Organisational pride is evident
In war time arrangements, of how
The wounded are received at home.
In illustration, it is with caution
That any witnesses makes minimum
Intrusion, so as not to hinder
The acting out of a smooth operation.
Possibly for this very reason,
Little has been said of the system.
Within Southampton’s vast docks,
At berth 23, a day is much like another.
Within the space where water laps,
An empty dock is not empty for long -
As before and since - on that still
October morning, came modest and large
‘Carrier Ships’ – rather than being
Hospital ships – In their conveying
Those injured from Belgium and France.
To carry out these continual operations,
Six ships are currently in service.
Some months before the prospects of war
All along the coast, services ships
Were visited and considered for adaptions
To needs of ‘Ambulance’ ships.
Soon the shape of an unnamed boat,
That wears the Red Cross emblem
About the mast and around the hull,
Settles into her moorings at Berth 23.
Prior to any disembarkation, preparations
Are made – then prompt at 9 a.m.
The moving of the stretchers begins,
By Khaki clad orderlies - seen as ominous
Are the parked lines of McCromack Carriers.
These conveyers balance on two wheels,
Of light rubber, with drop bars
At either end, to prevent tipping as stretchers
Are placed carefully upon them.
The Southampton dock is seen as adapted
Well, for the tending of the returned
Wounded - with a great spacious sheltered
Shed, so that the injured are kept under cover
As they are moved across to the trains,
Which are waiting for them on the other side.
On that occasion, the trains were heading
For destinations of Sheffield and York.
Being a long journey, the North Western
This train was the first to embark.
Still the ship unloads – a non-commissioned
Officer gives directions with arms out;
‘Walking cases, single file. This way.’
A procession starts of cases
Displaying Injuries to hands, arms or heads –
Some use crutches, or sticks,
Or helped by orderlies - while other men limp
Ashore – the witness sees strained looks,
Looking into the distance, as if still on watch
For any distant or invisible enemy.
The press ganged ship is devoid of any fine
Fittings, perhaps looking a little sad.
Although there are still elements visible
Showing what had been dressed
As first and second class Saloons.
Every alcove or space was to be used,
For beds, with more beds put into tight rows. –
An appearance of an unnamed matron,
Of Queen Alexandera’s Imperial Nursing Service,
Explains the elements of medical supplies,
The use of dispensary and the general layout.
Strong and tender orderlies, escort the more
Serious cases to their stretcher.
Three Nurses drift about, in helping some
Serious cases, directing them
To the lifts that will convey them to the deck.
The valued lifts, that save
Painful movements of having to climb stairs.
Lifts ease the labours
Of the orderlies and nurses – notable is the
Silence of those that carry out their duties,
Whose footsteps make no sound,
On silent flooring - as in a library where valued
Items are moved, lifted and considered –
Over two hours the process made steady
Disembarkation, to total 370 injured soldiers -
Forty-three being officers.
With the last gone the unnamed ship,
Disembarks on another mission.
The mooring space not long empty, as another
Floats to land - this time with 500 soldiers.
Under the care of twelve nursing staff,
From the Territorial
Nursing Service
And Army Nursing Reserves - led by two,
Army sisters, detailed to every ship.
This ship had five wards – the upper
Deck given to the officers, while cabins
House for slight cases and convalescents.
A grim part of the process is the red label.
Attached to the bed jacket of any man.
To give warning of a grave injury – any unable
To take long journeys, head for Netley.
These soldiers, gathered from the fields
Of battle, could collectively tell of the
Fighting narrative - men gathered from recent
Conflicts at Ostend, and an airman injured
By accident or the 9th Lancers that took
Part in a notable charge.
The trains that take the men are ready;
Individually dependent on their ownership.
For those taking men north to Glasgow
Or Aberdeen are more fully equipped
For longer journeys – the general requirements
Dictated by the Army Medical Department,
Struck up a contest, as to which company
Of the trains, can provide the best for them.
Cooks are employed that once catered
For the dining cars - they prepare everything
For the men including lots of beef tea.
Men transfer carefully to the new beds in train
Carriages, fitted with lower and upper berths -
As others that can sit or a use a leg rest, take
Space in saloon carriages - being so comfortable
The men declare they would like to travel further,
Never having such a luxurious ride before.
Each train conveys a medical team of two nurses,
And two medical officers – while ten nurses whose
Quarters are at Netley, can upon their busiest
Of days, or in taking long journeys, be housed
In prepared Southampton quarters. For their quiet
Efficiency the orderly staff of 120 men, all territorials,
Were congratulated by the Surgeon General.
One South-Western train leaves in direction
Of Tidworth – another Great Western train
Leaves for Cheltenham – there are also trains
Made of ambulance carriages that can be attached
To ordinary trains, or run as their own transport –
Owned by the war department whose special
Fittings, mean berths can be removed independently,
As onto ships, giving relief from minimal movement.
There are also needs of clothing for the soldiers,
Who have travelled straight from the battlefields.
In hurried needs of attending to injuries, uniforms
Have been cut-while some reduced to little more than
Rags by fighting or are covered in mud and blood.
Organised by a Major’s wife, Mrs Anderson runs
A small hospital within the docks - with given
Red Cross Supplies and gifts, to include slippers,
Socks, overcoats, cardigans, dressing gowns
And pyjamas - with each ship’s needs, requisitions
Are made, so each man can be properly attired.
A fund made by townspeople further provides
Cigarettes given out at every man’s arrival.
Until now the home coming of the wounded
Has been a process of little publicity
Carried out by teams of Doctors, Nurses and
Orderlies and ships bearing the Red Cross
Designed to give much relief and comfort
With every thought of efficiency and humanity.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. How the wounded Come Home. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 26 Oct. p.3. Col.2-3. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11186020/Daily-Telegraph-October-26-1914.html
[Accessed: 26 October 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 26 October 2014).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
