SISTER MACGIBBON BACK FROM FRANCE

Chronicle (Levin), 27 April 1946, Page 8

SISTER MACGIBBON BACK FROM FRANCE

—Presp Association

Bv Telegraph-

AUQKLAND, April 26. The Dannevirke nursing sister, Miss P. H. MacGibbon, vvlip earried 011 her profession in the south' of Franee when It was occupied by the Germans and Italians, ■returned.on the Trojan Star which avrived today from Liverpool via South Africa and Australia. She wasmet by her brother-in-law, LieutenantG'olonel A! J. Coutts, N.Z.T.S. Miss 'MacGibbon left New Zealand in 1934 and after nursing in England, toolc a post at a sniall Britisli civilian liospital • at Cannes in the south of Franee in November, 1939. After the Germans overran Iranee the nurses eould have left Cannes on two small eolliers but thev eleeted to stay and care for their English and American patients who were too ill to be moved. Tliey were kept under constant supervision and had to report to the poliee weekly but their hospital was not taken over as it was regarded as too small for military purposes.

' ' The Italians 'wanted to send us away but after we appealed through the doetor -who was the direetor of the j hospital, we were allowed to stay," said Miss MacGibbon. "We were very i badly off 'for food," fiarticujarly for proper. nourishment for the patients. ! Tlie 'Royal Air Toree intelligence lcnew all about us, " remarked Miss MacGibbon. ' ' When landings were made 011 ! the south of Franee, the hospital, wliich j was on ihe'top of a hill, had an anxious time but although there was heavy J bombing and shelllire we were not touched. " She later met members of the R.N.Z.A.-F. who spent leave at an hotel requisitioned in Cannes and thev told her they had had instructions to avoid the Brftish hospital. Ever since she returned to England last May, Miss MacGibbon has been waiting for transport to New Zealand. She intends to stay in Auckland. Another Hawke's Bay nursing sister, Miss M. E. D. Clark, of Waipawa, who nursed in England throughout the war, returned 011 the Trojan Star.