PREVIOUS - MARCH 1918 (Visits)


FROM ABBEVILLE
29.3.18
18 nurses from No.3 Australian General Hospital, with Miss Chadwick AANS in charge.
To Rouen by No.32 Ambulance Train at 10 p.m.

21 nurses from No.2 Stationary Hospital, with Miss Lyle, TFNS, in charge.
To Etaples by Passenger Train at 8 p.m.

16 nurses (QAIMNSR) from No.1 South African General Hospital, with Miss Cooper, QAIMNSR in charge.
To Etaples by Passenger Train at 2 a.m.
55 = Total proceeded on 29.3.18 from Abbeville

30.03.18
10 nurses from No.1 South African General Hospital with Miss Blinck, SAMNS in charge.
To Boulogne by Passenger Train at 12.40 p.m.

16 nurses from No.2 Stationary Hospital with Miss E. T. Fergusson, CHR in charge.
To Havre by No.39 Ambulance Train at 12.30 p.m.

10 nurses from No.2 Stationary Hospital with Miss H. Porteous, TFNS in charge.
To Boulogne by passenger train at 8 p.m.
36 = Total proceeded on 30.3.18 from Abbeville.

31.03.18
10 nurses from 3 Australian General Hospital, with Miss Howard, AANS in charge.
To Boulogne by passenger train at 2 a.m.

10 nurses from 3 Australian General Hospital, with Mrs. Stobo, AANS in charge.
To Boulogne by passenger train at 6 a.m.

10 nurses from No.1 South African General Hospital, with Miss E. Buyers, SAMNS in charge.
To Rouen by passenger train at 4 a.m.

10 nurses from No.1 South African General Hospital, with Miss J. Child, SAMNS in charge.
To Rouen by passenger train at 10 a.m.
40 = total proceeded from Abbeville on 31.3.18.

131 = Total proceeding from Abbeville area

FROM TREPORT
30.03.18
15 nurses from No.3 General Hospital.
To Rouen by Ambulance Train in early morning.

15 nurses from 47 General Hospital.
To Rouen by Ambulance Train in early morning.

15 nurses from No.3 General Hospital.
To Havre by No.41 Ambulance Train at night.

15 nurses from No.47 General Hospital.
To Havre by No.41 Ambulance Train at night.
60 = Total proceeded from Treport area.



3rd Army
Ytres – No.48 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss Ruck, TFNS)
21.3.18: Shelled from 4 a.m. onwards. No shells fell on the camp until 7 a.m. when the electric light station was hit. Heavy convoys arrived all day. Hospital evacuated at 9 p.m. and nursing staff proceeded by car to Edgehill (56 CCS) at 10 p.m.
22.3.18: Staff remained at 56 CCS.
23.3.18: Orders received to proceed to Abbeville to the Nurses’ Home, where they arrived on Saturday night. Staff of 13 subsequently re-posted to the Treport area.

Edgehill – No.56 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss A. M. Phillips, QAIMNS).
21.3.18: Very heavy convoys arriving – 5 surgical teams working. Nursing staffs from 45 and 49 CCS arrived and later 48 CCS.
22.3.18: 6 and 7 tables going in the theatre. Staff of 3 CCS arrived and set up a dressing station for walking wounded.
23.3.18: Equipment from 48 CCS arrived and an attempt was made to set up another CCS when orders were received for all patients and staff to be evacuated. Nursing staff of 12 proceeded to Abbeville. Subsequently posted to the Treport area.

Grevillers – No.3 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss W. M. Gedye, QAIMNS)
21.3.18: Very heavy shelling began at 5 a.m. – heavy and continual theatre work all day.
22.3.18: Orders were received at 6 p.m. for half the staff to proceed to 56 CCS and half to No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Doullens.
23.3.18: The party of 6 from 56 CCS received orders to proceed to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville, where they arrived 11 p.m. Subsequently posted to other Base Hospitals.

