Product Description

A R.A.M.C. orderly's experiences during World War One at the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, in the East End of London. He relates everyday life within the hut hospital, the predominantly cockney soldier patients and their wives, matron's sternness (R.A.M.C. stands for 'Run Away Matron's Coming!’), and talks about the nurses, V.A.D.s and other staff within the hospital. He tells us of the kindness of a Nursing Sister to a soldier's family, and of another Sister's 'pilfering' ways (who after bring 'caught' promptly left for the French Front). He also talks of unloading the packed hospital trains alongside the 'Bluebottles' (the civilian London Ambulance Column) who had worked without ceasing all the previous night at Charing Cross and Paddington Stations.

The story of the blind and partially sighted soldiers out on a day trip deciding to have fun by going up and down on the escalators on the London Underground is very funny, and particularly poignant is the tale of a blind soldier's homecoming to his miner's cottage in Yorkshire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124073 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

Observations of an Orderly at an English War Hospital 1915-1917
I bought this book as a 'stocking filler' for my husband at Christmas, he is very interested in history, especially WW1 and WW11. He loved it as it gave a personal insight, and first hand account of the time.

An easy read, and well worth it for anyone interested in history or an EMS professional.