NURSES “AT HOME”

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 8

NURSES “AT HOME”

For Hospital Ship Matron Recently returned to New Zealand, Miss E. Lewis, matron of a New Zealand hospital ship, was the guest of the Wellington branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association, at an “at home” in the E.S.U. rooms last night. Miss Lewis spoke of life on the hospital shin and of her experience in England and Scotland. When the personnel held a third birthday party on the shin in April, there were 17 able to be present, said Miss Lewis, including four sisters who liad been oil the ship from the beginning without a break. All at the party were “old originals.” It t was held in the sergeants’ mess and included orderlies and some of the ship’s crew, all olq characters., There was the bilker, the chef, the quartermaster, second butdher and a cockney deckhand. When the ship was entering Tripoli recently, to embark wounded. Miss Lewis said the harbour was a veritable “ships’ cemetery,” including a broken-down hospital ship. The disembarking wharf consisted of a liner turned on its side, along which planking was laid. At Tripoli meals were very meagre. For instance, when lunchinf. at the Grand Hotel with Miss Chisholm, of No. 3 General Hospital, and some of her sisters, the menu was spinach soup, bully beef rissoles, with, more spinach, date tart that hud to be attacked with knife anckfork, and milkless tea out of cut-down bottles, for cups. Morning tea at the Y.W.C.A. consisted of tea and bread and margarine. So you can just imagine bow welcome all the parcels are that are sent,” said the speaker. From Tripoli, the ship carried British and German, Italian and some Bastito wounded to Fort Said, The British were delighted with the friendliness of the nursing staff and with the large servings at mealtimes. The New Zealand standard of living was so high that they were astonished. It was then decided to embark a party of British wounded andi'go to_ England, as the ship needed repairs* When Glasgow was reached, the men disembarked with no bands playing, uo welcome or flag waving, though on their way up the Clyde this grim, grey morning, large numbers of women working in the ship-building yards came out to wave them on.

It was decided to grant the staff a month's leave and Major Sinclair-Thomp-son, of the liaison office in London, who greeted them on arrival, supplied all the needed details concerning travel, neeommodation; rationing and entertainment. Nurses and voluntary aids made up a large party going to London. They were well laden, having to take respirators, tin hats, khaki overcoats and haversacks with them. On Ihe long journey, meals are no longer served and they had to rely on' the sandwiches they carried and a drink of cold water. Miss Lewis and two of the sisters spent their Christmas in Aberdeen, and there, like everywhere else, they were showered with invitations and entertained royally. At first glimpse. Miss Lewis said, London looked just the same, but then as one went along, there were gaps and the place looked shabby and dirty, with many cracked windows *and the big houses which used to be so gay in the winter-time, had a sad look. In spite of the blackout, cinemas and theatres were crowded and people had to book 10 days’ ahead. In her opinion, the blackout was the grimmest part, of all. Miss S. 11, Mackenzie, president of the association, welcomed Miss Lewis and presented her with a posy on behalf of those present. A very attractive set of half-dozen fruit, bowls with a large fruit bowl to match is in amethyst crystal with n futuristic design in opaque white. Another very nice fruit,set. is in white china with a Chinese blue fancy border and a small spray of blue.flowers in the bottom of the bowls. There are six of them without a serving dish. Half-a-dozen liqueur guasses are crystal with finely-cut stems and bowls and >■ lovely wafer jug ■with six goblets is perfectly plain white crystal,' but each goblet has a pale green base and the jug a green handle. A pair of crystal liliger bowls tire very fine and thin with no decoration. Robin and Co., 17 Grey Street. —Advt. A very smart coat of a rich raisin tone is cut with a gored back and smart insei pockets. Another coat of a deep bine has a stitched panel up the back and an inset, belt. Agnes Samson, Lambton Quay,—Advt.