Same as yesterday. I receive letters from Sophie of “The Gables”, Wylde Green, Birmingham, Harry and Aunt Louise of Leicester. Aunt Louise sends me a bunch of grapes and some pears.
Sunday 17 January 1915 fine
Up at 5:30 as usual. No attention to my eye. Visitors call in afternoon. A Mrs. Isobel M Burrows of Oxford asks me to tea at 4:30 pm Tuesday
I have to decline as the hospital hours are from 2 till 5 pm.
Saturday 16 January 1915 fine
Up as usual. No dressing is given to my eye. Am getting “fed up”
Friday 15 January 1915 – fine
We are quartered in the Examining Hall of the Oxford University. Certainly a fine building. Paintings and carvings etc; feeling very strange and would give anything to be out of it. The nurses are territorials and not as nice as those in France. Some bad cases here; Arms and legs off etc; Have notified Harry, Ernest, Mrs George Draycot and Mrs Joseph Draycot (of Seagrave). In afternoon at 3 pm a theatrical company entertain the patients. I converse with the actresses. The hours in hospital are – up at 6 am (but nurses commence to wash patients at 5 am). Breakfast at 8 am. Dinner at 12 noon. Tea at 4:30 pm. Cocoa at 7 pm. Lights out 9 pm.
Wrote a letter to Captain Adamson Officer Commanding Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Winchester regarding new serge puttees, a new cap and trousers for Private White and self
*Territorial Force Nursing Service – Formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act. This group of nurses was intended to serve the Territorial Force (British volunteer reserve forces). During times of peace the nurses of the TFNS worked in civilian capacities but were quickly mobilized at the outbreak of WWI. The TFNS nurses were initially intended to only stay at military hospitals in the UK but some volunteers did travel overseas with the British Expeditionary Force.
Thursday 14 January 1915 – fine
Feeling very sick and unwell. Headache. Nurses are very kind and considerate. The ships Company give all the sick some tobacco and cigarettes and a photo of the ship. We land at Southampton at 7:30 am. A patient died on board at 7 am. Hard luck. Waited around until 10:30 am until taken off the boat for a hospital at Oxford. Arrive at Oxford and driven to hospital in motor cars, Landau’s etc; Oh! You higher ups!
Wednesday 13 January 1915 – rain
Left Rouen Stationary Hospital at 8:30 am for train to Havre where we arrive at 2:30 pm and sailed on the Carisbrooke Castle (Hospital Ship) for England at 7 pm. One man died during the voyage. No sleep during the night.
Tuesday 12 January 1915 – rain
Stayed at Rouen Stationary Hospital all day. Rain.
Monday 11 January 1915
Arrive at Rouen at 7 am. Taken in trams to the No. 3 Stationary Hospital. A hospital all under canvas. No sleep for pain.
*Rouen – The town of Rouen was used as a supply base during WWI as well as a location for military hospitals; No. 3 Stationary Hospital was run by Canadians.
Sunday 10th January 1915 – fine
At 9 o’clock we are again put in motor wagons and conveyed to the Hospital train bound for Boulogne and Rouen. We come down to the base hospital in 1st Class Sleeping carriages. Good attention is shown us at Boulogne by English ladies who give chocolate, fruit and cigarettes. No French sympathy shown throughout but expect this is on account of having troubles of their own. Travel all night but no sleep.
Saturday 9 January 1915 – Rain
Left the temporary hospital here at Dickebush and taken in motor wagons to Bailleul. Here, I inoculated and go through awful agony. At night I cannot sleep and my breathing comes in painful gasps.
