from a nurse's diary
Document 28-1
From a war Nurse’s Diary
1918
This excerpt comes from the diary of a British nurse during World War I. In the entry the nurse is talking about her venture at The Fort of Walamen, detailing the lack of water supply and pile of dead bodies of the British and Belgian men. Because water supply was limited they had to use semi-pure water from the Scheldt that they boiled, to operate on the wounded soldiers, this was known as fomentation. While arriving to Antwerp there was a big explosion which filled hospitals with many unrecognizable burnt men. Some bunts so severe that they had to force openings where the mouth once were to insert tubes for feeding. The writer also describes a time when she was in a later explosion which literally scared the daylights out of her. In with the second explosion many were left wounded. The nurses drowned out the explosions by singing old traditional song until the next morning where they cooked and made bread pudding for the rest of the day. But as shells continued to drop they plenty of men to still care for. One who the nurse cared for was practically dead as he had a gash beneath his chest and some of his stomach hanging out was almost left for dead. The nurse begged of operation for him which eventually saved his life.
I really enjoyed reading this excerpt as I got a real hands on perspective from a nurse involved in World War I. It is common that we are told the struggles of the brave men that fought during this war, but not enough about the brave women who served as nurses. This had to be a very traumatic and scary time for them as well. As I came across this exchange between the two nurses; “Remember we are a British women, not emotional continentals. We’ve got to keep our heads.” It reminded me of how you have to stay strong and determined while being in something so traumatic like the war.
From a war Nurse’s Diary
1918
This excerpt comes from the diary of a British nurse during World War I. In the entry the nurse is talking about her venture at The Fort of Walamen, detailing the lack of water supply and pile of dead bodies of the British and Belgian men. Because water supply was limited they had to use semi-pure water from the Scheldt that they boiled, to operate on the wounded soldiers, this was known as fomentation. While arriving to Antwerp there was a big explosion which filled hospitals with many unrecognizable burnt men. Some bunts so severe that they had to force openings where the mouth once were to insert tubes for feeding. The writer also describes a time when she was in a later explosion which literally scared the daylights out of her. In with the second explosion many were left wounded. The nurses drowned out the explosions by singing old traditional song until the next morning where they cooked and made bread pudding for the rest of the day. But as shells continued to drop they plenty of men to still care for. One who the nurse cared for was practically dead as he had a gash beneath his chest and some of his stomach hanging out was almost left for dead. The nurse begged of operation for him which eventually saved his life.
I really enjoyed reading this excerpt as I got a real hands on perspective from a nurse involved in World War I. It is common that we are told the struggles of the brave men that fought during this war, but not enough about the brave women who served as nurses. This had to be a very traumatic and scary time for them as well. As I came across this exchange between the two nurses; “Remember we are a British women, not emotional continentals. We’ve got to keep our heads.” It reminded me of how you have to stay strong and determined while being in something so traumatic like the war.