Grevillers – No.29 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss F. M. Rice, TFNS)
21.3.18: District heavily shelled; very heavy convoys.
22.3.18: Staff ordered to proceed to No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital.
26.3.18: Miss Rice and 6 of her staff to proceed to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville, with remainder of No.3 CCS staff.
27.3.18: Arrived Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently re-posted to the Boulogne area.

Achiet-le-Grand – No.49 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss Cardozo, TFNS)
21.3.18: District in which CCS was situated came under heavy shell fire – huts and tents penetrated by pieces of shell – no casualties. Patients evacuated to 3 CCS (Grevillers) by 9 a.m. More patients admitted during the day. Staff and patients proceeding to 3 CCS at 8 p.m. by car. From there orders received to continue to 56 CCS, arriving 10.30 p.m.
22.3.18: Staff working at 56 CCS in wards and theatre.
23.3.18: Orders received to leave for Abbeville by No.20 Ambulance Train, arriving 11 p.m. Staff subsequently re-posted to the Treport area.

No.45 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss Pool, TFNS)
21.3.18: District shelled – CCS evacuated and nursing staff received orders to proceed – half to 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens, and the remainder to 56 CCS (Edgehill).
23.3.18: The party of 6 nurses from 56 CCS received orders to proceed to the Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently re-posted to the Boulogne area.

Maricourt: No.38 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss Greaves, QAIMNSR Australia).
22.3.18: Staff of 17 (including 2 team Sisters) reported from Amiens. CCS re-opened.
23.3.18: Heavy and continual bombardment. Patients arriving in large numbers. Orders received to be ready to evacuated at any moment. Continued working all night.
24.3.18: Left at 5.45 a.m. by Ambulance for Amiens, and finally arrived at Nurses’ Home, Abbeville at 11 a.m.
25.3.18: Staff received orders to report to 38 CCS on new site at Corbie. Hospital full on arrival.
Corbie:
26.3.18: Orders received to evacuate patients by Ambulance Train. Staff proceeded by car to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Bridges being blown up behind them. Arrived Abbeville 11 p.m. Subsequently re-posted to Base Hospitals.

Agnes-les-Duisans: No.8 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss M. A. Dunn, TFNS)
27.03.18: Nursing staff orders to proceed to No.6 Stationary Hospital, Frevent.

No.19 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss C. E. Bray, QAIMNS)
27.3.18: Nursing staff of 14 ordered to proceed to 6 Stationary Hospital, Frevent.
29.3.18: Staff ordered to proceed to Abbeville, and were subsequently re-posted to No.4 CCS at Pont Remy (5th Army).

No.43 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss Laing, TFNS)
23.24.25/3.18: Shelled on and off every night.
26.3.18: Nursing staff ordered to proceed to 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens.
31.3.18: Unit re-opened at Frevent, and staff ordered to join.

Frevent:
No.6 Stationary Hospital: (A/Matron: Miss S. Daly, QAIMNS)
This unit is still open and has been doing very heavy work. The nursing staff have been reinforced by Sisters from various units in the 3rd Army, which have closed. Under instructions from DGMS the VAD members on the staff have been posted to Base Hospitals. The district has been bombed constantly, but no one hurt.

Doullens:
No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital: (Matron: Miss E. Wilson, CAMC)
This unit is still open and has been doing very heavy work. The nursing staff of 37 CCS Sisters have been reinforced by Sisters from CCS in the 3rd Army which have closed down. In addition, 12 CCS Sisters from 2 Canadian General Hospital have now been sent. The district has been bombed continually, but no-one hurt.

