With The Immortal Seventh DivisionKennedy, Edmund John
History
With The Immortal Seventh Division
Kennedy, Edmund John
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British
(6) This brings us to the Base Hospital, where is found the
finest talent, both medical and surgical, that the country
can produce. Some of our greatest civilian medical men, in a
temporary capacity, are now rendering invaluable aid to the
remarkable cases which proceed from the fell work of shot
and shell. These hospitals, some of which are due to the
magnificent enterprise of private individuals, provide for a
very large number of patients. In one centre alone there
are eight hospitals, with fourteen beds in each. Here, too,
are working the most highly trained nursing sisters, and the
wounded man will, to his dying day, remember the patient
skill bestowed upon him by these devoted women. A patient
recently remarked to a friend of mine, who asked him whether
he didn't think the sister was an angel, 'Indeed she is,
sir, a regular fallen angel.' His adjective was a little out
of place, but he meant to describe exactly what we all feel
with regard to these splendid ministers to our need.
(7) The hospital ship next receives the sufferer, and herein
everything that modern ingenuity can devise is applied to
the necessities of the case. Landing at some convenient
British port, an English hospital train receives the wounded
man, who is speedily whirled away to--
(8) The Home Hospital, where, of course, the man remains under
the ablest care, until he is happily classified a
convalescent.
(9) The Convalescent Home is perhaps the happiest stage of the
whole curriculum, and Tommy runs a chance of being spoiled
ere he is ready for the fighting line, or, in case of
permanent disablement, for the care of his own kith and kin.
I must not forget the remarkable qualities of the Orderlies of the
R.A.M.C. I have often been struck with the tender care and solicitude
which they bestow upon the wounded coming under their attention. In
their ranks are found all sorts and conditions of men: clergymen,
medical students; indeed, the premier Earl of Scotland, the Earl of
Crawford and Balcarres, enlisted as a Private in the R.A.M.C. and is now
a Corporal in a Field Ambulance. Such an example cannot fail to place
this distinguished branch of the Service on the highest level of utility
and importance.
So far, I have more particularly dealt with the care of the wounded.
This, however, is only one side of the vast work under the care of the
medical side of the Army. With the lamentable effect of the evil of bad
water experienced in the South African war, the Authorities have been
most drastic in their insistence of a pure water supply to the Army.
To-day every unit has its filter cast, and most urgent orders are in
circulation forbidding men to drink from any other supply. This alone
has prevented a large amount of disease.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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