A Story of the Work

of the

Friends’

A m b u la n c e Unit* 9 ■

By Geoffrey Winthrop Young.

O c t 1914—April, 1915.

V i e w o f C a m p a t J o r d a n s .

A Story of the Work of the Friends’ Ambulance Unit.

T h e w o rk o f th e F r ie n d s ’ U n it is a lre a d y one of th e in s ti tu tio n s o f th e E u ro p e a n W a r . I t h a s secu red th e con fidence , an d c o m m en d a tio n , o f th e M ili ta ry A u th o r itie s of th re e co u n tr ie s , b o th in th e field a n d a t h o m e . A nd it h a s g a in ed i ts u n iq u e p o sitio n a m o n g v o lu n ta ry u n its b y none of th e u su a l social o r in f lu en tia l ch an n e ls . I t h a s b een a s s is te d b y no d e c o ra tiv e o r s e n sa tio n a l p e rso n a litie s . I t h a s h a rd ly been m en tio n ed in th e P re s s . O n th e c o n tra ry , it h a s h ad to m ak e its w ay a g a in s t th e in ev itab le m ili ta ry m isu n d e rs ta n d in g of p r in c ip le s su ch as p re v e n t a la rg e an d co n sp icu o u s co lle c tio n of s tro n g y o u n g m en from en lis tin g ; a g a in s t th e je a lo u s ie s o f m o re so c ia lly p ro m in en t, b u t le ss w ell o rg an ised , u n i t s ; a g a in s t th e c o ld -sh o u ld e rin g a n d su sp ic io n w h ich m u s t a lw ay s su rro u n d th e e ffo rts o f an y n o n -m ilita ry and p h ila n th ro p ic u n d e r ta k in g , s tro n g en o u g h to force its w ay in to th e a tm o sp h e re of fea r, d e a th an d n e c e ssa ry d is re g a rd of in d iv id u a l su ffe ring su c h a s c h a ra c te r iz e a w ar zone ; w h e re c iv ilisa tio n is dead , ev e ry m o tiv e is su s p e c t, a n d m en a re b u t c u n n in g to k ill.

I t h a s w on its p osition b y th e co u rag e , ta c t an d p a tie n c e o f its O fficers in reco g n isin g an d se iz in g o p p o rtu n it ie s o f se rv ice an d in e s ta b lish in g co rd ia l re la tio n sh ip s w ith officia ls o f a ll c la sses an d of th re e races , a n d b y th e d isc ip line , goodw ill, se lf-a b n e g a tio n , a n d u n w e a ry in g w o rk of its y o u n g m en .

T h e s to ry of its in cep tio n a n d g ro w th is a ro m an ce in itse lf. P e rh a p s I can re p ro d u c e it b e s t in th e few p ic tu re s in w h ich it re m a in s in m y ow n m em o ry .

T h e firs t is in m y lib ra ry in L o n d o n , in a few d a y s ’ re s t fro m m y ow n w ork a t th e fro n t. P h il ip J . B a k e r , m y c lim b in g co m p an io n in th e m o u n ta in s , th e V ic e -P r in c ip a l of R u sk in C o llege a t O x fo rd , an d k n o w n — an d n o t o n ly to u s C am b rid g e m e n — a s a P re s id e n t o f th e U n io n , a W h e w e ll L a w S ch o la r , a n d a w o rld -fam o u s a th le te , w hose fo rce of c h a ra c te r did m ore to ra ise th e position of ru n n in g a s a sp o r t th a n th a t o f an y m a n in re c e n t y ea rs , c am e to te ll m e o f th e d ifficu lties in w h ich m an y y o u n g F r ie n d s found th e m se lv e s , o w in g to th e con flic t b e tw e e n p rin c ip le an d th e call o f co u n try to do som e se rv ic e in th e w a r, a n d o f h is in te n tio n to fo rm th e m in to a tr a in e d A m b u la n c e C o rp s. I cou ld a t th e tim e ho ld o u t li t t le p ro sp e c t o f a n o p p o r tu n ity fo r co llec tiv e w o rk in W e s te rn E u ro p e .

M an y w eeks la te r I w as b a c k a g a i n ; a n d w h ile d r iv in g dow n a leafy , a u tu m n , B u c k in g h a m ­sh ire lan e I p a sse d a n o tic e a b ly a th le tic - lo o k in g tro o p o f y o u n g m en sw in g in g a lo n g in th e rh y th m of a long tr a m p . T h e sp r in g in g s te p o f th e le a d e r seem ed fa m ilia r , an d L a u re n c e J . C a d b u ry s to p p ed to te ll m e of th e p ro g re ss m ad e in th e in te rv a l ; of th e c a m p a t Jo rd a n s , th e p ra c tic e w o rk on bo y sco u ts , th e n ig h t m a rc h e s a n d o p en -a ir c h illy b iv o u a c s ; o f th e w eariso m e n e g o tia tio n s to secu re w o rk w ith th e a rm ie s , an d of th e p o ss ib le d e p a r tu re for S e rv ia .

A g a in an in te rv a l ; a n d I v is ite d th e m a t th e Jo rd a n s C a m p . T h e p ic tu re is u n fa d in g in m em o ry . T h e rise a n d fall o f th e g re e n u p la n d fields in th a t m o s t t r a n q u il o f E n g lish la n d sc a p e s . C re s tin g th e h ills a n d sh ad o w in g th e d eep la n e s th e w oods o f b eech , c o p p e r a n d go ld en w ith a u tu m n an d w h ite w ith th e rim e of f r o s t ; th e peacefu l li t t le re d -b ric k Jo rd a n s M e e tin g -h o u se ; befo re it th e sm a ll g ra v e s to n e s o f fo rm er F r ie n d s — W illia m P e n n , th e fo u n d e r o f P e n n s y lv a n ia , an d h is fam ily , am o n g o th e r s — b eh in d , u n d e r th e tre e s , th e c a n v a s sc re e n o f th e c a m p w a sh in g p lace filled w ith th e la u g h te r a n d n o isy sp la sh in g of th e y o u n g g e n e ra tio n . A nd a lo n g th e b ro w of th e h ill a b o v e , w h ite a g a in s t th e a u tu m n tre e s a n d lo ok ing o u t o v e r th e fa ll of w oods a t th e red , m is ty su n se t, th e te n ts a n d c a m p fires, w ith th e q u ick ly -m o v in g fig u res en g ag ed in th e m an ifo ld o c c u p a tio n s of c a m p life. T h e c o n tra s t w ith th e c lam o ro u s sq u a lid c irc u m s ta n c e an d u g ly s e t t in g of th e w a r a re a in w h ich I h ad been liv in g w as in d esc rib a b le a n d a lm o s t p o ig n a n t. B u t y e t th is tra in in g , a s fo re ign in its c h a ra c te r

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a s in its su r ro u n d in g s to th e a c tu a l d em an d s of m o d e rn w a rfa re , fo rm ed a bo n d of w ork a n d a tra d it io n of re la tio n sh ip w h ich h a v e b ro u g h t th e b an d of y o u n g F r ie n d s th ro u g h th e in f in ite d ifficu lties of e s ta b lish in g th e ir position a t th e fro n t, s tro n g a g a in s t e x te rn a l d is a p p o in tm e n ts a n d o p p o s itio n , an d , ab o v e a ll, se cu re a g a in s t th e in te rn a l d isco rd s th a t h a v e spo iled th e w o rk of m a n y v o lu n ta ry o rg an isa tio n s u n d e r th e s tre s s a n d n e rv e - te n s io n of th e w a r a tm o sp h e re .

Y et a n o th e r p ic tu re : th a t o f re -c ro ss in g th e C h an n e l, a li t t le la te r , b a c k to m y ow n w o rk , w ith A llan R . B a k e r , a s in g le , r a th e r lone ly fig u re s ta r t in g off in to th e in te r io r o f F ra n c e a t w a r to find th a t m u ch -d es ired o p p o r tu n ity o f peace w o rk fo r th e t r a in e d b an d .

I t cam e fro m a n o th e r q u a r te r , so o n er th a n cou ld be ex p ec ted . O n e of th e h itc h e s in e v ita b le in th e m o v em en t of w ar m a c h in e ry m e t m e on lan d in g . T h e s ig h t of th o u s a n d s o f w o u n d ed B e lg ian s p o u rin g b ack w ith b u t li t t le p ro v is io n for th e ir h o u s in g o r t r a n s p o r t , c am e as an o v e rw h e lm in g , in fin ite ly p a in fu l p ro o f th a t h e re lay w ork c lose a t h a n d . T h e F r ie n d s ’ C o m m itte e , fo rm ed in th e

H e a d q u a r t e r s a t D u n k i r k (o n t h e r i g h t o f t h e p i c t u r e ) ,

w i t h F l e e t o f M o t o r A m b u l a n c e s .

m ean w h ile to tak e th e re sp o n s ib ility for th e U n it a t hom e, a n d em b o d y in g n a m e s th a t re p re se n te d m ost of th e in f lu en tia l e lem en ts in th e F r ie n d s ’ C o m m u n ity , co u rag eo u s ly t r u s te d u s for th e v e n tu re . In less th a n a w eek , by ex cep tio n a l ex e rtio n s , th e li t t le b a n d w as read y to s ta r t , m a n y a t th e ca ll o f th e te le g ra p h a n d w ith o u t tim e to ta k e le av e of th e ir fam ilie s . O n a d u ll F r id a y e v e n in g in O c to b e r som e 40 m en a n d 8 a m b u la n c e s s ta r te d by ro ad an d ra il, a n d a sse m b le d fo r th e ir la s t n ig h t in E n g la n d a t a sm a ll S e a m e n ’s R e s t on th e S o u th C o ast. I t w as a v e r i ta b le sm a ll p ilg rim ag e . U n ­c e rta in w h e th e r w o rk w ould be g iv en it, w ith o u t p ro sp e c t of lodg ing , w ith o u t “ in f lu e n c e ” to s ta r t o r rece iv e it. H . W . N ev in so n , th e w e ll-k n o w n w r ite r , w ho jo in e d u s for a few w eeks, an d m yself, a lone p ro v id ed a lin k w ith th e a c tu a l w a r c o n d itio n s .

A d v e n tu re m e t u s a t th e v e ry g a te w a y of b e g in n in g . H a rd ly h ad w e s ta r te d , in th e g rey of ea rly m o rn in g , w h en a D e s tro y e r ro a red p a s t u s a t e x p re ss sp eed in to th e m is t. A n d a l i tt le la te r w e saw th a t m o s t tra g ic o f a ll sp ec tac le s , th e end o f a g re a t sh ip . T h e “ H e r m e s ” h a d ju s t b een to rp e d o e d ; an d in th e g re y lig h t, on a g re y oily sea , w ith n o su g g e s tio n of s tr ife , w e h ad to w a tc h th e

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g ra d u a l d is a p p e a ra n c e for all tim e of th e g re a t g re y v esse l, w h o se b eau tifu l lin es re p re se n te d th e p e rfec tio n o f h u m a n sk ill, an d co n ta in ed so m u ch of h u m a n hope a n d h u m a n a c h ie v e m e n t in d isc ip lin e and o rg an isa tio n .

