December 4th, 1914 Dear Diary.
After 2 months of travel, we finally arrived at the MENA camp in Egypt today. Saying goodbye to my wife Evelyn was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, especially when I knew I might never see her again. The desert air of the Middle East hits me like a ton of bricks, a stark contrast to the lush greenery of my home in Orange. The bustling activity of camp greeted me, with soldiers preparing for the impending campaign amongst us. The colossal pyramids are all we can see, along with a sea of tents and of course, the chaos of captains, generals, privates, and then there is me, a colonel. Yesterday, I was appointed assistant director of medical services, 1st Australian Division. I am excited about my new role; …show more content…
The situation on the beachfront was turning perilous, and I couldn’t watch any longer. Disregarding orders from generals and captains all around me, I started giving orders to the other medics as the shell fire increased. I took charge of the evacuation of the wounded men that began to crowd the beach. I was in complete shock, but I had to stay focused to get everyone as safe as I could. Whizz bangs and artillery were exploding all around me, making water and sand burst out of nowhere. This lasted hours, and it only got harder as the sun went down. The hardest part of today wasn’t even the hours of continuous fear and anxiety. It was having to tell so many people that their brothers and mates were dead. That’s the worst part about being a doctor. Finally, by 3 a.m. this morning, the beach was clear. However, I intend to superintend evacuation for the ships for at least the next few days. To me, the medical service in the war is not something to be disregarded or pushed to the side, it is fundamental to fighting efficiency. And they want us to win this war, don’t they? Seeing the conditions that the soldiers must fight in makes me want to strive to improve sanitation and food and expedite the return of wounded soldiers to their units. The prior arrangements for dealing with the medical evacuations at Gallipoli are so inadequate to the point where I would almost consider it criminal negligence. We’re unsure how long we are here, but …show more content…
After Gallipoli, I was promoted to Director of AIF’s medical forces, with the rank of surgeon-general. When the AIF moved to France to fight on the Western Front, I took a position in London, overseeing medical services in France, Egypt and Palestine. Eventually, in 1917, I was promoted to major general. I won 4 awards for my various and commendable efforts and achievements, including the Order of the Bath and Order of St Michael and St George. I was extremely proud of these achievements, and finally, when the war was over, I returned home to my wife and children in Orange. After World War I, the entire world grappled with the aftermath of the conflict. The nation experienced a mixture of sorrow and relief as soldiers returned home, but many were scarred by the horrors of the front lines. After returning home, I retired from the Army and transitioned into politics, my commitment towards my country never faltered. I was voted into the House of Representatives and sought to extend the principles of courage and integrity from the battlefield into the political arena. Only two years ago was I reappointed Minister for Health and Minister for Home and Territories. This morning when my wife Evelyn brought me the paper, I couldn’t help but smile at my name on Page 9. This is an article from the Argus. My good friend of many years, Harry Chauvel, was so kind with his words, praising my efforts in the war. Until recently, Harry was
After 2 months of travel, we finally arrived at the MENA camp in Egypt today. Saying goodbye to my wife Evelyn was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, especially when I knew I might never see her again. The desert air of the Middle East hits me like a ton of bricks, a stark contrast to the lush greenery of my home in Orange. The bustling activity of camp greeted me, with soldiers preparing for the impending campaign amongst us. The colossal pyramids are all we can see, along with a sea of tents and of course, the chaos of captains, generals, privates, and then there is me, a colonel. Yesterday, I was appointed assistant director of medical services, 1st Australian Division. I am excited about my new role; …show more content…
The situation on the beachfront was turning perilous, and I couldn’t watch any longer. Disregarding orders from generals and captains all around me, I started giving orders to the other medics as the shell fire increased. I took charge of the evacuation of the wounded men that began to crowd the beach. I was in complete shock, but I had to stay focused to get everyone as safe as I could. Whizz bangs and artillery were exploding all around me, making water and sand burst out of nowhere. This lasted hours, and it only got harder as the sun went down. The hardest part of today wasn’t even the hours of continuous fear and anxiety. It was having to tell so many people that their brothers and mates were dead. That’s the worst part about being a doctor. Finally, by 3 a.m. this morning, the beach was clear. However, I intend to superintend evacuation for the ships for at least the next few days. To me, the medical service in the war is not something to be disregarded or pushed to the side, it is fundamental to fighting efficiency. And they want us to win this war, don’t they? Seeing the conditions that the soldiers must fight in makes me want to strive to improve sanitation and food and expedite the return of wounded soldiers to their units. The prior arrangements for dealing with the medical evacuations at Gallipoli are so inadequate to the point where I would almost consider it criminal negligence. We’re unsure how long we are here, but …show more content…
After Gallipoli, I was promoted to Director of AIF’s medical forces, with the rank of surgeon-general. When the AIF moved to France to fight on the Western Front, I took a position in London, overseeing medical services in France, Egypt and Palestine. Eventually, in 1917, I was promoted to major general. I won 4 awards for my various and commendable efforts and achievements, including the Order of the Bath and Order of St Michael and St George. I was extremely proud of these achievements, and finally, when the war was over, I returned home to my wife and children in Orange. After World War I, the entire world grappled with the aftermath of the conflict. The nation experienced a mixture of sorrow and relief as soldiers returned home, but many were scarred by the horrors of the front lines. After returning home, I retired from the Army and transitioned into politics, my commitment towards my country never faltered. I was voted into the House of Representatives and sought to extend the principles of courage and integrity from the battlefield into the political arena. Only two years ago was I reappointed Minister for Health and Minister for Home and Territories. This morning when my wife Evelyn brought me the paper, I couldn’t help but smile at my name on Page 9. This is an article from the Argus. My good friend of many years, Harry Chauvel, was so kind with his words, praising my efforts in the war. Until recently, Harry was