Page 75 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 3

Category

Library Item

Item no

28203

Title

Page 75 from Ethel Moir Diary, Vol 3

Description

July 12th Verbliani.
This is "St Peter's" Day, so needless to say, a great [?] day with the Serbs, being their King's birthday. Some of us went up to Trusina this morning, to represent the Unit at a big celebration service. There was a service in Church first, at which all the big "pots" in the military line were present - such a gorgeous display of uniforms - it was fine. Personally speaking, I felt a bit "off colour" & a few minutes inside the packed church finished me & I had to retire to the fresh air. After the service was over, we adjourned to the Mess Hut and partook of luncheon. Such a tiring, lengthy game, thanks to much speechifying and drinking of healths! It was long after 2 o'cl: before we again reached our own camp. The road was being rather badly shelled as we came along, so we were not to go in "a convoy", but 15 mins had to elapse between each ambulance - so we had quite an exciting run back. In the afternoon we had sports & a special tea for the patients. Feeling a bit done up, I didn't take a v. active part in the proceedings. The weather is hot & trying, hence I suppose this terrible feeling of weariness, also we've been very busy & a bit under-staffed as several of the staff have been down with malaria & as we are a very small Unit when "up to strength", we can't allow for many casualties!

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