O u r bo y s m an n ed an d low ered th e b o a ts , an d for som e h o u rs w o rk ed sav in g life over a w ide su rface of tro u b led g rey w av es . O th e rs , s lu n g on lines o v e r th e s id e , p u lled u p th e re scu ed . O th e r s w ith th e d o c to rs lab o u red a t re s to r in g life to th e e x h a u s te d an d a p p a re n tly d row ned . T h e y w ere successfu l in all b u t a few cases . T o m an y of th e m th is m u s t h av e com e as th e ir f irs t s ig h t of d e a th ; d e a th v io len t, c au se le ss , fu tile , su d d en ly o u t of th e m is t, a n d o n ly a few m iles rem o v ed from th e s till p eacefu l E n g lish a tm o sp h e re .

W e p u t b ack w ith th e su rv iv o rs , a n d on ly rea c h e d D u n k irk la te in th e ev en in g , an d tired . B u t th e re w as to be no re s t, w e w ere o u t fo r w ork , and it w as to co m e, ch a n g in g , in s is te n t.

A n o th e r of th e g a p s th a t seem in e v ita b le in w ar, w h en th e c u m b ro u s m a c h in e ry of re scu e an d re p a ir can on ly w a it slow a tte n d a n c e up o n th e f lu c tu a tin g m o v e m e n ts o f th e m ac h in e ry of d e s tru c tio n , w aited u s on th e b usy q u a y s . F ro m a g re a t an d co s tly s tru g g le a t th e fro n t th e F re n c h w o u n d ed w ere p o u rin g b ack in th o u sa n d s . In th e ir slow a n d pa in fu l p a ssa g e , b y ra il a n d sh ip , upon w h ich th e c la im s of th e e ffec tive so ld ie rs m u s t a lw a y s ta k e p reced en ce of th o se of th e no lo n g er se rv iceab le , th o u sa n d s w ere b e in g b locked in th e ra ilw a y sh ed s , ly in g u n a tte n d e d u n til th e i r tu rn cam e to be sh ip p ed fu r th e r b ack to w h ere th e y no lo n g e r e n c u m b e re d th e fig h tin g zo n e , a n d w h e re th e ir w o u n d s co u ld be a t la s t seen to .

I t is im p o ssib le to d e sc rib e th e h o rro rs o f s ig h t, o f so u n d , o f sm ell, w ith w h ich o u r lad s fresh from h o m e b eg an th e s tru g g le on th is th e i r f irs t n ig h t, a n d w ith o u t s le ep . I n h a lf d a rk n e s s , in th e

H e a d q u a r t e r s ’ O f f i c e a t D u n k i r k , F r a n c e , H o t e l d u K u r s a a l .

L . B . M a x w e l l , A d ju ta n t. P h i l i p J . B a k e r , C om m andant.

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in d e sc rib a b le s ten ch of o ld w o u n d s, a m o n g a lw ay s fre sh h u n d re d s o f s h a t te re d re m n a n ts o f h u m a n beings , h e a p e d on th e floor in d e lir iu m , co m a a n d d e a th . T ire le s s ly th e y w o rk ed on , a t firs t co n tin u o u sly , an d th e n in sh ifts . A few su ffered from a c tu a l p h y sica l n a u se a , b u t th e re w as n ev e r a w ord th a t su g g e s te d a n y th in g b u t ch ee rfu l, q u ie t a c c e p ta n c e of th e d u ty . G ra d u a lly th e m ach in e ry of a rm ie s fo llow ed u s up . T h e sh ed s w ere p ro p e rly reo rg a n ise d , th e re g u la r S e rv ice -p eo p le to o k o u r p lace . T h e need for o u r w ork d im in ish ed , a n d in a few w eek s o u r m en w ere se t free a g a in to ta k e up som e new ta sk .

B u t th e in tro d u c tio n to w a r-n eed s in th e sh ed s show ed u s w h a t sh o u ld b e th e g u id in g p rin c ip le o f o u r w o rk : to be a t h an d to s tep in to th e g a p s a s th e y op en ed , to be e la s tic , an d p re p a re d to in itia te a n d u n d e r ta k e an y b ig ta s k a t an y m o m en t, a n d to be re a d y to su r re n d e r it a g a in a s th e s low er, m ore co m p le te , official m a c h in e ry m oved u p to re p lace u s an d re liev e us.

O u t e r O f f i c e , D u n k i r k .

A s s is ta n t A d ju ta n ts (le ft to right) : R . L . L l o y d , M . S t a n s f i e l d , T . B . I s m a y .

In th e co u rse of th is w o rk th e d o c to rs a n d m en d ressed o v er th re e th o u s a n d w o u n d ed m en in th e sh ed s a lone .

A t th e sam e tim e o th e r sq u a d s took o v e r th e ch a rg e of s u p e r in te n d in g th e lo ad in g o f th e w ounded in to th e H o s p ita l sh ip s. F o r th is th e m en rece iv ed th e sp ec ia l th a n k s of th e B rit is h N a v a l officers. T h e s ig h t o f th e long lin es of m u d d y , lim p in g fig u re s in u n ifo rm , filing u p th e s h ip s ’ sides, an d of th e ra n k s o f “ s t r e tc h e r -c a s e s ,” g ro u p e d a c c o rd in g to th e g ra v i ty o f th e ir co nd ition , a lo n g th e q u ay s , re m a in s a g r im m em o ry . S om e six th o u s a n d o r m o re w ere c a rr ie d o r d ire c te d on b o a rd by ou r m en en g ag ed on th is ta sk .

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D u rin g th e se f irs t d ay s w e a c tu a lly re m a in e d w ith o u t s le ep in g q u a r te rs , o u r k its a n d R ed C ro ss su rg ic a l boxes p iled on th e q u a y s , in cu rio u s ju x ta p o s itio n to th e p iles o f d e s tru c tiv e shells . F in a l ly q u a r te rs w ere secu red a t M a lo -le s -B a in s , a t th e H o te l K u rsa a l, s in ce th e n o u r h e a d q u a r te rs a n d th e h e a r t o f o u r g ro w in g o rg a n isa tio n .

M ean w h ile th e A d m in is tra tiv e O fficers w ere en e rg e tic a lly co n d u c tin g n e g o tia tio n s to se c u re a b u ild in g for a h o sp ita l, a n d to o b ta in w o rk for th e a m b u la n c e s a t th e fro n t. O n e of th e ch ie f re a so n s o f o u r su ccess h a s b een th e h a rm o n y e s ta b lish e d fro m th e f i r s t b e tw een o u r su rg eo n s , w ith th e i r p rim a rily p ro fe ss io n a l in te re s ts , an d th e “ lay ” officers, ch iefly co n ce rn ed to secu re w ork o f a n y ac tiv e , u sefu l c h a ra c te r for th e U n it . T h is h a rm o n y h a s o n ly in c re a se d w ith tim e , in n o tab le d is tin c tio n to th e h is to ry o f o th e r V o lu n te e r U n its , w h ere th e n e rv e -s tre s s an d th e conflic t b e tw een d iffe ren t p ro fessio n a l in te re s ts an d tra d it io n s h a v e too o ften led to g ra d u a l d is ru p tio n .

In th is re sp e c t, a s in a ll o th e rs , th e o rg a n isa tio n ow es an in c a lc u la b le d e b t to th e w isdom , sy m p a th y an d w ide v iew s of D r. H u m p h re y N o ck o ld s , o u r “ M edecin C h e f " : w ho h a s k n o w n how to g u id e a n d acco m m o d a te th e d em an d s o f p ro fessiona l e t iq u e tte to th e c h a n g in g re q u ire m e n ts o f w a r co n d itio n s a n d th e u lt im a te good of th e w ho le U n it.

I t is u se le ss to re su m e th e s to ry o f th e n e g o tia tio n s . A t one tim e I co u n ted th a t w e w ere d e a lin g w ith fifteen d iffe ren t m ili ta ry a u th o r it ie s s im u l ta n e o u s ly ; on ly five o f w h o m could rea lly h e lp us, b u t a n y one o f w h o m , if w ro n g ly h a n d le d , cou ld h av e b lo ck ed a ll o u r ch a n c e s !

A fte r se v e ra l fa lse s ta r ts w e a t la s t secu red a b u ild in g for a h o sp ita l a t D u n k irk . In th e final a r ra n g e m e n ts w e w ere im m en se ly h e lp ed by th e a r r iv a l o f M iss I re n e N o el, o u r “ L a d y S u p e r io r ,” w hose n am e is a h o u seh o ld w o rd in G reece a n d one w e ll-k n o w n in B a lk a n p o litic s . H e r ta c t , ab ility and c h a rm h av e sim p lified a ll o u r la te r re la tio n s w ith th e m ili ta ry a u th o r it ie s a t o u r b ase .

T h e H o s p ita l S t . P ie r re w as s t a r t e d ; an d f i tte d o u t, lig h te d , an d su p p lied w ith h ig h ly - tra in e d n u rs e s a n d all e q u ip m e n t in an in c red ib ly sh o r t lim e . In th is w e w ere a s s is te d b ey o n d a ll e x p e c ta tio n by th e g e n e ro s ity of th e H o n . M rs. F . G u e s t, d a u g h te r o f H e n ry P h ip p s , E s q . , o f N ew Y o rk , w ho n o t on ly p re se n te d th e h o sp ita l e q u ip m e n t b u t h e rse lf c am e to h e lp u s for a tim e in th e in itia l w o rk . D u r in g th e s u b ­se q u e n t m o n th s o f its ex is ten ce i t h a s n u rs e d b ack to h e a lth m o re th a n 400 w ounded or s ick so ld ie rs , w ith on ly a few d ea th s . I t s w a rm b r ig h t com fo rt, ch ee rfu l o rg a n isa tio n , efficiency an d in g en io u s eco n o m y of sp ace an d c o n ­tr iv a n c e , h av e w on th e sp ec ia l c o m m e n ­d a tio n of th e h ig h e s t F re n c h au th o r itie s .I t h a s a lso fo rm ed an a d m ira b le t r a in ­ing sch o o l for o u r d re s se rs an d n u rs in g o rderlie s , u n d e r th e ab le d irec tio n of o u r su rg eo n s , w ho ta k e it in tu r n to do w ork a t th e b a se or a t th e fron t.