5th Army
Tincourt:
No.5 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss K. C. Todd, TFNS)
20.3.18: Took in wounded all night.
21.3.18: Orders received at 8 a.m. to close down the hospital. Patients evacuated by Ambulance Train. Heavy shelling – a stretcher bearer loading the train was wounded. Sisters left by car at 1 p.m. for 34 CCS (Marchelpot). Shrapnel falling in the camp and Sisters’ compound. Half the staff sent to 32 CCS and the remainder to 34 CCS.
23.3.18: Orders to evacuate 34 CCS. Staff of 5 CCS proceeded with 34 CCS by goods train.
24.3.18: Transferred to Ambulance Train at Villers Bretonneux, and arrived at Abbeville that night. Reported to the Nurses’ Home. Subsequently posted to Base Hospitals.

No.55 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss D. P. Foster, TFNS)
21.3.18: Wakened by heavy barrage. Message received that the CCS was closing. Shells falling near the camp – everything packed. Sisters left by car for (Marchelpot) 32 and 34 CCS at 6 p.m.
22.3.18: Worked at 32 CCS – hospital overflowing.
23.3.18: Shelled and bombed – no transport available for evacuation. Patients loaded on to trucks and an Ambulance Train. Staff left by care for Amiens at 6 p.m. Amiens being bombed on arrival.
24.3.18: Journey continued to Abbeville, arriving in the early morning. Reported to the Nurses’ Home. Subsequently posted to the Boulogne and Etaples area.

Marchelpot
No.34 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss J. Taggart, CHR)
21.3.18: Large numbers of patients admitted, both wounded and gassed. Sisters from 5 and 55 CCS arrived, with team Sisters, making total staff of 40.
22.3.18: Work very heavy.
23.3.18: Sisters ordered to proceed to Villers Bretonneux by goods train at 4.30 p.m. Patients evacuated by Ambulance Train shortly after.
24.3.18: Proceeded from Villers Bretonneux by Ambulance Train to the Nurses’ Home, Abbeville, arriving 7 p.m. Subsequently posted to Etaples area.

No.32 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss K. Luard, ANSR)
21.3.18: Bombardment began – wounded admitted in large numbers. Sisters from 5 and 55 CCS (Tincourt) arrived. 4 teams arrived from Treport and worked all night.
22.3.18: Hospital overflowing.
23.3.18: Field Ambulances out of action – no more wounded arriving. CCS closed. 40 Sisters left by A.T. at 6 p.m. for 42 Stationary Hospital, Amiens. Hospital being shelled at the time.
24.3.18: Proceeded from Amiens to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently posted to Base Hospitals.

Noyon
No.46 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss A. Duncan, CHR)
21.3.18: Staff of Advanced Operating Theatre reported. Work very heavy.
22.3.18 and 23.3.18: Over 7000 patients passed through.
24.3.18: Orders received for staff to proceed to 42 Stationary Hospital, Amiens, by car – afterwards cancelled.
25.3.18: Sisters left for Amiens by car at 8.30 a.m. and from there proceeded to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently re-posted to Boulogne area.

Abbecourt
Advanced Operating Centre: (Sister i/c: Miss Meeke, QAIMNSR)
21.3.18: Operating Centre evacuated under shell fire. Staff reported at 8.30 a.m. to No.46 CCS (Noyon).
22/23/24.3.18: Staff working at 46 CCS.
25.3.18: Left by car for Amiens to report to the Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently posted to Etaples area.

Cugny
No.41 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss Cooper, QAIMNSR)
20.3.18: Heavy bombardment began in the evening.
21.3.18: Told to prepare for gas attack. CCS closed. Patients and staff sent by car to 61 CCS (Ham). Road being shelled. From 61 CCS Miss Cooper and 5 of staff proceeded by lorry to Nesle and then by train to Amiens. Remainder of staff were picked up by OC and taken by lorry to Roye (50 CCS).
23.3.18: Miss Cooper and party arrived at Nurses’ Home – posted to Base Hospitals.
27.3.18: Remainder of staff arrived at Nurses’ Home – posted to Base Hospitals.

