GALLANT NURSES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16424, 18 January 1919, Page 5

GALLANT NURSES.

REFUSp TO LEAVE WOUNDED. There ave many stories told of the bravery of, nurses on active service, but one of outstanding merit has just been related by a nurse, who, after threo years in Franco and Belgium, returned to Auckland by tlio last transport. During the retreat near Armentiores, a British hospital, which had not been informed of the retreat, was being conducted without thought of any approaching danger. It was not until one day a nurse, while standing at the door of the hospital, noticed two horsemen approaching. "When they drew lip to the door one of them said. "Why haven't you moved back? Don't you'know thero is nothing between you and the Germans over that hill 1" As no word had been received at the hospital tho officers dismounted, and reported to tho officer in charge the true facts. He at once sent for the mafron, and told her to "get the sisters away to a place of safety. The unanimous answer from the sisters to this request was: "We will not leave here until all the boys are safe." "I am with you," replied the matron, and reported the reply to the officer, who said, "I'll have you all court-martialled." "Very well, sir, you get on with the court-martial, and we will get the boys to safetv," was her answer. The work of moving the men was then started. Fortunately there was a train at rail-head, and this was micklv filled with the seriously wounded. Those able to walk set ofiF on foot, while every vehicle was pressed into Bervice to carrv others. When all lmd been sent off, the sisters procurod an old Farm waggon, and proceeded to follow the men they had saved! Prior to the removal of the patients, one of the sisters had lier head blown off, and two others were seriously wounded. These two wore carried to safety on stretchers by two wounded men.