NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME
WALTOX^ON-THAMES "* V SPLENDID RECORD, i -, A MTTLE ABOUT SPAEE-TIME ACTIVITIES. - I (By E T Is. Drovv', 2nd Lieut.ena.uiV Along the banks ot the swift, silentrunning 'flumes, on graceful terraces, have arisen, as the centuries have rolled |on fine old buildings, which now stand 'as fair types of tlift solid, picturesque 1 ''homes of England." In one of these homes, in the midst of one of the most favored spots along the river, is oiiuatcd the New Zealand No 2 General Hospital, or, as it is perhaps better known, tli? Walton-on-Thames Hospital. Walton is a village seventeen miles from London It has pretty, old-fash-ioned buildings, and, after the fashion of English villages, particularly tourist resorts, is kept scrupulously clean and bright The hospital is on the edge of tbe village in a large early Victorian house, which was originally built by the Earl of Tankerville, and has since passed through various hands until at present it belongs to a Mr Crompton, from whom the New Zealand authorities rent it The building has all the roominess, comfort, and grandeur of the period, and to those excellent qualities have been added from time to time all modern conveniences.
It stands on a terrace, surrounded with ma«Diiicr-nt lawns whereon are played in season bowls and croquet; and the spacious ground which stretch away along the Thames bank, carry lofty English trees which in summer are ■a thick canopy overhead, ar.d in autumn provide beautiful vista of a gorgeous coloring The Thames inns silently immediately at the foot of the terrace, and in summer supplies endless attraction m boating and punting, both to those patients who are well enough to participate, and to those who can onlj sit quietly on tne garden-seats along tho bank and watch the ever-changing scenes The surroundings are tinjly splendid; no patient who ie able to -wander Tound can complain that nature never smiles or looks kindly- upon tlisif wounds and their sacrifices The peacefulness 01 Walton, al'tei the horrors of France, will live in jn&nv memories
The institution was firs! -rounded In August, 1915, by the.Kew Zealand War Contingent Association, for our wounded men who came to England. Enthusiastic work was done by the pioneering association. but in August, 1916. the control of the institution passed to the military authorities Bir.ee then, with the 'additional demand of the increasing casualties in France, the hospital has grown enormously The main building long ago ceased to supply sufficient accommodation , Other wards, or huts, built in light material, were added, un' til there are now eight of then, stretching for considerably more than a quarter o 1 a mile along the grounds But even this accommodation proved insufficient for rushes after "stuni.s," and so the authorities added another Duiidiu;/, known as Oflklanda, which is about three-quarters of a mile beyond Walton. The main thoroughfare between the two is a street of fashionable residences, with beautiful parks and gardens Oatlands, before Mew Zealand leased it. was used as a hotel, but in former times was built, owned, and occupied by Royalty Its grounds are almost equally fine as at Mount Feliv (the name of the main building), and the attractions as good. It is a building larger than the main hospital, with a broad frontal facade, and wings stretching back at the rear No additional huts are here; but in sumniei marquees are erected, and extra cases can be taken; though m wintei the authorities do away with this kind of accommodation, and have all patient 9 roofed Altogether, Eince the No. 2 Hospital was eatablished up to the Ist December, fourteen thousand patients had passed tluough Tha accommodation is for 1,040 patients at any one time, though it is intended to provide for 1,850
The average number oi operations performed each month has been about 180, and there have teen over the whole period only forty-six deaths A new Xray apparatus has recently been fitted, and an ophthalmic room added This hospital is the centre for the treatment of jaw and facial injuries, and to hers aro drafted all suitable cases from other hospitals The staff comprises eighteen Wedical Officers (all New Zealanclent. including specialists in different l>rar.clies of inimical and surgical science, 53 sisters, and 173 V.A.D.s (mostly Kew Zcalanders) Male orderlies, all permanently unfit men, are cut down to the miniin'.im according to the rule in our military affairs in £ngls3(l Three !chaplains administer to the spiritual liecessitiea Practically all clerical work I n done bv women, v.'iiose ranks include | several New Zealand girls.
