WAR & THE SURGEON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2684, 2 February 1916, Page 5

WAR & THE SURGEON

JIETURN OP MAJOR HOLMES

HEROISM IN THE HOSPITAL

Among those who returned to Wellington yesterday by the Mararoa, ex AVillochra,' from Egypt, was Major Matthew Holmes, who left Wellington about a year ago as chief medical officer with tho Third Reinforcements. On arriving in Egypt, ho was given the duty of taking over tho Pont de Koubbeh Hospital, which had up till that time been jn the hands of the Egyptian authorities. He found tho Egyptian officials very charming people to deal with, and in a really very short time he had tho hospital in good order. It was to that hospital,. situated in the suburbs of Cairo, that they sent the first batch of wounded from Gallipoli, and nearly all the serious cases were sent on to Pont do Koubbeh for treatment. As "tho surgeon in charge, Major Holmes found plenty of new experience. There were times during the brisk fighting .when they woitld, take in 200 patients in a night, with only five nurses and five doctors to attend to them, and every patient had to be attended to before there was any rest: That was only at first—later the .staff was increased, and 'made adequate in every way. Later on, Major Holmes was appointed 'A.D.M.S. for the Now Zealand forces in Egypt, in undertaking which duties be bad to travel a good deal between the various cities. It was in that capacity that he established the convalescent hospital at Port Said, which was in chargo of Dr. M'Gavin, of Wellington, for some time. "There is quite a good climate at Port Said in the suni,mer," said Major Holmes. "That is where the Cairo people go for a spell if they cannot get away • from Egypt altogether—it is either Alexandria or Port Said. Our business was to get the men back to the front as soon as possible, and Port Said, or rather the site of our hospital, helped us to do it." •Major Holmes intimated that the- hospital there had, been vacated for the present, tho staff having been sent to Salonika.

Last July ho received the appointment of D.A.A.M.S., with headquarters at Anzap, where they were always more or less under fire, and where the worn Was conducted xinder some difficulty in shelters protected as much as possible from tho enemy's sholls. In speaking of tho work of the Medical Corps, Major Holmes paid a tribute to the cheerinoss and pluck of the wounded. "There wero times," he said, "when a man's wound could not be dressed for liours, owing to the number to ho attended to. But they never complained, and even in their pain laughed and joked, and helped one another in a spirit that was wholly cQmmendable. Our boys played the game all right. They are great soldiers, and the best of patients.

"The Turk 5s n good fighter and a good patient. We had some of them through _our hands, brave fellows, who itook their wounds and the treatment as part of the day's work. They were always placid and content—philosophers who never kicked at fate. All the same, I believe they were glad to fall into our hands. They've got courage. From an observation post I have seen Turks walk out of their own trenches into the firo zone to throw bombs into our trenches. They never liurried, but just walked ordinarily, threw their bomb, and got back—if they were not shot;"

Major Holmes states that.the Maheno did splendid work in the Mediterranean, and though she was one of tho smallest of the ho.spital ships, she .had a pood reputation for the expeditious handling of her patients.

Major Holmes mentioned that he had Found the services of Dr. Agnes Bennett, of Wellington, of much value at Pont de Koubbeh. At that hospital ho was succeeded by Dr. A eland, who in turn was succeeded" by Dr. Savage, Jate of Auckland, who only arrived there in time to dio (of spinal meningitis)! At present the hospital accommodation in Egypt was most adequate, and there were some' splendid men associated with the hospitals. Major Holmes was invalided from Gallipoli with dysentery at the end of December, and was treated in the 19th General Hospital at Alexandria, a magnificent hospital that was formerly an old German hospital. They left Egypt on Christmas Day. As to tho futuro, ho is now on 28 days' leave—he knows 00 more.