T h e S t. P ie r re H o sp ita l, w ith its g lo rio u s v iew o v e r se a a n d la n d , an d fresh b reezes , re m a in s o u r c e n tre of c u ra tiv e w o rk . T o it w e h a v e b ro u g h t n o t on ly th e w ounded so ld ie rs , b u t th e occasional

w ounded m an or d y in g ch ild s tru c k d ow n by th e b o m b s of th e a e ro p lan es , w h ich w h ee l c o n s ta n tly ab o v e u s on th e c le a re r su n n y days.

T h e H o te l K u rsa a l re m a in s a lso th e h e a r t of o u r a d m in is tra tio n . H e re P h il ip B a k e r

8

W a r d i n S t . P i e r r e H o s p i t a l .

an d th e A d m in is tra tiv e O fficers c o n d u c t th e en d less n e g o tia tio n s an d th e en d le ss c o rre sp o n d en ce , an d h e re o u r A d ju ta n t M axw ell, w ith R o n a ld L lo y d , M au rice S tan s fie ld , an d a g ro w in g n u m b e r of se c re ta r ie s , c o n tro ls th e co m p le te o rg a n isa tio n . O n th e w a lls a re m ap s of a ll th e “ S ta t io n s ,” p la n s of

ro a d s , ta b le s sh o w in g th e d a ily p o sitio n of ev e ry m an a n d ca r in th e U n it , lis ts o f o rd erlie s an d th e ir sh ifts , su p p ly sch em es , n ig h t g u a rd s , e tc ., e t c . ; all th e b u s in e ss o f a fa ir s ized G o v e rn m e n t office o r a b u sy firm . A n d a n y o n e w a tc h in g th e sm o o th w o rk in g of th e m ach in e , a n d k n o w in g th a t th is is a ll ru n on a s in g le line of su p p ly fro m E n g la n d , a n d in an “ e n tre n c h e d c a m p ,” u n d e r d ifficult c h a n g in g w a r co n d itio n s , m ig h t w ell be a m a z e d to h e a r th a t th re e o f th e m a in sp r in g s of th is fin ished m a c h in e c e le b ra te d th e ir tw e n ty - f irs t b ir th d a y s w ith in tw o d a y s of e ach o th e r la s t w eek !

W e m ay w ell c la im th a t y o u th h a s b een th e se c re t o f o u r su ccess .

B u t th is is to a n tic ip a te .

E i g h t o f t h e D o c t o r s o f t h e F r i e n d s ’ A m b u l a n c e U n i t . F ro m th e firs t o u r m a in o b je c t w as D r . T h o m p s o n , D r . M a l l a b a r , D r . S m e r d o n , D r . R e e s , D r . M a l l o c k , re scu e w ork a t th e fro n t. o ern

D r . J a c kso n , D r . N o c k o ld s , D r . G . R . F o x . c o n d i t io n s m a d e “ s t r e t c h e r b e a r -

9

ing ” of th e o ld ty p e im p o ssib le . B u t w e k n ew th a t th e re w as n eed of o u r a m b u la n c e s to g e t th e w ounded q u ick ly b ack fro m th e lin e s , co u ld w e o v erco m e th e n a tu ra l d is tru s t o f v o lu n ta ry n o n ­m ilita ry u n its .

T h e B e lg ia n s , to w h o m w e w ere firs t a c c re d ite d , ad v is e d u s to tr y Y p res . A few of u s ra n th e re in an a m b u la n c e la te in O c to b e r . T h e to w n w as th e n s till u n to u ch ed , in all its g re y q u ie t b e a u ty of w ide s tre e ts , p ic tu re sq u e h o u ses , a n d n o b le p u b lic b u ild in g s . T h e B rit ish A rm y w as in o c cu p a tio n . R o u n d th e en c irc lin g tre n c h e s rag ed th e fie rces t b a tt le o f th e w a r : th e g re a t effort of th e G e rm a n s to c a rry o u r c e n tra l p o sitio n , th a t la s te d for five w eeks an d p ra c tic a lly a n n ih ila te d tw o a rm ie s . T h e ro a r o f th e g u n s w as d ea fen in g , th e s ig h t of c o u n tle s s sh e lls b u rs tin g , in a v a s t se m i­c irc le , o v e r th e a u tu m n b lu e sky , w as u n sp e a k a b ly im p re ss iv e . W e lis ten ed an d w a tch ed fro m th e g re y w a lls o v e r th e old w ide m o a t ; an d th e n le ft, s in ce th e y s till th o u g h t th e y h ad no n eed of u s . A n d as w e d ro v e aw ay , th e f irs t sh e lls of th e g re a t b o m b a rd m e n t b eg an to f a l l ; th e b o m b a rd m e n t w h ich , d u rin g th e n e x t w eeks, w a s to red u ce h a lf th e c ity to ru in s . S o , s t il l in th e p ride of m ediaeval b e a u ty , we h ad o u r firs t s ig h t o f Y p re s ; an d b eg an th e long c o n n ec tio n w h ich in th e cou rse of m o n th s h a s b ro u g h t th e tow n to be reco g n ised p e c u lia rly a s o u r c h a rg e .

W e e a rly ad o p ted as o u r m o t to — for th e co n fused c irc u m s ta n c e s o f w a r S e a rc h fo r th e w ork th a t no one is d o in g : tak e i t : a n d re g u la r is e it la te r , if y o u can ! ” So w e w a ited on ly a few d ay s , till w e h ea rd th a t Y p re s h ad b een “ e v a c u a te d ,” a n d th e n s e t off, w ith 15 m en , 3 a m b u la n c e s a n d a lo r ry — a m obile litt le co lu m n , on a second lo n e ly p ilg r im a g e — to o ccu p y a B e lg ian co n v en t in Y p re s a s o u r h o sp ita l.

T h e second re tu rn is u n fo rg e tab le . O n a m u rk y , su llen e v en in g w e tra v e lle d a lo n g th e now fam ilia r m u d d y ro ad s , b locked by long co lu m n s of m o v in g tro o p s a n d convoys. A t P o p e rin g h e , now one of o u r h o m e s ta tio n s , w e w a ited for a n h o u r a t a d a rk co rn e r , w h ile cav a lry passed u s s ilen tly , sh iftin g u n e a s ily a n d h a lf seen . T h e n , a re a c h o f d e se r te d p la in s ; a n d on th e h o rizon , a g a in s t th e b ro w n -y e llo w w re a th s of fog, th e su llen fla re a n d re d sm o k e o f fo r ty b u rn in g co lu m n s, p illa rs o f fire from th e fa llin g b u ild in g s o f th e a b a n d o n e d c ity . A nd s till th e m e n a c in g g ro w l an d ro a r from th e g re a t sem i-c irc le o f p ro te c tin g tre n c h e s , w h e re th e sa v a g e b a tt le o f w eek s co n tin u ed , an d th e flow er o f th e P ru s s ia n a rm y s h a t te re d on th e u n y ie ld in g B r it is h lines.

W e c re p t w ith o u t lig h ts th ro u g h th e b lack , d e se r te d s tre e ts , d o d g in g v a s t sh e ll c av itie s an d th e p iles o f c ru m b lin g b ric k s a n d fa llen m aso n ry . O u r p ro m ised h o sp ita l w as em p ty , an d a lre a d y p a r t ly d es tro y ed . T h e ch e e ry o ld F le m is h d o c to r a n d th e n u n s o f o u r la s t v is it w ere go n e . D u r in g th e n ig h t five b ig sh e lls fe ll in o u r s t re e t, d em o lish in g th e n e a r h o u ses . T h e re seem ed to be n o t a sou l le ft in th e to w n , an d n o th in g le ft to do b u t to e scap e , an d even th is w ith d ifficu lty .

B u t it w as s t il l a h o p e fu l, if h o m eless , p a r ty th a t d ro v e o u t a lo n g th e fro n t o f th e F re n c h a rm ie s to th e n o r th . U n d isc o u ra g e d , w e offered o u r se rv ice s a s w e w e n t ; and a t th e li t t le v illag e of W o e s to n — n a m e fa m ilia r an d d e a r n ow to a ll o u r U n it , th e p a re n t s ta tio n of a ll o u r a m b u la n c e w o rk — w e m e t a co rd ia l w elcom e from a F re n c h “ e v a c u a tio n ” h o sp ita l. E x c e lle n t q u a r te r s w ere found u s in a schoo l, a n d h e re w e in s ta lle d o u rse lv e s , s till w ith in re a c h o f th e G e rm a n g u n s , b u t h a p p y , a n d g ra d u a lly c o n v e r tin g o u r s in g le u p p e r room , b y m e a n s o f a c e ty len e lig h tin g , k itc h e n co n v en ien ces , e tc ., in to a re a l hom e.

T h e n fo llow ed o u r w eeks of c ea se le ss a m b u la n c e w ork , o f w h ich it is n o t y e t tim e to w rite in d e ta il. B y p u n c tu a lity , ca re fu l o b se rv a n c e of o rd e rs , ta c tfu l co n d u c t, a n d th e cheerfu l w illin g n ess of o u r m en to w ork d ay a n d n ig h t w ith th e sam e c o u ra g e a n d e n d u ran ce , w e w on th e co n fid en ce of o u r A llies. W h e th e r a lo n g th e tre n c h e s a t n ig h t , w ith o u t lig h ts on w h a t th e y ca lled th e “ sh e ll- b itte n ” ro a d s , o r dow n th e c ro w d ed w eariso m e h ig h w a y to b ase to w n s, ou r am b u la n c e d r iv e rs w orked w ith u n flag g in g zeal. G ra d u a lly w e w ere a sk ed to e x te n d o u r sp h e re ; s ta tio n a f te r s ta tio n w as s ta r te d , and q u a r te re d co m fo rtle ss ly in h o v e ls o r lo fts . O u r lad s dev e lo p ed rap id ly , an d co u ld soon be tru s te d to m a n a g e th e d e lic a te re la tio n s w ith th e c o u n tle ss m ili ta ry an d m ed ica l a u th o r it ie s

l o

by th e m se lv e s . W ith e n te rp rise an d ta c t th e y p u sh ed o u t in n ew lin es a n d e s ta b lish e d new c o n n e c t io n s ; w e h ad a s m an y as seven s ta tio n s g o in g on a t one tim e . T h e w o rk w as n o t w ith o u t d an g er. F o r w eeks to g e th e r th e a m b u la n c e s ra n u n d e r shell f i r e ; b u t an e x tra o rd in a ry m e a su re of fo r tu n e h a s so fa r a tte n d e d us. In a n u m b e r o f re m a rk a b le e sc a p e s on ly tw o o f u s h a v e been to u ch ed , an d a co u p le of c a rs h a v e b een h it. M ay it so c o n t in u e !