Ham
No.61 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss Baird, QAIMNSR)
21.3.18: Heavy shelling – patients and staff from 41 CCS arrived.
22.3.18: Sister Baird and staff of 20 orders to proceed to No.47 CCS.
23.3.18: Miss Baird and 5 of the Sisters left by DMS orders to form a rest station at Villers Bretonneux.
25.3.18: The remainder of the staff left for the Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently posted to Base Hospitals.

Rozieres
No.47 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss H. M. Fergusson, TFNS)
22.3.18: 20 Sisters from 61 CCS arrived. Work very heavy.
23.3.18: 4 theatre teams going – patients still being admitted in large numbers.
24.3.18: Received orders to pack ready for evacuation – 2000 patients in hospital.
25.3.18: Left at 10 p.m. by ambulance for Amiens to report to 42 Stationary Hospital.
27.3.18: Proceeded to Abbeville, arriving 5 p.m. Subsequently posted to Rouen area.

Roye
No.50 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss M. A. Dunn, TFNS)
21-25.3.18: Continual bombardment – heavy work.
25.3.18: Hospital evacuated – staff proceeded in cars to another site further back.
26.3.18: CCS re-opened (Harlicourt)
27.3.18: Worked till midnight when hospital was again evacuated and staff proceeded by 17 Ambulance Train to Havre, where they were distributed.

No.53 CCS: (Sister i/c: Miss J. Gray, TFNS)
25.3.18: Hospital evacuated and staff left in cars for new site.
26.3.18: CCS re-opened (Harlicourt).
27.3.18: Worked till midnight when unit was again evacuated and staff proceeded by 17 Ambulance Train to Havre, where they were distributed.

Gailly
No.41 CCS: (A/Matron: Miss Badger, QAIMNSR)
26.3.18: Received orders to proceed to Amiens to take over No.42 Stationary Hospital. Arrived at Amiens – continual bombing.
27.3.18: Bombing continued – received orders to evacuated hospital. 2 Sisters slightly wounded whilst walking to their billets. Miss Badger and 14 of staff proceeded to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. The remainder were taken on 17 Ambulance Train to Rouen. Miss Badger’s party were subsequently posted to St. Omer area.

Amiens
No.42 Stationary Hospital: (A/Matron: Miss C. W. Jones, QAIMNS)
26.3.18: Bombed continually. Orders received to evacuate all patients. Sisters from CCS in the 5th Army arriving. No.41 Stationary Hospital arrived to take over. Received orders for nursing staff to proceed to the Nurses’ Home, Abbeville, by ambulance and to leave the 5th Army Sisters. Proceeded the same evening by No.11 Ambulance Train. Subsequently re-posted to Treport and Havre areas.



Establishments opened
No.74 General Hospital, on 30.3.18: Staff supplied – 30
No.36 CCS, on 2.3.18: Staff supplied – 5
6 Ambulance Barges, on 26.3.18: Staff supplied – 12
Total - 47 Trained, 26 VAD

Establishments closed
Advanced Operating Centre attached 54 CCS, on 27.3.18: Staff released – 3
20 CCS, on 17.3.18: Staff released – 11
3 CCS, on 22.3.18: Staff released – 15
5 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 16
8 CCS, on 27.3.18: Staff released – 17
12 CCS, on 19.3.18: Staff released – 10
17 CCS, on 19.3.18: Staff released – 11
18 CCS, on 25.3.18: Staff released – 10
19 CCS, on 27.3.18: Staff released – 14
29 CCS, on 22.3.18: Staff released – 17
32 CCS, on 23.3.18: Staff released – 20
34 CCS, on 23.3.18: Staff released – 20
41 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 18
43 CCS, on 9.3.18: Staff released – 20
45 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 18
46 CCS, on 25.3.18: Staff released – 26
48 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 16
49 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 14
55 CCS, on 21.3.18: Staff released – 15
50 CCS, on 25.3.18: Staff released – 16
56 CCS, on 23.3.18: Staff released – 11
Advanced Op. Centre, 5th Army, on 23.3.18: Staff released – 6
41 Stationary Hospital, on 27.3.18: Staff released – 32
42 Stationary Hospital, on 26.3.18: Staff released – 29 and 11 VADs
Total – 385 Trained, 11 VADs

