Summary

'Remembrances of War Service in the AANS - AIFC 1st World War by One of the Nursing Sisters'. Inscribed on front 'Cr Selleck Lord Mayor of Melbourne'. Francis (Frank) Palmer Selleck was Lord Mayor of Melbourne 1954-1957. The link between him and the memoir is unclear, and the author is not named.

The memoir records life of a nurse on transport ships, in hospitals and on leave. It is written in a school exercise book some time after the event - possibly even after World War II. The author was probably sister Alice Elizabeth Cocking, later Sister Williams.

With the memoir are four photographs and a postcard relating to the hospital ship 'Kanowna' in 1916; seven postcards, four photographs and one newspaper cutting relating to war nursing service in Salonica, Greece in 1918; five postcards relating to war service on the transport ship 'Miltiades'; two postcards and seven photographs of war nursing service at the 14th AG (Australian General) Hospital in Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt; and a hand-painted card featuring a poem and a desert/pyramid scene. (Note - these do not all appear to be correctly grouped under the author's original headings.)

The author begins: 'On July 17th 1915 I with 239 Nursing Sisters left Port Melbourne wharf in the transport ship 'Orsova' for Active Service Abroad. The 1st [?] left in the 'Karoola' 2 months before & were in Egypt to nurse the Gallipoli Wounded Anzacs. Besides the AANS there were on board also the 4 AMC [Army Medical Corps] Units 1000 Infantry for Egypt & the 1st & 2nd Siege Brigade Batteries Soldiers of our Permanent Army from Queenscliff [sic], Vic. Some of whom had seen active service on Thursday Island. After passing the Heads our thoughts on friends left behind we were feeling a bit homesick then of course many began to be seasick...'

She went on to work in hospital(s) in London, 'where we had our first experience of shrapnel wounds with their green septic discharge', and then served on board the 'Kanowna'. She describes an air raid in London: 'Returning with a Sister from the Lyceum Theatre we failed to catch a bus - a Police-man told us to walk up Bow St & there to Southhampton Road. Those policemen were good friends to us - we did then suddenly we saw a flash & heard a crash - I was advised to go down a cellar with many others. When we came out the city was in chaos - the firemen were out & soldiers & people thronged the streets. Fortunately I also saw 3 Australian Soldiers, they came to my aid and took me to my hotel. Sister had a similar experience. We learned afterwards that 200 were wounded & killed that night. The Bus we missed was blown to pieces.'

The diary ends with several poems, amongst which is one by Sister A.E. Williams and one by H. H. Wilson.

Description of Content

A NURSING SISTERS DIARY AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR. RECORDS LIFE OF A NURSE ON TRANSPORT SHIPS, IN HOSPITALS, ON LEAVE.

Physical Description

Exercise book with checked blue cover on white ground, and blue spine. Its cover indicates that is intended for use for school notes, and includes the words 'APPROVED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT' and a white map of Australia at top. Off-white paper inside, ruled with lines. About two-thirds written in ink.

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