H e a d q u a r te r s b ack ed up th e w ork w ith c o n s ta n t w a tc h fu ln e ss , a n d re a d y co n tr iv a n c e . M ore m en cam e o u t; th e U n it d o u b led its n u m b e rs . T h e n ew m en c a u g h t th e sp ir i t of th e o ld . W e could co u n t upon e v e ry m a n for tire le ss , c h e e rfu l w o rk d ay o r n ig h t. A d a ily su p p ly sy s te m for a ll th e s ta tio n s w as developed . W o e s to n b ecam e a d is tr ib u tin g c e n t r e ; n o t o n ly fo r o u rse lv e s , b u t for th e needs o f o u r a llie s in h o sp ita l an d am b u la n c e . T h e m en g re w u p to th e in c re a s in g d e m a n d s ; b u s in e ss m en, su p p ly officers, re p a ir in g e n g in ee rs , co nvoy lead e rs , “ l ia is o n ” officers w ith th e F re n c h , w e h ad on ly to se lec t to find ab le a s s is ta n ts in a ll b ra n c h e s . A t W o e s to n w e to o k on a seco n d room a s s to re , th e lo w er ro o m in w h ich , d u r in g th e lo n g b a tt le s , th e d y in g m en u se d to be left on th e ir s tre tc h e rs , an d w h e re a ll n ig h t w e u sed to h e a r , co m in g u p to u s , th e li tt le be ll an d q u ic k p a t te r o f th e p r ie s t g iv in g ex tre m e u n c tio n . T h e n u n s , w hose in fin ite k in d n ess an d ca re w ill re m a in a life long m em o ry w ith ev e ry m e m b e r of o u r c o m m u n ity , b ecam e o u r firm frien d s an d h e lp e rs . L a te r , th e y ac te d a s a d is tr ib u tin g ag en cy for c lo th es to th e cro w d s of th e d e s t itu te re fu g ees a n d p e a sa n ts in th e n e ig h b o u r­hood. L a te r s till, in th e a b sen ce of an y c iv ilian d o c to rs , D r . M a lla b a r fo u n d ed h e re a la rg e p ra c tic e a m o n g th e w o u n d ed a n d fe v e r -s tr ic k e n c iv ilian s , w h ich p ro v ed o f in e s tim a b le se rv ic e in sa v in g life.

D u r in g th e w eek s of th e g re a t b a tt le s of F la n d e rs , from th is a n d o u r o th e r s ta tio n s , o u r sm a ll

G r o u p a t Y p r e s .

Left to right: G e o f f r e y Y o u n g , Officer Commanding Field Stations', M o n s i e u r C o l a e r t , Burgomaster o f Ypres; C o m m a n d a n t C o u n t D e l a n o y , o f the Belgian Army, attached to French Forces, A .D .C . to General Liman,

and one o f the heroes o f Liege.

11

O n e o f t h e U n i t ’s M o t o r A m b u l a n c e s w o r k i n g f o r t h e F r e n c h .

A t t h e F r o n t o f t h e S a c r e C c e u r H o s p i t a l , Y p r e s , B e l g i u m , b e f o r e t h e B o m b a r d m e n t .

body o f c a rs a n d m en c a rr ie d o v e r 12 ,000 w o u n d ed m en , a n d jo u rn e y e d m o re th a n 20 ,000 m iles . T h e w ork w a s o n ly p o ss ib le on a re g u la r sy s te m of re lie f a n d re s t p e rio d s o rg an ised b y H e a d q u a r te r s .

T h e O r i g i n a l W a r d a t S a c r f . C c e u r H o s p i t a l , Y p r e s .

P i e r s o n . L o c k e . D r . T h o m s o n . G u s t a v . W . H a r v e y . H . G r a y .

12

Y p r e s C i v i l H o s p i t a l . S a l l e M a r i e J o s e ( W o m e n ’s T y p h o i d ) .

W i l l i a m H a r v e y . C y r i l P e a s e . D r . F o x . J o h n H a r v e y .

F r o n t o f S a c r £ C c e u r a f t e r B o m b a r d m e n t o f D e c e m b e r 2 i s t .

13

In reco g n itio n , w e h av e rece iv ed o v e r 30 le t te r s o f p e rso n a l th a n k s fro m th e h ead s o f d iffe ren t b ra n c h e s of th e F re n c h “ S e rv ic e d u S a n te .”

A s th e fig h tin g d ied dow n , to w a rd s th e tu r n of th e y e a r , w e w ith d re w o u r A m b u lan ce S ta tio n s , tem p o ra r ily , one a f te r a n o th e r , to u se th e c a rs for m o re p re s s in g w o rk , in co n fo rm ity w ith o u r p r in ­c ip le to ta k e u p each n ew w ork a s it cam e . T o W o e s to n , an d its c iv ilian w ork , w e h e ld on to th e la s t, a n d o n ly te m p o ra r ily w ith d re w th e s ta tio n w ith re a l re g re t a n d w ith th e p ro m ise to r e tu rn th e re f irs t, ju s t a s soon a s th e f ig h tin g d e m a n d e d it a n d a n ew a r ra n g e m e n t in th e sh if tin g po licy of m o v in g a rm ie s

C o n d i t i o n o f t h e C h a p e l o f t h e S a c r e C c e u r a f t e r B o m b a r d m e n t .

p e rm itte d . O n th e n u n s ’ w all h a n g s th e le t te r o f th a n k s s ig n ed by so m e fifty n am es , an d in th e n u n s ’ k itc h e n s a re still sh e lte re d tw o of th e h o m eless fam ilies o f c h ild re n w h ich w e re scu ed an d a d o p te d d u rin g o u r s tay .

W h ile th e a m b u la n c e w ork w as b e in g d ev e lo p ed from W o e s to n in all i ts d ifficu lt ram ifica tio n s , o u r p osition w a s m u ch s tre n g th e n e d b y tw o c irc u m s ta n c e s . T h e f irs t w as o u r c o m b in a tio n fo r a m b u la n c e w ork w ith th e R ed C ro ss u n it co n tro lled by th e H o n . L io n e l H o lla n d , b ro th e r of L o rd K n u tsfo rd , w ho w as b e t te r k now n in a ll h o sp ita l c irc le s as th e H o n . S y d n ey H o lla n d . T h is b ro u g h t

H

Y p r e s C i v i l H o s p i t a l . S a l l e E l i z a b e t h ( M e n ’s W o u n d e d W a r d ) .N am es fr o m le ft to r i g h t : G. H . W a r d , D r . G . F o x , E . B . F o x , S. P i m , E . I . L l o y d , J . K i n g .

us a g re a t access io n of good c a rs an d d riv e rs , for M r. H o lla n d p lace d h is a m b u la n c e s a t th e fro n t u n d e r o u r co n tro l. H is ow n d e lig h tfu l p e rso n a lity a n d sag e counse l p ro v ed a lso a g re a t s t re n g th e n in g

S. A n t o r i a . S . A l o i s e . J . H a r v e y . G u s t a v ( C o n c i e r g e a t S a c r e C ce up . )

*5

of o u r h a n d in th e n e v e r cea s in g n e g o tia tin g w itu c h a n g in g a u th o r it ie s . T h e second w as th e officialre co g n itio n of th e p o sitio n o f o u r a m b u la n c e s w ith t h e ------- th F re n c h A rm y th ro u g h th e good offices ofth e F re n c h M ission , w h ic h w as s e n t to a r r a n g e all su ch m a tte r s fo r th e a rm ie s in B e lg ian te r r ito ry . T h is re co g n itio n w e w e re to ld , w as g iv en so le ly u p o n th e m e r it o f o u r p a s t w o rk an d th e con fidence w h ich its b u s in e ss lik e c o n d u c t h a d in sp ired . F ro m th is tim e fo rw ard o u r re la tio n s w ith th e m ili ta ry ch iefs o f th e F re n c h a rm ie s , a lth o u g h s u b je c t to te m p o ra ry s e t-b a c k s a n d rebu ffs, w ere c o n s ta n tly im p ro v in g .

M ean w h ile , th ro u g h a ll th e v a rie d b eg in n in g s a n d e la b o ra tio n s , Y p re s re m a in e d o u r p a r t ic u la r in te re s t . C a rs w ere f re q u e n tly sen t o u t a lo n g th e b o m b a rd e d ro ad to see if a re tu rn th e re w as y e t p o ss ib le , and on a m em o rab le m o rn in g , o n ly a w eek o r so a f te r o u r h u rr ie d n ig h t of o ccu p a tio n , I v e n tu re d once ag a in in C a d b u ry ’s sw ift li t t le g re y c a r a lo n g th e fa ta l road . T h e sky w as c lea r,

T h e S t a f f a t Y p r e s a m o n g t h e R u i n s o f S a c r £ C c e u r ,

w i t h t h e H o n . L i o n e l H o l l a n d a n d M r . R o g e r s , B r i t i s h R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y .

on ly an o ccasio n a l she ll s c ream ed in th e d is ta n c e . T h e co n fla g ra tio n s w ere ju s t over. T h e ru in ed to w e rs stood g a u n tly a g a in s t th e su n . B u t a s w e e n te re d an d ra n th ro u g h th e w reck ed s tre e ts it seem ed a c ity o f th e d e a d ; sc a rc e ly a sou l to be seen , an d on ly a lo s t p u p p y o r c a t c la m o u rin g b e h in d door o r g ra tin g . A c h an ce m e e tin g w ith a c o u rag eo u s g ir l, a d a u g h te r of one of th e v e ry few fam ilie s th a t re m a in e d th ro u g h o u t th e b o m b a rd m e n t, rev ea led to u s , h o w ev e r, a c o rn e r o f th e “ u n d e r-w o rld ” s til l p e rs is t in g in th e ce lla rs . W e le a rn e d of som e se v e n ty old a lm sp eo p le , u n h a p p ily le f t in th e c o n v e n t “ c a v e s ,” a n d of th e h u n d re d s of c h ild re n a n d m ise rab le fo lk h id d en in th e d a rk n e s s u n d er th e g re a t e a r th fo rtif ica tio n s. I n a few h o u rs w e h a d fe tch ed som e d o zen a m b u la n c e s , lo ad ed th e m up w ith th e fra il re m n a n ts o f o ld folk, a n d w a tch ed th e long p ro cess io n w in d safe ly o u t o f th e g a te s , a s t ra n g e s ig h t in th e d e se rted , b a tte re d s tre e ts , w ith th e w h is tle a n d b la s t o f sh e lls o v e rh e a d a s th e on ly d is tu rb a n c e .