Overseas units closed
No.2 Australian CCS, on 11.3.18: Staff released – 15
No.8 Canadian Stationary Hospital, on 26.3.18: Staff released – 26
Total – 41

Overseas units closed and re-opened
No.2 Canadian CCS: Closed 19.3.18: Re-opened 28.3.18.
No.3 Canadian CCS: Closed 19.3.18: Re-opened 28.3.18

Arrivals
Trained – 68
VADs – 114
Total – 182
N.B. 98 American nurses arrived for duty in British units on 26.2.18 and their arrival was reported too late to be included in last month’s diary.

Sent home sick
Trained – 5
VADs – 7

Returned from sick leave
Trained – 17
VADs – 11

Total at present sick in England
Trained – 85
VADs – 58

Resignations sent forward
Trained – 15 (including 5 for marriage; 6 to join CAMC)

Transfers to Home Establishment
Trained – 4

Approximate No. of leaves granted
To the United Kingdom – 417
To South of France – 107 (of which 65 Overseas)
To Paris – 61 (of which 50 Overseas)
Elsewhere in France – 24 (all Canadians)
Total – 609

Marriage
Miss G. A. Rees, VAD – married name, Mrs. Goodall.

VADs returned to England
Resigned – 6 (1 on account of marriage)
Termination of contract – 13 (2 on account of marriage)
Transferred to Home Establishment – 1
Invalided – 1
Total – 21

Casualties
Killed Sister E. Andrews, TFNS at 58 CCS on 21.3.18 by a bomb.

Wounded
Sister K. Maxey, TFNS at 58 CCS on 21.3.18., multiple bomb wounds.
Res. Nurse I. Stambaugh, USANC at 42 Stationary Hospital (team duty) on 27.3.18 – slight shrapnel wound – leg.
Nursing Sister M. Patterson, CAMC at 42 Stationary Hospital (team duty) on 27.3.18 – slight shrapnel wound – leg.

Units bombed or shelled
In addition to the units in the 3rd and 5th Armies (see previous pages) which were shelled, the following areas were also bombed or shelled during the month:
Remy Siding (Nos.10 and 17, 2 and 3 Canadian CCS’s) shelled on 17.3.18 – staffs removed.
St. Pol (12 Stationary Hospital) shelled and bombed frequently between 21-31st March.
No.58 CCS bombed on 21.3.18 – 1 Sister killed and 1 wounded.
Frevent (6 Stationary Hospital) bombed on several nights.
Amiens (42 Stationary Hospital) frequently and heavily bombed from 21st onwards.
Boulogne area particularly heavily bombed on night of 24th – no casualties to nursing staff.
St. Omer bombed on most moonlight nights.
Calais bombed on several occasions.
Etaples bombed on several occasions.

CAMC
Total No. of CAMC transferred to England – 36
Total No. of CAMC arrived in France – 35
Total No. of CAMC now in the country – 725 on L of C, 97 in Front areas.

AANS
Total No. of AANS transferred to England – 6
Total No. of AANS arrived in France – 5
Total No. of AANS now in the country – 447

Total requirements of Nurses in the BEF according to War Establishments on Lines of Communication, including Stationary Hospitals in the Front areas:
Trained nurses - 2221
VADs, etc. – 1703

Total requirements in Front area (i.e. CCS, Field Ambulance, Trains, Barges, etc.)
Trained nurses – 377

Total requirements in BEF
Trained nurses – 2598
VADs, etc. – 1727

Shortage (Trained nurses) – 182

Grand total in BEF (including Overseas and Americans)
Trained nurses – 4814
VADs, etc. – 3032*
*includes 487 General Service VADs working in Military Units.

BRCS returns
Received from Commissioner, BRCS monthly return of BRCS nurses in France – Trained nurses 311, VADs 679, General Service VADs 503.