WAR DOCTOR’S STORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 5

WAR DOCTOR’S STORY

SUR6EON-CAPTAIN ADAMS

HIS EXPERIENCES AT THE ■ FRONT. Surgeon-Captain S. J. Adams, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, arrived at Wellington on Saturday by the Paparpa from Glasgow. Captain Adams, who .is,. well known in the North Island, was born in Patea, and prior to leaving for -the front was in practice'at Poston." He was one of thefirst medical-men-to offer his services in New Zealand, and on receiving permission from tho New Zealand authorities he. sailed in September, 1911, for Scotland, where be joined tho Imperial Army. Captain Adams has also the honour of being one. of the last to return. He wears three ribbons, thp 1014:lpA5 .the JiPPfitiftLGeasral Service Medal, with two clasps, and the Imperial Long Service Medal.’ To a “Times” reporter, Captain Adams related some of his war experiences. In 1914 the Imperial authorities pasted Captain Adams to Edinburgh Qagtle,. where he - recruited soma***!# tho earliest Scottish Battalions ..which, formed port of Lord French’s ,4«goji*~ temptible little army.” Desiring to see some of the fighting, he then ap-, plied to be allowed to proceed with one of these units, and some little rime afterwards was able to go over with a Highland battalion. He first went to the Armentieres sector, and tfien tg t Plunders, ,later going to the Somme- “In the early part of 1916,” said Captain Adams, “I was recalled for special services, and was posted as surgeon and pathologist at Rip on Hospital, Yorkshire, where 50,000 troops were garrisoned. I was there until early in 1917, and was again sent to France as bacteriologist and pathologist, being stationed at the 26th General Hospital, Etaples. While I was at Staples, four squadrons of German aeroplanes bombed our hospital, and Hid/considerable damage.,. Many other hospitals were wrecked,, and terrible injuries inflicted on the soldiers.” It was at Etaples that Captain Adams was rather seriously wounded, and was sent to Manchester Hospital, where he remained for a long period. As soon as he was fit for duty again, the Northern Command applied: for him to go 1 back to Ripon Hospital 'as surgeon and pathologist, and he remained there until the N<rw Zealand authorities recalled him to the No. I General Hospital at Brockenhurst. When the hospital closed down he volunteered for transport duty, and was posted to the Paparoa. . “I would like to mention as a New Zealander/’ said Captain Adams, “that I cannot speak too highly of the kindness - shown by the Imperial J quYhonties to our troops. Our trphps were held in the highest regard, hot only as fighting men, hut as gooddisciplined soldiers who could behave themselves on mixing with the British .people when on • leave. I feel proud -dm -bo able to say that the treatment provided for the New Zealand sick and wounded far excelled anything in the field or base hospitals.”

yoyagk,

The departure of troops from tingland in February and March was delayed owing to industrial troubles, and a little unrest was caused among all colonial troops, in their eagerness to get back home. The Paparoa eventually sailed from Glasgow on April Ist. A Highland band was engaged to play during the embarkation, and the Paparoa cast off to the strains of “Will Ye No Como Back Again the trip across the Atlantic the weather was Cold and the sea at times heavy, but nothing damped the ardour of the men.' Sports were held as well as concerts, and every * morning a regular budget of -wireless news was received. One morning, much to tho disappointment of-all, nows was received that' prohibition had. been carried in' New- Zealand by 13,000 votes, and tho following day the ballot was taken on fioartl ‘the The subsequent 'day'.‘everybody grew'brighter on the receipt of another '. wireless' message stating, that the voting had been converted into a: continuance majority of about . 1000 votes.

At Newport News all the troops were-received” with open arms by tho American naval, military, Y.M.0.A..

and civil authorities. It was impossible' to do enough for tho New - Zealand men, every facility for sightseeing being provided, and those who so desired had free living and sleeping accommodation provided ashore by the Y.M.C.A. The five days’ stay at Newport News would be an everlasting memory of the generosity of the Americans. - In tho Pedro Miguel locks, half-way through the Panama Canal, the Paparoa was bombarded with Jbundlpyqfj pqpers, etc., by the inhabitants i was the first transport to tie up at the Balboa /look.-- "On—her thing they found that tho American Red Cross and Y.M.C.A. , had provided a sit-down, dinner for all troops, and arrangements had also been made for motor transport—for .pvery soldier., , Motor-cars were placed ,at .thqjr,disposal to go to Panama, and to return them to the ship. American military police had - been detailto assist in directing any of the New Zealanders, and to see that the townspeople did not overcharge them. At 6 a.m. the nest morning the Paparoa sailed, much to the sorrow of the •troops, for as keen as they were to '.get hack home, they were sorry to leave American generosity so abruptly. -The troops had much to thank Captain Barnes, master of tho Papavqn, for...as he .made the monotonous trip-delightful by callin| in at Delapago Island and Pitcairn Island. The Pitcairn Islanders are descendants of the mutineers . of “The Mutiny .of./,,the, ..Bounty” fame. Three days later they sailed under the mountainous Ropa Island, which claims to bo colonised by the original descendants of tho Maoris. , , Captain Adams’s wife is awaiting him in Edinburgh, and he is to return there bv the Paparoa when she sans on the "return trip. His two sons, William: Edgar and George 1 otter, came-back. with him, and wid stay in Ylangaweka with relatives.