i 6

F ro m th is d a y on b eg an o u r w o rk for Y p re s . E a c h day w e re tu rn e d w ith a d o c to r (D r. R e e s a t first) a n d so u g h t o u t an d looked a f te r th e w o u n d ed an d s ick in th e sc a tte re d , d a rk , n o iso m e ce lla rs . In th is w o rk w e w e re h e lp ed b y a s tra g g lin g R .A .M .C . so ld ie r, “ F r e d e r ic k ” — w hose c iv ilian m in is tra tio n s co u ld n o t sav e h im in th e en d from a s h a rp p u n is h m e n t for sh irk in g h is rea l d u tie s — b u t ab o v e a ll by th e h e ro ic C u re o f S t. P ie r re , C h a rle s D e la e re . T h is m a n ’s n a m e d e se rv e s to be rem em b ered a s one o f th e re a l h e ro es of th e w ar. H e , p ra c tic a lly a lo n e , re m a in e d a m o n g h is p eo p le , ten d in g , co n so lin g , jo k in g , in sp ir in g , h e lp in g u n til th e la s t p e n n y w as sp e n t. H is C h u rc h , on ly la te ly re s to re d , w as sh e lled fo u r tim e s : once he c lim b ed on to th e ro o f an d h im se lf c u t o u t th e b u rn in g ra f te rs . H is v ic a ra g e w as w reck ed . H is c u ra te w as k illed b es id e h im . H is ow n c a sso ck w as to rn w ith fly ing fra g m e n ts . T h e C o n v en t S t. M arie , w h e re he c o n tin u e d to lodge, w ith th e an g e lic , m in is te r in g Soeur M a rg u e r ite an d a few o th e r S is te rs , h a s five tim e s b een b o m b ard ed . B u t s till h is s tro n g , aq u ilin e , h u m o ro u s face, h is fly ing g rey cu rls , h is sp a re a th le tic fig u re in to rn casso ck m ove cea se le ss ly n ig h t and d a y a m o n g th e p eop le . H is h a s b een th e p o w erfu l c o -o p e ra tio n th a t h a s en ab led u s to c a rry o u t a ll o u r su b s e q u e n t re lie f w ork for th e to w n . T h e re h a v e b een o th e rs , a few

E f f e c t o f a S h e l l i n a R o o m o f t h e S a c r e C c e u r , Y p r e s .

c o u rag eo u s a n d good m en , w ho s tu c k to th e i r w o rk , b u t h is h a s b een th e d o m in a n t p e rso n a lity . I h a v e n e v e r w o rk ed w ith a m an w h o m I co u ld m o re w h o le h e a rte d ly a d m ire a n d like. B u t for h im w e m ig h t n e v e r h av e o v e rco m e th e su sp ic io n a n d n e rv o u s te r ro r s o f th e re se rv e d F le m is h p e a sa n try , o r g a in ed th e ir co n fid en ce suffic ien tly to g e t th e m to a d o p t o u r m e a su re s of p re c a u tio n .

A fte r a few d ay s it b ecam e ev id e n t th a t w e cou ld do li tt le to sav e th e w o u n d ed in th e d a rk n e s s an d d a m p of th e ce lla rs . W e h a d to ta k e th e g ra v e re sp o n s ib ility o f co lle c tin g th e m in to som e c e n tra l room ab o v e g ro u n d . H e re ag a in fo r tu n e fa v o u red us. T h e C u re p ilo ted u s to one of th e g re a t a sy lu m s on th e ed g e o f th e to w n th a t h a d e scap ed d am ag e . T h e s te w a rd sm iled a t o u r re q u e s t. “ I k n e w th e y m u s t co m e to m e for a h o sp ita l som e tim e ,” w as a ll h e sa id . T h ro u g h th e b a rra c k q u a r te rs o f som e 3 ,000 so ld ie rs , h e led us b y a se r ie s o f locked do o rs in a m aze of b u ild in g s , a n d th rew o p en th e door of a w a rd , u n to u c h e d , c lea n , u n su sp e c te d , u n p illa g e d , a ll b u t re ad y fo r u se ! T h is w as o u r fa m o u s “ G u s ta v ,” o u r second g re a t s ta n d -b y , a m a n w ho h a s done a ll h e h a s p ro m ised up to tim e (in w a r !) an d w hose s to re s an d in v e n tiv e g e n iu s seem in e x h a u s tib le . H is five p re t ty

17

ch ild ren an d good wife h av e been w ith u s th ro u g h all d a n g e rs s ince th a t tim e . N o t for one d ay h a s he left h is c h a rg e of th e g re a t I n s t i tu te p laced in h is c a re . H is v aried se rv ice s a n d su ccessfu l d ea lin g s , w ith in tru s iv e a u th o r it ie s of fou r n a tio n a litie s , w o u ld fill a book .

A t 11 o ’c lock w e e n te re d . B y 12 w e h a d f itte d u p th e s to v es , e tc . B y 1 o ’c lock th e C u re h ad fe tched u s tw o n u rs in g s is te rs from P o p e rin g h e . B y 2 th e b e d s w ere re a d y . A t 2 .30 w e m oved in th e firs t cases. S u re ly few h o sp ita ls h a v e ev e r b een op en ed a t sh o r te r n o t i c e !

T h e se s is te rs d e se rv e fu r th e r m en tio n . A n to ria an d A lo ise c am e firs t. T h e n , as th e w o rk g rew , A nna , M adele ine , E liz a b e th , an d Ju lie n n e . L a s t ly G o d a liev e , M arie , an d th e o ld R e v e re n d M o th e r . S p len d id , v ig o ro u s , h u m o ro u s , sy m p a th e tic F le m is h w o m en , c a r in g for n o th in g b u t w o rk , a n d fu ll o f fu n . T h e y a re th e s is te r s o f th e C iv il H o s p ita l . W h e n th is w as b o m b a rd e d th e y h a d to m o v e to P o p e rin g h e w ith th e ir so ld ie r p a tie n ts . B u t a n u m b e r o f G e rm a n w o u n d ed w ere left b eh in d , b y one o f th e o v e rs ig h ts com m on in w ar. A n n a a n d E liz a b e th w alk ed a ll th e w ay b ack from P o p e rin g h e , an d th ro u g h a ll th e su cceed in g te r ro rs of th e daily b o m b a rd m e n t, d id th e ir b e s t fo r th e d y in g m en ; on ly re tu rn in g to sa fe ty w h en th e la s t o f th e G e rm a n s h a d been rem o v ed . A nd a few d ay s la te r b ack th e y cam e a g a in , a t o u r re q u e s t, to re su m e th e ir good w ork .

So s ta r te d o u r Y p res C iv il H o s p ita l , u n a u th o r is e d an d c u t o ff from all c o m m u n ica tio n w ith th e w orld of a rm ie s . G ra d u a lly it h a s g ro w n , a s th e peop le v e n tu re d o u t o f th e ir c e lla rs a n d th e fa ta l h o m in g in s tin c t o f th e p e a sa n t b ro u g h t m ore a n d m ore d w e lle rs b a c k to th e to w n , a n d to th e d a ily to ll o f sh e ll a n d sh ra p n e l fire . U n d e r th e P o s t O ffice a lo n e w e found a h u n d re d peo p le w ho n e v e r c am e up fo r a m o n th . A b ab y w as b o rn h e re , w ho for a m o n th n e v e r saw th e d ay lig h t. A nd it w as im p o s ­s ib le to g e t m a n y peop le aw ay o u t o f th e to w n w ith th e few ro a d s b lo ck ed b y m ilita ry re q u ire m e n ts .

T h e a rm y beg an to m ove u p a g a in . M ilita ry a m b u la n c e s occu p ied o th e r w in g s of o u r g re a t b u ild in g . O n a fa ta l day , D e c e m b e r 2 1 st, a “ T a u b e ” sa iled o v e r u s , an d see ing th e c ro w d s of lo ite r in g s tre tc h e r -b e a re r s , took th e m d o u b tle ss for tro o p s . In h a lf a n h o u r th e b o m b a rd m e n t b eg an . A n u m b e r o f h u g e sh e lls w ere d ro p p e d in to th e b u ild in g , d e s tro y in g th e ch ap e l. T h e sh e llin g b eg an a fre sh on th e n e x t d ay . S ix o f th e In s t i tu te re ta in e r s w ere k illed , an d m an y o th e rs o f th e F re n c h A m b u lan ce s k illed an d w o u n d ed . O u r p a tie n ts w ere h u rr ie d ly m o v ed in to th e ce lla rs , a n d h e re in th e d a rk o u r su rg e o n s w o rk ed u n tir in g ly on th e n ew cases a s th e y w e re b ro u g h t in . T h e y , a n d o u r lad s , h ad s e v e ra l re m a rk a b le e scap es . I n one case a g r e a t sh e ll e x p lo d ed b es id e a s tre tc h e r c a rr ie d by o u r ch ie f su rg eo n a n d th re e m en . T h e y w ere b low n aside , b u t u n h u r t .

T h e sam e d ay w e s e n t o ff e v e ry case th a t co u ld be m o v ed to a n y to w n th a t co u ld be g o t to rece iv e th e m , for th e re is l i t t le p ro v is io n for c iv ilian s in a w a r zone . D r. F o x a n d som e d re s se rs m oved w ith th e w o rs t c a se s to a n o th e r p a r t of th e tow n . A n A m b u la n c e S ta tio n w h ich w e h a d in th e in te rv e n in g w eek s p laced in th e b u ild in g , to w ork w ith th e m ilita ry , h a d to c h an g e its q u a r te r s e ls e ­w h e re p e rm an en tly .

B u t it w as o n ly a few d a y s befo re th e h o sp ita l w as in s ta lled in its b u ild in g once ag a in , th is tim e u n d e r D r. S m erd o n . F o r th e c iv ilian w o rk h a d to go on , a n d no b e tte r b u ild in g cou ld be fo und . S in ce th e n th e G e rm a n s h a v e s tu d io u s ly le ft u s a lo n e , th o u g h i t h a s b een a t tim e s one of th e la d s ’ d is tra c tio n s to s tan d o u ts id e th e g a te an d w a tc h th e sh e lls b u rs tin g o v e r th e field besid e a n d b e h in d us, o r h e a r th e m sh r illin g o v e r th e b u ild in g , b o u n d fu r th e r afield .

