs. Svensen, wife of the Captain of the Port, who took them- to dinner and motored them round Balboa and Panama. They enjoyed their trip through the wonderful canal, and afterwards came to ice and snow so cold that although the}^ they were allowed ashore, they only went once, when they were entertained 1l by Americans, who gave them the time of their Jives. At New York, where no one was allowed on shore, they picked up their convoy and went on to N which showed signs of the recent explosion in absolute

devastation everywhere, for miles lit ays of ruined houses, boats, and wharves. No one was allowed to land as the people were short of rations, the snow and ice were too awful. Here they were joined by an American troopship with eighty-one nurses on board. In the Atlantic they encountered a dreadful storm which washed away the wireless, broke a boat to pieces, and broke into one of the holds, leaving 300 men bedless, and for the time homeless. They also lost every scrap of siigar, nine tons, and seven tons of flour, so for the rest of the voyage they jwere sugarless. ,On [arrival the sisters were given nine clays' leave

place. They were gradually getting conveniences, and the huts were being painted. The theatre was quite a nice place, Staffnurse Mackenzie in charge. With 700 patients there were always some for operation. Miss Brooke mentions the Y.M.C.A. Hut as being well patronised. The boys can always get a cup of cocoa or coffee for a penny and it is usually well stocked with cigarettes and biscuits. Sweets are not plentiful, but they got a case from New Zealand which was much appreciated. They only wished a few more cases would arrive. Since this letter was written, this peaceful scene will, we fear, have changed

and stayed at Queen Mary's Hostel, and had a round of sight-seeing. Sisters Harris and Dempsey were sent to Brockenhurst, Sister Lewis to Codford, Sisters Barker and Bennett to Walton-on-Thames. * * * * . Miss Brooke writes from No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital in France, where apparently they were having a quiet time before the advance of the Germans, as she mentions the beauty of the spring and the violets and primroses in the wards, and that the convalescent patients and staff were busy gardening, hoping to get quite a gay

and there will be no time for gardening or such occupations. The sisters had been in turn away to the south of France, so they should all be prepared for the strenuous time to come. * * * * Sister Philpotts writes an interesting account of the voyage of the ten sisters sent as reinforcements in March. They joined a slow convoy at New York, quite an imposing fleet of thirty-six boats, with an American gun-boat at the head. In the English Channel they saw five German submarines between 11 a.m. and 8.30 p.m i

They had all the rugs and coats on deck near the boat stations, and fortunately they did, as about 4.30 p.m. a German submarine rose not far from the " Mokoia." Everyone scrambled into their life-belts and got to their stations almost before the whistles had blown. kk In less time than it takes to write, all five of the convoy of destroyers were round, and the submarine had to sink again, but they bombed it, each explosion shaking our boat as badly as if we'd been hit. In about three minutes up went a Imge spout of water and oil, and the German was no more. That night we were all told to sleep on deck, and no one was to undress. Our mattresses were brought up and we just dossed down on them as near our boat stations as possible It was one of the coldest nights we had, and we were very cold in spite of two blankets, rug, three coats, a hot water bag, and all one wishes but we were nearly frozen, and were very glad indeed when at sa.m. Captain Milroy and some of the Flying Corps men brought us up a cup of hot tea and toast. That day we did fourteen knots up the Channel, the fastest we had done since leaving New Zealand." The sisters' adventures were not yet at an end, for after arrival in London, during the first night, there was an air-raid warning and they all had to get up and go downstairs. Sister Philpotts with Sisters McPherson, Donald, and Douglas were stationed at Walton-on-Thames ; Sisters Lindsay and Mclntyre, Hancock and Shaw at Brockenhurst ; Sisters Carruthers and Wilson at Codford.

Sister Elizabeth Wilson writes from Tsmailia where she is still with Sisters Stokes and Nicoll at the stationary hospital. She had had two days leave to go to sister M'Cosh Smith's wedding, which took place at St. Andrew's Church, Cairo. The sisters were all well and happy. Sisters Allyne, Rhind, and Wilson had all had leave and had a trip to Assouan and Luxor. Every six months all ranks may have a free pass on the railway in Lower or Upper Egypt. Sister Wilson hoped one day to get as far as Jerusalem. ♦ * Sister Margaret Trask writes in April that she has been ordered to proceed to Egypt. She has been for a long time at Wellington, Southern India, in a station hospital. She had not heard whether the other sisters in India — Scott, Inglis, and Chamberlain — were also to be transferred, but hoped to meet them in Bombay. Jj* 2f£ 5jC TjC Sister Mary Beswick, who has been on active service for the past three years, is returning to New Zealand shortly . It is understood that Sister Beswick is returning in charge of a party of sisters to take up duty at the Orthopaedic Hospital being established near Christchurch for the treatment of invalid soldiers by electrical treatment and massage. Sister Beswick, who is a survivor of the " Marquette,' and has seen service on various hospital ships and in Egypt and Salonika, has lately been in charge of a ward in No- 1 New Zealand Military Hospital at Walton -on -Thames.