A Fortnight at the FrontWakefield, Henry Russell (Bishop of Birmingham)
History
A Fortnight at the Front
Wakefield, Henry Russell (Bishop of Birmingham)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
I come now to say a word as to the care given to the bodies of our
men. The hospitals from the trenches up to the base are admirable,
and the appliances are of the most modern description. I shall not
soon forget how in one place I saw for the first time the travelling
X-ray caravan. It seemed very strange to be in the hospital whilst
the photograph was taken and then to go out in the road and see the
machine which did the work. What a convenience this must be in these
clearing hospitals can well be imagined. One cannot mention all the
splendid stationary and other hospitals over which one was shown by
officials with untiring patience and courtesy. The pride which our
fellow-citizens from the Dominions beyond the seas take in the
fitting up and working of their hospitals is quite extraordinary, and
the same spirit animates the private individuals who have their own
large institutions in hotels, casinos, and such-like places that they
have taken over. I am not sure that I was not more struck with the
splendid arrangements made by the Liverpool merchants for our wounded
than by anything else of this kind. There is also what one may call
a Convalescent Home for the tired soldier, weary in body, in mind and
nerve, which, thanks to the man at the head, seems to be very
effective. We all know how the strain of the Front tells upon our
soldiers, and especially upon the younger men. They come back to
this excellent Home by the thousand; they are kept until really
restored, and then they go back cheerful and ready for duty. The
last thing before they return is a little service in the chapel,
which I had the honour on one occasion to take. It was interesting
when paying a visit to another hospital to find that it had been
formerly a school, and that as the whole building had not been taken
over some of the classes were still being held. I intruded into the
schoolroom and gave a talk to the young people about the Alliance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account