H e re , d a ily a lm o s t, com e o u r c iv ilian w ou n d ed , w o m en in la rg e p ro p o r tio n , o ld m en , a n d ab o v e all ch ild ren . M arie (14), th e d a rk -h a ire d , w hose m o th e r n e v e r le ft h e r bedside . W ilh e lm in c h e n (7), o u r g o ld e n -h a ire d pe t, w ho ca lls h e rse lf “ D im p le s ,” a n d w hose m o th e r an d g ra n d m o th e r w ere k illed by th e she ll th a t w ounded h er. M au r ic e (13), th e “ i m p ” o f h is w ard , a ll su lk s an d su n s h in e ; A lb e rt (16), w ho h a s lo s t a leg ; J u l ia (2), w ith a h ead w o u n d ; L u c ie n (13), w hose fin g e rs w ere sh o t o ff ; B e r th a (3), w ho is a ll w o u n d s ; li t t le Ju le s (4), w ho c h u c k le s g a ily o v e r an a m p u ta te d le g ; b ab ies of a ll ages : l i t t le m a im ed boys an d g ir ls ; too m an y , a la s , only w ith u s for a few h o u rs befo re d e a th c la im ed th em . W e h av e re scu ed from one h o u se tw o w ounded ch ild re n , the la s t su rv iv o rs o f a

fam ily of n in e , a ll k illed ; a n d fro m a n o th e r a b a b y a n d m o th e r , th e la s t o f sev en . A w o u n d ed fa th e r la s t w eek w a s w a tc h in g th e d e a th of f irs t one a n d th e n th e o th e r o f h is tw o la s t ch ild ren ; th re e w ere k illed w ith th e ir m o th e r . B u t th e s to r ie s a re too m a n y an d too sad to se t d o w n . T h e re is , h a p p ily , li tt le tim e in th e ru s h of w o rk fo r o u r b oys to th in k of th e m . B u t so m e tim es in th e ev e n in g s a s I sit and sm oke a s ile n t p ip e w ith o ld “ P o p p a ” (81), w ho h a s w a tc h e d h is d a u g h te r c a rr ie d d ead fro m th e w a rd w ith o u t a te a r , a n d w ith “ O n k e l ” (79), w ho re fu sed to com e in to h o sp ita l a t th e r isk o f lo s ing h is sh a tte re d leg u n ti l h e h ad found a h o m e for h is d og , h is o n ly f r i e n d ; o r a s I w a it in th e s le e p in g ty p h o id w a rd b eside som e ch ild w hose life is f lu tte r in g m in u te b y m in u te o u t o f its th ro a t, th e th o u g h t of th e g re a t c ro w d ed w as te s of u n re c o rd e d pain o u ts id e in th e d a rk a b o u t u s beco m es a lm o s t u n e n d u ra b le . A nd n ig h t a f te r n ig h t a s th e so u n d of ch ee rfu l s in g in g co m es fro m o u r p le a s a n t re fec to ry , w h e re th e lad s w ho se n a m e s w o u ld b e fam ilia r in a n y c o m p a n y of F r ie n d s , a re h a v in g a h a rd -e a rn e d re la x a tio n a f te r each d ay of u n a ttra c t iv e , p a in fu l se rv ice , th e g re a t ro c k e t-f la re s a re w h iten in g th e sk y a lo n g th e a rc of tre n c h e s a b o u t us, a n d th e ro a r a n d ra t t le o f c o n tin u o u s rifle fire ech o es a s tra n g e ac c o m p a n im e n t.

O n th e w o rk for th e w o u n d ed h a s fo llow ed a n o th e r d ev e lo p m en t. A m o n g th e un d erfed , hom eless p o p u la tio n b eg an th e in e v ita b le ep id em ic . T h e h o sp ita l w as e n la rg e d . U p to th e p re se n t d a te 470 c a se s of s ick n ess a n d 130 se r io u s su rg ic a l c a se s h a v e b een tr e a te d in it. A n o u t-p a tie n t d re s s in g s ta tio n w as e s ta b lish e d in th e to w n for th e tr e a tm e n t o f lig h te r w o u n d s , w h e re th o u s a n d s of p a tie n ts h av e b een a tte n d e d to . M ore d o c to rs h av e b een b ro u g h t u p , w ho c a rry on a la rg e v is itin g p ra c tic e a m o n g in h a b ita n ts an d re fu g ees, c ro w d ed in lo fts , s ta b le s a n d o u th o u se s . M o re th a n 2 ,000 fam ilie s h a v e b een th u s v is ited , v is its m a d e o ften u n d e r sh e ll-f ire a n d a t c o n s id e rab le p e rso n a l risk .

E n c o u ra g e d a n d su p p o r te d by th e lib e ra l p o licy o f th e B ritish A rm y , w hich found u s a t w ork w h en it r e tu rn e d to Y p re s , a t o nce a p p re c ia te d th e im p o rta n c e of th e iso la ted effort w e h ad been m ak in g , a n d fo r th w ith opened a la rg e c iv ilian b a se h o sp ita l in to w hich o u r p a tie n ts cou ld be c lea red o u t o f th e d a n g e r zo n e . W e n e x t u n d e rto o k p re c a u tio n a ry m e a s u re s a g a in s t th e sp re a d of th e ep idem ic .

In o c u la tio n s ta tio n s w ere e s ta b lish e d in th e tow n , an d s u b s e q u e n tly ex te n d e d o v e r a ll th e n e ig h b o u r in g d is tr ic ts . O v e r 11,000 f irs t a n d o v e r 10 ,000 seco n d in o cu la tio n s h a v e th u s b een a d m in is te re d ; th e la t te r fig u re is a t r ib u te to th e co n fid en ce felt in o u r d o c to rs .

W a te r p u rif ic a tio n s ta tio n s , to su p p ly C h lo rin a te d w a te r, w ere e s ta b lish e d in th e to w n an d n e ig h b o u r in g v illag e s . F ro m seven o f th e s e s ta tio n s a s m u ch a s se v e n te e n th o u sa n d g a llo n s o f p u rified w a te r h a v e b een su p p lie d in a s in g le d ay . O n e of o u r m en m a k e s th e ro u n d s e v e ry day and te s ts th e b a r re ls . F o r th e a c tu a l p u m p in g , e tc ., lo ca l la b o u r is em p loyed . (D o n a ld G ra y h a s b een ch iefly in c h a rg e o f th is sec tio n .)

W h e re th e d is ta n c e s a re to o g re a t fo r th e peo p le to be ab le to fe tc h w a te r from th e b a rre ls , a sy s tem o f “ s p o o n - fe e d in g ” h a s b een in tro d u c e d ; each h o u se is su p p lied w ith a sm a ll spoon- m e a su re , a box o f C h lo rid e a n d a p a p e r of in s tru c t io n s . I n v illag e s loca l c a r ts m a k e th e ro u n d s , an d s to re s o f C h lo rid e , for re se rv e d d is tr ib u tio n , a re re g u la r ly su p p lied to loca l fu n c tio n a r ie s . O v e r five th o u sa n d h o u se s h av e th u s been re ach ed .

U n d e r th e d ire c tio n o f C a p ta in C o p la n s o f th e R .A .M .C ., o u r c o n s ta n t g u id e a n d frien d , o u r en g in ee r, W . B u c k to n , a lso p u rif ied an d p re p a re d th e S w im m in g B a th , a s a g re a t re se rv o ir of good w a te r for th e tro o p s , a b ig an d d ifficu lt u n d e rta k in g .

A n o th e r m e a su re , of an o rig in a l c h a ra c te r , h a s been th e “ h o u se - to -h o u se se a rc h ” fo r ty pho id c a se s a n d in s a n ita ry co n d itio n s . A se lec ted p a r ty , w h ich h a s had to a c q u ire a p ro fic ien cy in F le m is h , h a s in sp e c te d ev e ry h o u se in to w n , v illag e a n d ru ra l d is tr ic t o v e r a la rg e a re a . T h e ir re su lts a re e m b o d ied in re p o r ts , a n d th e y follow a sy s te m o f m a rk in g s on th e h o u se s a s an a d d itio n a l p re c a u tio n . T h e ir w o rk h a s in v o lv ed a n im m e n se la b o u r o f m a p -m a k in g a n d a c c u ra te c o lla tio n .

T h e re p o r ts o f th e S e a rc h e rs a re a c te d up o n by S a n ita ry S q u a d s , su p p lie d b y th e R .A .M .C . a c tin g in c lo se c o -o p e ra tio n w ith us. T h e y d is in fec t th e h o u s e s ; an d in c a se s w h e re b la n k e ts ,

i 8

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m a ttre sse s , e tc ., h a v e to b e d e s tro y e d , th e y g iv e re c e ip ts p ro v id ed b y us, in e x ch an g e for w h ich w e su p p ly n ew b e d d in g , e tc ., from a c e n tra l s to re . F o r th is s a n i ta ry w ork , a n d fo r th e m a k in g of th e m a ttre s se s , e tc ., w e a lso em p lo y loca l lab o u r.

In th e p ro ce ss o f th is se a rc h a n a re a of o v e r 20 sq u a re m iles h a s b een co v e red , an d ju s t u n d e r five th o u sa n d h o u ses h a v e b een in sp ec ted .

T o cope fa r th e r w ith th e s itu a tio n , w e opened , in c o n ju n c tio n w ith th e B e lg ia n s , a second h o sp ita l, th e C h a te a u E liz a b e th , a t P o p e rin g h e . H e re w e h av e th e a d m ira b le c o -o p e ra tio n of C o u n te ss V an den S teen , h e rse lf th e h ead o f a co llege for tr a in e d n u rse s , a n d of C o u n te ss d ’U rse l , L a d y - in -W a it in g to th e Q u een , a n d an in d e fa tig ab le c o lla b o ra to r in th e g e n e ra l “ r e l i e f ” m e a su re s . T h ro u g h th e se lad ie s w e h a v e o b ta in e d a s tro n g s ta ff of n u rse s , a n d th e y h a v e se rv ed as th e ch a n n e l o f co m m u n ica tio n th ro u g h w h ich su p p lie s a n d fu n d s from m a n y so u rc e s h a v e reach ed us, a s w ell a s o u r in tro d u c tio n to , an d o u r in te rm e d ia r ie s w ith , th e h ig h e s t officials o f th e B e lg ia n G o v e rn m e n t.

H o s p i t a l C h a t e a u E l i z a b e t h , P o p e r i n g h e , B e l g i u m .

W i t h W o o d e n E x t e n s i o n s , n o t s h o w n i n P h o t o g r a p h , w i l l a c c o m m o d a t e 2 0 0 P a t i e n t s .

T h e h o sp ita l a cco m m o d a tio n a t P o p e r in g h e p ro v in g in su ffic ien t for th e g ro w in g d em an d , sh ed s h av e b een e rec ted in a d d itio n ; an d to a s s is t us in th e ir c a re , M ad am e O ’G o rm a n h as g e n e ro u s ly p laced h e r n u rs in g staff, d o c to r an d e q u ip m e n t a t o u r d isp o sa l. In th e d ifficu lt ta s k of th e H o sp ita l in a u g u ra tio n , D r . R e e s h as , fo r th e th i rd tim e , show n h im se lf an u n riv a lle d o rg an ise r. H e re , a s e lsew h ere , o u r m en h av e ac te d a s o u r en g in ee rs , c a rp e n te rs a n d c o n s tru c to rs , a n d th e in s ta lla tio n of a co m p le te w a te r sy s te m b e a rs w itn e s s to th e ir a d a p ta b le in g en u ity .

