A NURSE'S LETTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1915, Page 6

A NURSE'S LETTER.

"THE AWFUL WOUNDS." In writing from the 21st General Hospital, Baseltin, Alexandria, on August 14, Miss Bessie Young says in a letter to her mother,* Mrs. Young, of Cameron street, Hawera:— We are very, very btisy ai A big offensive attack has taken place evidently at Gallipoli, and the wounded are pouring in; it is heart-breaking, the awful wounds, and all septic. There is need for more nurses. We can't do all we might for the boys, but we do the best we san. For the last three days we have all been working fourteen and fifteen hours, and hard at that, and a ahip came in this morning with 2500 on board. All our beds are full now, and all cases serious. As soon as a man is well enough he is sent to England to make room for others: Oh, it is horrible! One of the officers admitted yesterday told me that Colonel Malone was killed ipstantly by the bursting of a shell. I have enquired about Major Brunt, but no one, so far, seems <to know anything about him. I don't want to blow our own trumpet, but the New Zealand nurses are the favorites with the majority of the matrons and dioctorf. Our matron has put all the New Zealand nurses in charge of wards. She says they are such splendid workers and managers, and so adaptable. A feather in our cap, isn't it? Miss McLean come to see us the other day, and said that the doctors at 'Port Said had wanted us there, but she persuaded them to leave us, as the matron said we could not be spared, and they will staff Port Said Hospital with the New Zealand nurses arriving this week. Nurses are sadly needed. I won't write about the awful sadness, for if I once gave way I feel as though I'd howl for weeks. Human imagination cannot picture what it is. Oh, pray, pray for peace! When one sees men crying in their sleep and delirium like children at 'the horror of the sights and sounds of shell and gun, it makes one feel as though one must have revenge. I feel a fury over it all at times. Writing again on August 22, Miss Young says: Things are a little easier at present. A large number of patients have gone home to England, and we are daily expecting another convoy in, but even if we have, Ahe rush won't be so terrible, I think, as we have got flye New Zealand nurse 3 off the Maheno arid six Canadians. I went to Nussa Gardens last Friday (with one of the medical officers), and they are beautiful. It was a treat to see something green again. A great irrigation scheme is carried through there. We drove from here in an Arabia, or open carriage, had afternoon tea in town, and then went out to the gardens, driving along for a short distance the banks of one of the canals which lead to the Nile. This canal was made by one of the Pharaohs, and is still used. We saw camels being driven just as we see Biblical pictures of them. After a hurried look through the gardens we drove back here, and I again went on duty at 6 pan. We did all this during my three hours off in the afternoon. I will go again some other time when I have a half-day off and'have a. good look round. Hiss McLean is going to try and arrange before she leaves for us to be taken over to the Old Country for a trip. It .will be lovely if it can lie done, hut I think it is a long way off yet, The New Zealanders and Australians are euiTpring very heavy losses in men. Sister Harris told me that she had sent some snapshots to Oolonel Malone of his three children that she had taken on bounl ship, and on the Saturday he had written thanking her for them, and saying how well and lit lie was, and hoped he would see them all scon. The next morning (Sunday) he was killed. Oh, the horror of war! Nothing can describe it sufficiently. Writing further on the 29th, Miss Young says: We have almost finished our second month here, and arc liking it very much. Ws g.fe just one hard-working, big, happy family, It is so nice to think we all get on so V/ell, for it would make things doubly hard if we did not get on with one another. This is Sunday, and lam having a lovely treat—a half-day. Did I tell you I had seen Dr. Home? Nurse Sinclair had tea with him the other afternoon. He is so thin, and is quite nervy. One could understand it after a year at that awful Peninsula.