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Page 139 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Moir, Ethel, 1916, Document
Page 139 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Page 139 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
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Item no
25167
Title
Page 139 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 1
Description
Newspaper cutting dated December 16 1916:
SCOTTISH WOMEN IN
DOBRUDJA
___________
STORY OF FINE WORK UNDER HARD
CONDITIONS.
____________
WHOLE UNIT RECOMMENDED FOR
MILITARY MEDALS
_______
News by letter has come from the
Scottish women who have been nursing
the wounded in the Dobrudja.
The Transport Column did extraordinary
work in conveying ambulances from the
firing line to the base hospital along a
roadless country, which was mud all the
way, slippery as glass up the hills, and
often under fire. The chauffeuses needed
more than the average amount of Scotch
determination, merely dealing with the
elements. The base hospital was set up at
Medgidia for the Serbs, but the patients
were a medley of Serbs, Russians and
Roumanians.
The Serbs knew the Scottish women,
and almost appreciated what seemed at
first a fanatical belief in fresh air and soap
and water. The Russian patients suffered
from depression, which is an unusual com-
plaint in these hospitals. The matter was
looked into.
"Kasha (a sort of bean porridge) is what
they want," said a Sister of a neighbour-
ing Russian hospital.
"Then kasha they shall have," responded
the Scotch cook, and proceeded to take
lessons in its preparation.
"They do not love to be so clean, and
they do not love open windows." reported
another. But somehow the patients got
over that.
"It is so good here, I am in no hurry to
go back to Russia." said one.
This hospital was only able to work for
three weeks, and then the evacuation be-
gan. The adventures of the unit are a
long tale of patience, cheerful endurance,
immensely heavy work, and kindness and
consideration from the Allied officials.
After some five days the unit was at work
once more; some had found a hospital of
11,000 wounded Roumanians needing help,
as they had but seven doctors to attend
them, and only one of whom was a sur-
geon. Temporary dressing stations were
opened. Some of the unit carried on a
hospital of 100 beds for
Artist / maker
Moir, Ethel
Date
1916
Size
20.4 x 16.0 cm
Type
Document
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
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
There's a Long Long Trail A-Winding - vol 1
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