T h e th o ro u g h n e ss of th e “ se a rc h ” an d o th e r p re c a u tio n a ry m e a s u re s for h e a lth a n d h y g ie n e , rev ea led to us a s ta te of d e s titu tio n c a llin g for o th e r im m e d ia te rem ed ies .

W e th e re fo re s ta r te d C lo th e s d is tr ib u tio n s , c e n tre d a t P o p e r in g h e a n d Y p re s . B e tw e e n tw o an d th re e th o u s a n d fam ilie s h av e a lre a d y rece iv ed a ss is ta n c e of th is k in d , p ro v id ed by th e c o n s ta n t g en e ro s ity of fr ien d s a t hom e. T h e d is tr ib u tio n is c a rr ie d in to th e re m o te r v illag e s of o u r a re a . A c e r ta in a m o u n t w e k eep for th e p a tie n ts in th e h o sp ita ls , a c o n tin u e d d e lig h t to o u r ex ce llen t S is te rs .

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I hav e , for in s ta n c e , found one sm a ll bo y in bed w ith tw o co m p le te b lu e su its an d a g ir l ’s g reen p e tt ic o a t on h im , all a t once !

T o d ea l w ith th e te r r ib ly h ig h ra te o f in fa n t m o r ta lity w e c re a te d a n o th e r sec tio n , to s ta r t M ilk d is tr ib u tio n s . T h is h a s su cceed ed b ey o n d a ll e x p e c ta tio n . F ro m a c e n tra l P a s te u r is in g D a iry M ilk is d a ily d is tr ib u te d , by m o to r lo rry , to loca l s ta tio n s . A t th e se s ta tio n s food is a lso d is tr ib u te d to o lder c h ild re n . N u rs in g m o th e rs re c e iv e m a lt, so u p , e tc ., a n d in s tru c tio n is g iv en in th e c a re of th e b ab ies , in h e a lth re g im e n , e tc . H a lf -a -d o z e n of th e s e s ta tio n s a re a lre a d y in be in g . E v e ry w eek m ore a re s ta r te d . O v e r a th o u sa n d b a b ie s and m o th e rs a re a lre a d y b e in g fed. R o b e r t S to p fo rd and B a ro n C lifford h a v e d o n e a d m ira b ly in th is w o rk ; a n d W . M o rd ey is n ow in g e n e ra l c h a rg e of th e fin an c ia l side of a ll o u r re lie f w ork .

Y e t a n o th e r c a ll h a s b een th e n e c e ss ity o f p ro v id in g h o m es fo r th e c h ild re n of Y p re s a n d th e

T h e S t a f f , H o s p i t a l E l i z a b e t h , P o p e r i n g h e . D r . J . R . R e e s i n c e n t r e .

n e ig h b o u rh o o d o rp h a n e d b y th e b o m b a rd m e n t an d ep id em ic . A ss is ted by th e e n e rg y o f th e P a s to r of S t. P ie r r e w e h a v e a rra n g e d for an O rp h a n a g e fo r B o y s in th e a n n e x e to a T ra p p is t M o n a s te ry n e a r W e s tv le te re n . T h is a t p re se n t h o ld s th i r ty , a n d th e M onks a re b u ild in g on , w ith o u r a ss is ta n c e , so a s to a d m it u p to a h u n d re d boys. I t m u s t be m en tio n ed , a s p a in fu l p roof o f th e n eg lec ted cond ition in to w h ic h th e s e c h ild re n h a d lap sed , th a t th e m a jo r ity w e re found n o t to h a v e ch a n g e d sh ir t o r u n d e rw e a r s in ce last A ugust. A ho m e for a G ir ls ’ O rp h a n a g e h a s b een c o n tr iv e d a t th e C h a te a u o f W is q u e s , n e a r S t. O m e r. H e re w e h a v e a lre a d y so m e s ix ty g i r l s ; a n d a s soon a s b ed s can be found th e n u m b e r w ill be ra ised to a h u n d re d . H e re a lso w e h a v e a rra n g e d to p lace a la rg e “ c r e c h e ” for b ab ie s . T h e su p p ly a n d a r r a n g e m e n ts fo r th e se in s ti tu t io n s , in a w a r a re a , a s w ill be ev id en t, p re s e n t c o n s id e ra b le d ifficu lties. T o th e e q u ip m e n t w e h a v e b een a ss is te d g re a t ly b y th e

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C o m te de B e a u m o n t ; a n d c lo th e s h a v e b een la rg e ly su p p lied b y th e lad ie s of th e “ A p p u i B e ig e ” a t P a r is .

F o r th e u p k eep of a ll th e s e v a rio u s w o rk s w e a re in c u r r in g a lia b il ity of b e tw een ^ 1 5 0 0 an d ^ 2 0 0 0 a m o n th , even th o u g h th e se rv ic e is v o lu n ta ry on th e p a r t o f th e S is te rh o o d s in c h a rg e . F u n d s , th e re fo re , a re m o s t u rg e n tly needed . T h e y co u ld n o t be c o n tr ib u te d to a m o re im m e d ia te an d a p p e a lin g o b jec t.

In c id e n ta lly , w e h a v e b een e n tru s te d w ith a d o m in a n t sh a re in th e rem o v a l of th e refugee fam ilies from th e f ig h tin g a re a . W e c a r ry th e c h ild re n a n d in f irm in o u r c a rs , feed th e d e p a r tin g , an d g ive th e m w h a t w e c a n o f c lo th e s . I n th e la s t few m o n th s w e h av e fed o v e r 4 ,000 in th is fash ion , an d w e h av e d is tr ib u te d c lo th e s to o v e r 2 ,000 fam ilies , b o th o f re fu g ees an d in h a b ita n ts .

T h e tim e we h a v e sp e n t a m o n g th e peo p le w hen no one e lse w as a t h an d h a s g a in ed u s th e ir c o n f id e n c e ; an d w e a re th e re fo re now in th e p o sitio n o f b e in g ta k e n in to c o n su lta tio n b y th e

O n e o f t h e W a r d s , H o s p i t a l E l i z a b e t h , P o p e r i n g h e .

A u th o ritie s o f th e M ilita ry a n d C iv il G o v e rn m e n ts on m a n y q u e s tio n s a ffec tin g th e w e lfa re of th e in h a b ita n ts . T h is g iv e s us an a lm o s t u n iq u e o p p o r tu n ity o f p ro v id in g th e m a c h in e ry for a ll e ffo rts to b e tte r th e co n d itio n of th e u n h a p p y p eo p le , fo r th e d is tr ib u tio n o f relief, th e o rg a n iz a tio n o f s a n i ta ry an d c h a r i ta b le w ork , an d th e re -e s ta b l is h m e n t o f n o rm a l g o v e rn m e n t.

A p a r t from th e g e n e ro u s reco g n itio n a n d co rd ia l h e lp ac c o rd e d u s b y th e B r it is h an d F re n c h M ilita ry A u th o r itie s w e h av e re c e iv e d th e p e rso n a l th a n k s , a m o n g o th e rs , o f M . de B ro c q u e v ille , P r im e M in is te r of B e lg iu m , a n d of th e D u e de V en d o m e, b ro th e r- in - la w o f th e K in g .

F o r th e m a n a g e m e n t o f a ll b ra n c h e s o f o u r w ork w e h a v e found m en su ita b le in o u r ow n u n i t ; w a te r en g in e e rs , s a n i ta ry en g in ee rs , a rc h ite c ts , su p e rv iso rs , a c c o u n ta n ts , c a r to g ra p h e rs , o rg a n ise rs . A t Y p re s a lo n e w e h a v e n o w som e six sec tio n s , each o rg a n ise d an d w o rk in g u n d e r i ts S e c re ta ry .

T h e w o rk a lo n e o f p ro d u c in g a n d a ffix ing p u b lic n o tic e s ta k e s m o re th a n one m a n ’s tim e. F o r som e m o n th s , in th e d e se r te d to w n , w e e x e rc ised a ll th e d iffe ren t fu n c tio n s of th e a b se n t c iv il a u th o r i t i e s ! P e rh a p s o u r m o s t c h e rish e d “ so u v e n ir ” is a le t te r of th a n k s , from a se lf­c o n s titu te d c o m m itte e o f p u b lic sa fe ty , p re s e n te d on b e h a lf o f th e “ c e lla r-d w e lle rs ” o f th e to w n , on C h r is tm a s d ay . I t w as th e f irs t sig n of re tu rn in g c iv ic life.

M an y m ore c itiz e n s h a v e n o w r e t u r n e d ; a n d it is i l lu s tra t iv e o f th e s ta te o f feeling in th e w a r a re a th a t ev en th e s e less c o u ra g e o u s c itiz e n s a re a lre a d y a p a th e tic a lly a c c u s to m e d to th e b o m b a rd ­m en t. A fte r a sh e ll h a s b u rs t I h a v e seen o ld w om en s te p o u t o f th e ir do o rs an d sw eep u p th e sh a tte re d tile s fa llen from th e ir ow n roofs. O u r m en ta k e it a s q u ie tly , b u t w ith m ore fu n . W h e n a sh e ll h a s b u rs t in fro n t of, o r c lose b eh in d , o u r a m b u la n c e , I h a v e h e a rd a d iscu ssio n b eg in a s to w h ich re m a rk in th e co n v e rsa tio n befo re s ta r t in g w as re sp o n s ib le fo r th e de lay th a t secu red th e

H o u s e t o H o u s e S a n i t a r y S e a r c h P a r t y .

S o e u r L u c i e , H a r r i s , H . L o c k e , R . S t o p f o r d , G e o f , T h o m p s o n , D r . M a n n i n g ,S o e u r M a r g u e r i t e , T w o S i s t e r s , J . J e n n i n g s , A. R . B a k e r , D r . F o x , C u r e o f S t . P i e r r e , M . L i t t l e b o y .

escape . A nd w e h a rd ly no tice th e w re c k of th e to w n . S o m e tim es , on a c le a r m o o n lig h t n ig h t, th e g h o stly ru in e d to w ers , th a t w e h av e seen s tag e b y s ta g e red u ced from th e ir sp len d id p ro p o r tio n s , s tr ik e th e eye w ith a n ew a p p ea l. A n d to v is it th e g re a t C a th e d ra l of S t. M a rtin , an d h e a r one of o u r m u s ic ian s se n d in g th e ech o es o f th e o rg a n ro llin g th ro u g h th e ru in e d a rc h e s , w h e re w eek by w eek roof an d c o lu m n h av e fa llen , u n til it is now a d a n g e ro u s ru in s h a t te re d b ey o n d re p a ir , re v e a ls even a g rea te r tra g e d y th a n th a t co n ta in e d in e a c h b ro k en life w e ten d ; it is th e tra g e d y of th e th o u g h t an d ideal o f m an , a ll th a t he p ro d u ced of th e hope a n d sou l w ith in h im a n d left h e re a s a m o n u m e n t in stone, now p e rish in g in w a n to n c a re le ss d e s tru c tio n .

