The First Canadians in France / The Chronicle of a Military Hospital in the War Zone

throw the average city hospital into confusion. Nurses and officers hurried from their villas to the hospital. The

, were soon ready for the reception of patients, and the deft hand

tcher-bearers, whirled away into the darkness of the forest on the road to the station. It was a clear, cold n

the gaunt, trembling shadows of the wood. As we approached the turning of the road we could see in the di

s fast as each car or ambulance arrived, it was backed into the waiting line. Every few yards

e coaches, each with its big red cross, came clanking slowly into the station yard. Car after car passed by: one, two, three,-ten,-twent

nows they looked tired, and their clothes were still covered with the dried mud from the trenches; for during a battle speed and the necessities of the moment are the important things-the refinements of civilisation must await time and opportunity. Many were s

nusually pale, approached me and saluted. His right hand was thrust into the b

s, sir?" he asked respectfully. "I c

ve you had your right hand wounde

ve no right hand-had it blown off this morning." He drew the bandag

ightfully!" I exclaimed in pi

can bear it better when I smoke," and

turned to see what I could do for the others. There were doze

came to a group of six, all apparently suffering fr

sir," they ans

s equivalent to "frost-bite." It is caused by prolonged immersion in ice-cold water or liquid mud. In those days too, the trenches were not as well built as they are to-day, or the ground was lo

g long in the wat

day since Sunday," they re

ater deep?

' poor Bill Goggins stepped in a 'ole in the tre

, on'y 'e went down so fast-like as if there was a suction from, below. We seen 'im goin', an' 'e

claimed in horror. "

ard to see 'im go, an' us right there!" and there

d. "We'll try to make up a little f

e head or chest. It was wonderful to see the gentleness and kindness of our own rough lads as they l

, a dispensary, an emergency operating room and even bathrooms. A staff of medical officers, nurses and trained orderlies did all which human power can do to make the men comf

the drivers cautiously picking their way along the smoothest parts of the

g until their names and numbers were duly recorded. Each one, as this procedure was completed, was given a little card on

aiting for the orderlies to come and assist them to undress! But even he

r their weeks of dirty work and mud. After the bath came clean, warm pyjamas, a cup of hot coc

rth. If the soldier is in pain, he smokes for comfort; if he is restless he smokes for solace; when he receives good news, he smokes for joy; if t

sitting upon the side of his bed puffing contentedly at his

ly wounded?"

r," he returned, as

on your tunic," I said, point

rom ear to ear-"it's a souvenir from a Bosche, but

happened

t ma bayonet an' ma rifle too," he crie

dead?"

-hat wi' me noo;" and he held up a P

nd although we worked rapidly, the nurses undoing the bandages and attending to the minor cases, while I did the more serious ones myself, it was b

on of the unfortunate orderly officer, started down the road toward the villa. Our billet was about a quarter-mile away, but ou

my bed with his head on one side in his customary bird-like attitude. His stiff black

up,

and, when occasion demanded, could be, and was, very regimental. But in the privacy of our home (of which

uble, Tim?" I e

ye're goin' t' sleep all day, jes' because ye los

he hour?"

formed agin; wit his knees drawed up an' his mout' open ventilatin' his brai

Tim intended I should be. I turne

a good hot cup of coffee, and a slice

pposed to eat at the villa, but Tim was a good cook and those he f

door, shaking his head slowly from side to side. "Frie

essimism, he returned shortly

ul, self-sacrificing and brave, she has robbed war of much of its horrors. She has made the wounded soldier feel that a sister's care, a mother's love and a clever woman's skill follow him wherever he goes. Her smile has cheered his lagging day; her gentle touch

ouvenirs-German rifle bullets or bits of shell which had been extracted at the Clearing Hospital farther up the line, and these they exhibited with great pride to their fellow patients. The German helmet was always an object of interest. The sl

er to give the tired soldiers a chance to get a much-needed rest-a simple expedient whereby many lives were sav

and emerged at the back of the skull, fracturing the bone both at the point of entry and exit. His heavy breathing and stupor told us the case called for immediate relief. In

t: "Poor fellow! He has died in the night and no one has sent me word." I t

come of your

m. He'll be back in a few minutes. He stole out of th

bed and reached for a cigarette. I bade him good morn

ing?" I remarked, as casually as

ed with a contented smile, "but I have a little h

to get up again. He seemed disappointed, bu

the brain recover. Seven out of nine who entered the hospital one day, some mont

n load of wounded, walked unassisted up the

d, as the surgeon wasn't very busy that morning, he said he'd like to take a look inside and see the works." He laughed aloud at this gruesome witticism and continued: "So he gave m

e filled. We had retained the brass beds, a few practical chairs and small rugs for thes

h green vegetables-which may be had in France the year round. A bottle of ale or wine and hot-house grapes or Spanish canteloupe helped to make life pleasant and hastened them along the road to health. Oh, you may well believe that nothing

es, get them. If they want beer or wine, let them have it. Spare

ound him propped up in bed with a few magazines and b

this morning?" It w

our nurses are charmingly attentive and kind. The rooms and mea

ive shell. The small bones were fractured, but he appeared to be suffering littl

be interested to see. I shall always tr

e scrawled, and continued: "I showed that note to my commanding officer

him. "I'm sure this little

bombardment, had become untenable. The commanding officer ordered us to withdraw to a safer trench in the rear

The battle raged for some hours all along the line, but still this little spot was stubbornly held. Again and again the Germans assailed it; but each time with the same lack of success-each attack they lost twen

paper upon my

S

eight stragglers from other battalions, so we are now eleven. We held the line against all the att

ES G

rge