Page 76 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 3

Category

Library Item

Item no

28204

Title

Page 76 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 3

Description

September 12th Verbliani.
It's like starting another diary, it's so long since my last entry! Exactly 2 months I think! Two months since I was "knocked out" - well, all I can say is, I'm very disgusted with myself!
I see my last date was July 12th - the day before I took ill - well, no use saying (or to be correct "writing") anything about it, those weeks are behind me now, but I hope it won't be long before I am allowed to be 'up & doing" again. Dr. C. hopes shortly to get me sent to the Convalescent Hospital at Horliack & a week or two there, will, I trust, make me as "right as rain again" and fit for duty -, as I am simply longing to be back at work again. The one talk everywhere just now, is the coming big offensive on this front. For weeks & weeks, the guns & ammunition etc. having been moving up & the road has been one constant stream of transports, all going up towards Wonni-Pazar, Trusina, Kapiani etc. In a few days, the offensive is expected to commence. The Serbs & French are to begin the push & great things are expected. The Serbs are quite confident & sure of success, so let us hope & pray all goes well.
But it is evidently going to be a big business. The Bulgars hold such a magnificent position & are so strongly entrenched - if the Serbs make the attempt, it must be in a large scale &

Artist / maker

Moir, Ethel

Date

1918

Size

20.4 x 19.0 cm

Type

Document

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Image from the diaries of Ethel Moir (volume 3). Ethel was a nursing orderly who served with the Scottish Women's Hospital during World War One.

When war broke out in August 1914, the people of Britain responded. Men volunteered for the army and others set about establishing relief units to help the army or provide assistance to civilians and refugees. The Scottish Women's Hospitals were one of those - yet they were also very different, because they were set up with two specific aims: to help the war effort by providing medical assistance, and to promote the cause of women's rights and by their involvement in the war, help win those rights.

The SWH's original idea was set up a hospital in Edinburgh to help treat the war wounded. However this was soon abandoned in favour of setting up hospitals in the field, close to the fighting. Fundraising commenced and by the end of August 1914, more than five thousand pounds had been raised.

The SWH founder Dr Elsie Inglis approached the War Office with the idea of medical units being allowed to serve on the Western Front. The offer was turned down and she was told by an official "My good lady, go home and sit still". Undeterred, Scottish Women's Hospitals opened its first 200 bed Auxiliary hospital at the 13th Century Abbaye de Royaumont in France.

The Scottish Women's Hospitals were very closely associated with Serbia and although they operated hospitals in France, Macedonia, Greece, Corsica, Romania and Russia the majority of their work was to help Serbia. Conditions in Serbia were dire; the army had less than 300 doctors to serve more than half a million men. By the winter of 1915 Serbia could hold out no more, and were forced to retreat into Albania. The SWH had a choice to make, stay and go into captivity or go with the retreating army into Albania. Some stayed and several including Elsie Inglis were taken prisoner and later repatriated to Britain. The army retreated over the mountains with no food, shelter or help suffering many casualties.

Following her repatriation to Britain in February 1916, Elsie Inglis set about equipping and staffing a hospital to serve in Russia. It served in southern Russia and in Romania, providing medical help to the Serbian Division of the Russian Army. This division was made up from Serbs and Yugoslavs who had been taken prisoner by the Russians but had volunteered to fight for the allies. The SWH once again had to retreat. The hospital was withdrawn and they sailed back from Archangel to the UK. The day after they returned back, Elsie Inglis who had been ill for some time, died.

Towards the end of the war the SWH in Serbia provided medical care to soldiers, civilians and prisoners of war. A new fixed hospital was established in Vranje and by early 1919 this was handed over to the Serbian authorities bringing to an end the SWH. Most SWH members returned home and resumed their pre war lives, others stayed behind to continue to provide medical care in Serbia.

Over 1,000 women from many different backgrounds and many different countries served with the SWH. Only medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and X ray operators received a salary, all others received no pay at all and were expected to pay their own way. Some women joined because it was one of the few opportunities open to women to actively help the war effort, for others it was the rare chance for adventure.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Events > Wars > Wars

Events > Wars > World wars

Healthcare and welfare > Healthcare and welfare facilities > Scottish Women's Hospitals

People > Health and safety > Nurses

Places > Europe > Herzegovina