A nd y e t o u r m en h av e h a d th e ir fill o f p e rso n a l a d v e n tu re s . T h e y h a v e done fine w ork ,

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even th ese la s t w eeks, in te n d in g th e w o u n d ed u n d e r h e a v y sh e ll f i r e ; a n d o n ly th re e d ay s ago th e a m b u la n c e s sw ep t up som e fifty w om en a n d ch ild ren in a b o m b a rd e d q u a r te r o f th e to w n . O n e in o cu la tio n s ta tio n h a s h a d to b e fina lly a b a n d o n e d w h en th e sh e lls d es tro y ed it li te ra lly a b o u t th e d o c to r’s e a rs . A n o th e r d o c to r h a s tw ice h a d h is c a r filled w ith m u d by sh e lls ex p lo d in g too nea r. E v e n o u r M ilk C e n tre a t P o p e r in g h e h a d its tu r n o f a ir b o m b s .

A t D u n k irk w e h a v e now e re c te d y e t a n o th e r g re a t h o sp ita l— o u r fo u r th — a t th e re q u e s t of th e F re n c h m ili ta ry a u th o r it ie s . F o r th i£ w e h av e h ad to fo rm y e t a n o th e r office, w ith its ow n body o f a rc h ite c ts a n d e n g in ee rs , a ll d ra w n , a lso , fro m o u r ow n m en u n d e r o u r ch ie f a rc h ite c t , J . H . G ra y .

T h e h o sp ita l c o n sis ts o f w ooden b u ild in g s of a te m p o ra ry c h a ra c te r w ith do u b le w a lls an d roo f, co n n ec ted w ith th e k itc h e n s , a d m in is tra t io n b u ild in g s , la u n d ry an d offices b y co v ered co rr id o rs . In a ll th e re is p re s e n t acco m m o d a tio n for 200 beds, an d e x te n s io n s c a n b e m ad e on th e sam e p la n if th e y sh o u ld p ro v e to be n e c e ssa ry . A tta c h e d to th e h o sp ita l th e re is a b ac te rio lo g ica l la b o ra to ry w ith a co m p le te e q u ip m e n t o f a p p a ra tu s .

S i t e o f N e w “ Q u e e n A l e x a n d r a ” H o s p i t a l f o r T y p h o i d , D u n k i r k .

F i r s t W o o d e n B u i l d i n g s i n P r o c e s s o f C o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e A r c h i t e c t , J . H . G r a y , i n c e n t r e .

V is its h av e b een p a id to th e h o sp ita l b y m a n y o f th e ch ie f o fficia ls o f th e F re n c h an d B rit is h A rm y M ed ica l S e rv ic e s , w h o h av e ex p re ssed u n q u a lif ied ap p ro v a l of th e a r ra n g e m e n ts m ad e fo r th e t r e a tm e n t of p a tie n ts .

G e n e ra l E y d o u x , th e m ili ta ry g o v e rn o r o f D u n k irk , w as a sk ed to c h r is te n th e h o sp ita l an d th e g rac io u s co n se n t o f Q u een A le x a n d ra w as o b ta in e d to ca ll i t by h e r n am e .

W e now n u m b e r som e 230, if w e c o u n t in th e n u rse s , e tc ., an d ev e ry m an is w o rk in g up to th e full lim it o f h is s t r e n g th . W e w a n t y e t m ore , for th e a u th o r it ie s a re u rg in g u s to e x ten d o u r a c tiv it ie s o v e r y e t w id e r a re a s . W ith th e sp r in g th e g re a t f ig h tin g is b eg in n in g a g a in . In v iew of th is w e h av e , in c o n ju n c tio n w ith th e H o n . L io n e l H o lla n d , m a d e a n ew a rra n g e m e n t to re s ta r t o u r a m b u la n c e s on th e F re n c h fro n t, an d to w o rk a s b e fo re , w ith p o ss ib ly even an in c rea sed n u m b e r of s ta tio n s . T h is is in v a lu a b le w o rk , a s th e rap id m o to r se rv ice u n d o u b te d ly sav es a la rg e n u m b e r o f lives ; b u t it w ill m ean a y e t fu r th e r d e m a n d up o n o u r m en a n d o u r re so u rces .

I t w ill b e seen th a t o u r p rin c ip le o f w o rk h a s c a rr ie d u s in to a co m p lex re la tio n sh ip w ith tw o , even th re e , of th e g re a t a rm ie s . W e a re d o in g c iv ilian re lie f w o rk o f an ex te n s iv e an d ra d ic a l

c h a ra c te r , in th e v e ry fro n t o f th e f ig h tin g a re a — an u n h e a rd -o f e x p e r im e n t! W e a re fu lfilling o u r v a rio u s o b lig a tio n s a t th e sam e tim e to o u r m o re e x p re s s ly m ili ta ry sp h e re s o f w o rk . W e a re even b e in g p re sse d to e n la rg e o u r sp h e re , a n d a re o n ly co m p e lled to re fu se by th e h u m a n lim ita tio n s p u t upon u s b y insu ffic iency of p re se n t funds an d m en .

I t m ay be th a t in th e n o t d is ta n t fu tu re w e sh a ll b e a sk e d to d e v o te a ll o u r e n e rg ie s to th e se rv ice of one a rm y , th a t w h ich w e sh o u ld m o s t w ish to se rv e . I f th a t tim e com es, it w ill m ean o n ly th e tra n s fe re n c e in n a m e of o u r v a rio u s b ra n c h e s of w o rk , a lre a d y e s ta b lish e d , to th e s u p e r ­in te n d e n c e o f one a u th o r ity , a lre a d y m o s t s y m p a th e tic a lly d isp o sed . E v e ry m an an d e v e ry p en n y of m oney th a t w e can p lace o u t h e re is p lace d fo r g ood , an d , so fa r a s a n y th in g in w a r is p e rm a n e n t, for e n d u rin g good.

In c lo s in g th is b r ie f s ta te m e n t of o u r w ork , n e c e ssa rily lim ited by co n s id e ra tio n s o f m ilita ry d isc re tio n , I feel I m ay e m p h a s ise th re e p o in ts th a t its en fo rced o b sc u r ity m ig h t o th e rw ise con cea l.

“ Q u e e n A l e x a n d r a ” M i l i t a r y H o s p i t a l f o r T y p h o i d C a s e s .

S h o w i n g t h e N i n e C o m p l e t e d W o o d e n B u i l d i n g s .

T h e w ork fo r w ounded so ld ie rs d o n e by th e U n it h a s p ro v e d to be of a c h a ra c te r a n d in te re s t en tire ly b eyond w h a t th o se of u s w h o h a d m ad e o u rse lv e s fa m ilia r w ith th e c o n d itio n s of th e p re s e n t w ar could h av e co n ce iv ed as po ss ib le for a v o lu n ta ry o rg a n isa tio n to p e rfo rm in th e w a r a tm o sp h e re and b e tw een d ifferen t a rm ie s . T h a t it sh o u ld , fu r th e r , h av e developed a sy s tem of re lie f w o rk on a large scale fo r th e c iv ilian p o p u la tio n a t th e v e ry fro n t o f th e fig h tin g a re a , a n d , in d o in g so , sho u ld not on ly h av e g a in ed a n d k e p t th e co n fid en ce an d su p p o r t o f th e m ili ta ry a u th o r it ie s , b u t sh o u ld h av e b ro u g h t th e m to th e reco g n itio n of th e v a lu e of su c h w ork in p re p a r in g th e w ay for th e ir tro o p s , im plies a m a g n itu d e of a c h ie v e m e n t th a t m u s t a p p e a l to th o se le a s t fa m ilia r w ith th e d ifficu lties th a t a tte n d su ch effo rts in th is w ar. A nd la s tly , I w ou ld ca ll to m ind th a t th is h a s been done by a p a r ty

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of young m en an d boys, w ho co n ta in in th e ir n u m b e r m o re lad s u n d e r 20 th a n m en o v er 30 ; w ho h ave had to develop th e ir ow n o rg an isa tio n a n d th e ir ow n sch em e of v o lu n ta ry d isc ip lin e ; w ho h av e had to con tro l a ll th e ir ow n su p p lie s a n d a rra n g e m e n ts , an d w ho h a v e m a n a g e d to e s ta b lish th e ir position , in such c irc u m s ta n c e s e n tire ly a m a t te r o f p e rso n a l re la tio n sh ip s , w ith th e m an ifo ld o fficia ls of th ree a rm y o rg a n isa tio n s , in a fo re ign to n g u e , an d in th e v e ry fro n t o f th e w a r zone.

If, w ith th e ir y o u th to h a n d ic a p th em , th e y h av e y e t g a in ed th e ir o ccasio n s an d freedom of w ork by th e ir goodw ill, d isc re tio n a n d co u rag e , it m ay w ell be c la im ed fo r th e m th a t a n y h e lp th a t is

I n t e r i o r o f W a r d “ B ” o f t h e H o s p i t a l “ Q u e e n A l e x a n d r a / ’ D u n k i r k .

g iv en th e m w ill be u sed to th e u tm o s t e x te n t an d to th e b e s t p u rp o se . A n d , on th e o th e r h an d , it is ju s t th e ir y o u th th a t a s su re s u s of th e fu tu re , of th e i r re a d in e ss a n d a b il ity to se ize th e o ccas io n s a s th e y p re s e n t th em se lv e s , to follow u p th e old lin e o r c h a n g e to th e n ew w ith u n flag g in g e n th u s ia sm , to ac c e p t no d efeat, a n d be d isco u rag ed b y no d is re g a rd , b u t to fo llow w ith th e e la s tic ity a n d ch ee rfu ln ess of y o u th , g u id ed b y th e tru e sp ir i t of se rv ice th a t a n im a te s th e F r ie n d s ’ c o m m u n ity , c lose upon th e h ee ls of d ea th , c lose b eh in d th e v e ry edge o f th e sh iftin g b o rd e rs o f d e s tru c tio n .

G E O F F R E Y W I N T H R O P Y O U N G .

February 28th, 1915.

NEWNHAM, COW ELL & GRIPPER. LTD., CHI8W ELL 8TR EET . E.C.