LITTLE BIT OF HEAVJvV.. The large rooms of the main Walton building make c-apital wards. Officers occupy one wing of the building (the left)", and the men the large entrance lial) and the remaindei The front rooms on the right as you enter arc used entirely by the administrative staff. An orderly-sergeant, has quarters at the main door- -a small detail, perhaps, to the public, hut an enormous saving in time and ni interruptions to Headquarters, as he "?o;ts out" all person* making calls Besides three high roomy <vards die officers patients have at then disposal a d : ning-B''tting room, comfortable and bright, froiti which, as from the wards, French windows open out at the back on to the lawn, where bowls, and tennis, and badminton entice thaw to exercise under the spreading trees Beyond the lawn, under the trees, tents accommodate the orderly staffs when there is a demand on interior spaw. And from hereabouts is a pleasant drop down an ivy-clad bank to an did proai.-iaU'i. or tow-path, beside the Thames. In the front, of the building, intersectinc the sweeping approach or drive, and passing under the overspread.ng trees, a path loads io the outwards, proceeding thence down » broad duclvSralk the Y.M.C.A and Chi.rch hut, over a road, on a temporary bridge, and then on down the whole h «• the requisitioned grounds Off this either side of the wards, eight m number Four of Hic.'ft wards have iwls for 50 patients, and the other four accommf.lo.te 60 each, and all have baths, lavatories, and accomiiindat.on far * l ' tendants Bright and wcl ventilated, thev hav/- nothing-about tbrm of Uk old-time hospital wards. On the n<;ht. of the «luck-wafts are the kitchen, scullorv. and other centres of industry, the huteherv sterili/mg-rooni, hakehose, and laundry.' The oporntin-n-ealre dental , ciuunJjor, £-{*?. uud. >
eye, And nose specialists' rooms ara in the well lighted upper story of the main building. Cases are classified in tho wards according to injuries, and under this scheme, the medical, limbless, and chest eases arc sent to Oatlands, where leg, cases are kept 011 the ground floor to mivo ' the stair-climbing, and lung troubles are ter.d&l Li shelters oil the lawns. A GOOD TIME,
The convalescing patient is well looked after, and generally speaking has a happy time Liberal kavo is granted, which few New Zealanders abuse In tins respect more trust is shown officers and men than in the "Tommy" hospitals, and this makes our own men wish to got to 0111 institutions Organising parties to various places is the delight of many New Zealand ladies, and the War Contingent Association —London being only half an hour away—who manage, somehow, to get the wheel-chairs pushed along on such occasions. But every road or pathway around Walton and Oatlands is n, pleasant walk The village with its quaintness, and the river with its passing pleasure-boats and barges, offer endless attraction. There aro hotels, certainly, but no patient in blue, or officer with blue 'sleeve-bands, may enter a hotel.
Then, the Y.M.C.A. building has its usual attractions for the men, for whom, in the afternoons and evenings, concerts are continually held, most by the War Contingent Association. There is a cmema; and. besides this on many occasions tlis* Commanding Officer, Medical Officers, sisters, nurses, and "V.A.D.s organise gntertainments among the hospital talent, o\ run various games and indoor competitions. It is pleasant indeed to sec the blue-clothed patients, on a typical night, gathered together in the recreation-room playing games with doctors and nurses, and convalescing officers and friends who come m. Men remember these occasions Hules are definite and strictly enforced, but they are not unnecessary or harassing, and the result is this healthy brightness about the place, which is not always so at Imperial Institutions. Ove proud record is that the deathrate of those admitted to the hospital is only thr;e per thousand. SCENES YOU REMEMBER
At both institutions there are virtually the same scenes in the wards, where the men's busy fingers utilize this time of inactivity in silk monogram and other work basketmaking; and. the War Contingent is to run a room for tho instruction 01" walking cases in carpentry, cabinet-making, fret-saw work, and oilier branches of similar occupations. The greater development of this work, however, is proceeding ripidly, and will be described when 'ully under way. At Oatlands magnificent work is being done for the instruction of limbless men in five'ihoods to suit their incapacities —a work that is also told in a separate article.
Field-ambulance training 19 proceeding at Mount Felix, and once a week, for some time, lectures have been given the men by selected lecturers 011 various subiects
CULTIVATION AND Fi.TIMING Several acres are under cultivation at Oatlands. A feature is made of this work here, where there is ground good and to spare. The hospital vegetables come chiefly from this source, which is an enormous consideration these times, and also a means of education Kir the men who are employed at it Scientific agriculture is being applied ana the results carefully watched. And what more healthy exercise coiiid be desired for men? In another comer of the park 240 fowls have then run, and lay ten dozen eggs a day, and a number of ivandering ducks augment this supply Sis months ago ten rabbits were purchased—-rabbits are a rare treat during the present food shortage—stud bucks up to £5 each (tliev often run up to £SO), and in March the hutches had seventy-eight! Pigsties were receialj added to the farm, and the number of and little pigs now under observation is 27, with some reeve shortly to urrivo All these activities are to be urned to account under the scheme w instruction m farming—how to obtain a living off a small holding Many interested people visit Walton from London to see for themselves three somewhat remarkable activities of the New Zealanders.
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Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1919, Page 7
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1,737NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1919, Page 7
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