"THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 3

"THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!"

COLONEL WILL AND THE NURSES. Colonel W; G. Will, Assistant Director of Medical Service, who went away as head-of the medical division of the Main Expeditionary Force, returned by tho Willochra. Whilst in Egypt he had tho misfortune' to get sunstruck, and his health became rather seriously affected. Colonel Will stated that during one period ho lost 281b. in' five weeks, and became a mere shadow of his former self. Tho sea voyage had done him a great deal of good, and ho felt that he was regaining form rapidly. He intends recuperating for a couple of months, after which he will report himself for duty. Colonel Will has been succeeded as A.D.M.S. by LieutenantColonel Matthew Holmes, of Wellington, who also left here with the Main Expeditionary Force.

Colonel Will stated that the voyage had had a wonderfully beneficial effect on the whole of the men on'the Willochra. There had been no deaths, and whilst 80 men were carried on the ship only 15 would have to bo carried off, Vhich was a remarkable record, that reflected credit not only on the stamina of the men, but on the Australian nurses, who had been wonderfully attentive and. thoughtful. ■ ''Why Australian nurses?" was asked.

"For the simple reason that our own nurses had not arrived from England, j Those nurses, and very admirable ones they are, were connected with tho No. 1 General Australian Base' Hospital at Heliopolis, under Colonel Ramsay Smith, aiid we were fortunato to'get them. Thoy have been worth their weight in gold!" . WHAT THE WOUNDED THOUGHT OF THEM. No body of. men could speak in terms of higher praise about auyono than the Willochra's wounded do about the eightAustralian nurses, who came along with the troopship to tend to our wounded, when, we had no nurses to send. Those nurses were loaned by Colonel Ramsay Smith, Director of Medical Service to the Australian Forces, when they wero at the No. 1 Baso Hospital at Heliopolis, and to a great extent the wonderful show made by the men yesterday was largely due to their loving care'. : , "Are you a newspaper manasked one wounded man with his foot bound up as'he lay in his bunk in No. 2 ward. . "Yes. Why?" ■ . "Wellj look, don't you forget to mention the nurses. Nothing that you c'an say would-be too much. Now, don't •forget I" , "That's right," said a voice from another bed,; "they're the best in the world —say that, will you?" "They've been real darlings right through the trip," said another. "They've got the skill, and there's the heart behind: it every time." Then' one of the nurses was sought, and she had nothing but nice things to say about the men. "They are all very good boys, and wo have been glad to bo with them," ventured the nurse. ■ '"And what becomes of you now ?" . "We. have to report for orders.. We are to go on with the Willochra until all the wounded are off, and then, I believe, wo go to Australia. I hope so at all events!" , The nurses are: Sisters A. -Heath (matron), M. F. Whipham (assistant matron), H. E.Tait, W. J'. Baker, G. Good; staff nurses, M. Stevenson, M. Dalrymple, and M'Donald.