[Illustration: _The Staff of the Military Hospital, Endell St. W. C._
_AUGUST 1916._
(_Photo, Panora Ltd._) _Frontispiece_
]
WOMEN AS ARMY
SURGEONS
BEING THE HISTORY OF THE WOMEN’S
HOSPITAL CORPS IN PARIS, WIMEREUX
AND ENDELL STREET
SEPTEMBER 1914-OCTOBER 1919
BY
FLORA MURRAY
C.B.E., M.D., D.P.H.
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
LIMITED LONDON
TO
LOUISA GARRETT ANDERSON
‘Bold, cautious, true and my loving comrade’
TO THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS
Dear Fellow Members--This little book has been written for you and for
your pleasure.
Your work was too good to be left unrecorded; and though in these pages
I have said little in praise, yet if you will read between the lines
you will find there a very genuine affection for each one of you, and
admiration and pride for your courage and endurance. I ask you to
accept _Women as Army Surgeons_ in memory of ‘Endell Street.’
FLORA MURRAY.
PREFACE
This record of the work of the Women’s Hospital Corps in France, and
especially at the Military Hospital, Endell Street, is a valuable
contribution to the literature of the Woman Movement. Dr. Flora Murray
and Dr. Garrett Anderson made history at Endell Street. Through their
initiative, endeavour, and efficiency they opened the doors to further
fields of opportunity for women physicians and surgeons, and not only
for medical women, but for all women who are setting out, or have
already set out to conquer fresh territory. We owe them a debt of
gratitude, the recognition of which will become even more accentuated
as the years go on.
It would be difficult to put into words the pride with which the
members of the Women’s Hospital Corps served their country in the Great
War under the only woman Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army. For
this was the rank of Dr. Flora Murray when acting as Doctor-in-Charge
at the Military Hospital, Endell Street. The War Office withheld from
her both the title and the outward and visible signs of authority.
But the position, with its responsibilities, pains, and penalties, was
hers, and it is well known how she and the Chief Surgeon, Dr. Louisa
Garrett Anderson, rose to the demands of the occasion.
It is only on reading these pages that many of us who worked with them
at Endell Street will realise even partially the difficulties and
anxieties through which they passed during the four years and more
that the Hospital remained open. They had a double responsibility
all through: firstly, for the lives and welfare of the soldiers
entrusted to their care, and secondly, for the demonstration of
women’s efficiency and vindication of the confidence placed in their
professional and administrative abilities. If they had failed to
satisfy the Authorities even in the slightest detail, there is not
much doubt but that the charge of the Hospital would have been handed
over to a man, and that more than one military official would have had
the joy and triumph of saying: ‘_There--I told you so. The women have
failed medically and administratively, and have been unable to maintain
discipline._’
But the opportunity did not occur. The weeks, the months, the years
went on. Thousands of soldiers poured in and out of that Hospital. A
year after Armistice found it still open. The women had succeeded--not
failed, and had set a living example of what trained and disciplined
women could do in the service of their country.
Perhaps our C.O. will forgive me for being personal enough to refer to
one of her characteristics which was greatly appreciated by all--the
trust she reposed in those working under her. You were given your
task, your opportunity, your department, and you went ahead with it.
It was yours--your own. If you could not do it, you went. If you
could, you stayed. She interfered with no details, and harassed you
with no unnecessary restrictions. She took it for granted that you
were carrying on in the right way and in the right spirit--and judged
by results whether it were desirable that you should continue to
carry on. In this way you became and remained a living part of the
administration. Work and personality alike were benefited, and the
young received a baptism of responsibility, destined to influence them
favourably for the rest of their lives.
This is surely a great characteristic--and rare.
It is not to be wondered at that the success of this Military Hospital,
officered, staffed, and run entirely by women, became a source of
immense satisfaction and pride to all women, but more especially to
those who had taken an active part in the struggle for the Suffrage,
and had shared, with Dr. Flora Murray and Dr. Garrett Anderson, the
ups and downs, the hopes and fears, the disappointments, disillusions,
and encouragements, and all the stress and strain of a long-drawn-out
political campaign. To these, Endell Street represented work for the
country and work for the woman movement combined, and to the members
of the Women’s Hospital Corps itself it meant, in addition, a double
chance of service, a double devotion, a double inspiration, a double
reason for carrying on with undiminished enthusiasm and faithfulness to
the end.
BEATRICE HARRADEN.
_4th August 1920._
CONTENTS
PART I
THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS IN PARIS AND WIMEREUX
CHAPTER I
PAGE
ORGANISATION OF THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS, 3
CHAPTER II
ARRIVAL IN PARIS, 13
CHAPTER III
THE HOSPITAL IN THE HÔTEL CLARIDGE IS OPENED, 24
CHAPTER IV
FIRST DAYS IN PARIS, 30
CHAPTER V
A VISIT TO BRAISNE, AND AN INSPECTION, 43
CHAPTER VI
THE HOSPITAL AND ITS VISITORS, 60
CHAPTER VII
LES DÉFENSEURS DE NOTRE PATRIE, 74
CHAPTER VIII
THE UNIT EXPANDS, 78
CHAPTER IX
THE HOSPITAL AT WIMEREUX UNDER THE R.A.M.C. IS OPENED, 90
CHAPTER X
CLOSURE OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE HÔTEL CLARIDGE, 102
CHAPTER XI
THE CORPS IS OFFERED A HOSPITAL IN LONDON, 113
PART II
THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS IN LONDON
CHAPTER I
ORGANISATION OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, 123
CHAPTER II
FIRST DAYS OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, 137
CHAPTER III
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WORK, 160
CHAPTER IV
THE VISITORS--THE ENTERTAINMENTS--THE LIBRARY, 178
CHAPTER V
THE WOMEN ORDERLIES, 198
CHAPTER VI
THOSE WHO MADE THE WHEELS GO ROUND, 213
CHAPTER VII
THE POSITION OF WOMEN UNDER THE WAR OFFICE, 230
CHAPTER VIII
CLOSURE OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, 246
ILLUSTRATIONS
THE STAFF OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, _Frontispiece_
PAGE
ORDERLY HODGSON IN THE UNIFORM OF THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS, 8
A WARD IN THE HÔTEL CLARIDGE, 9
THE MORTUARY IN THE HÔTEL CLARIDGE, 72
THE MATRON OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, 73
THE GATE OF THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, AND THE
TRANSPORT OFFICER--MISS M. E. HODGSON, 120
AN AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY, 121
THE OPHTHALMIC SURGEON--DR. AMY SHEPPARD, O.B.E., 128
A SURGEON--DR. WINIFRED BUCKLEY, O.B.E., 129
THE PATHOLOGIST--DR. HELEN CHAMBERS, C.B.E., 136
SEARCHING FOR PROTOZOA IN THE LABORATORY, 137
THE CHIEF SURGEON WITH GARRETT AND WILLIAM, 144
THE DOCTOR-IN-CHARGE SEES MEN IN HER OFFICE, 145
IN THE OPERATING THEATRE, 168
AN INSPECTION IN THE DENTAL ROOM, 169
IN THE LIBRARY, 192
ORDERLIES IN PROCESSION GOING TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 193
STRETCHER BEARERS AND SERGEANT-MAJOR HARRIS, 216
QUARTERMASTER CAMPBELL AND ORDERLY COOK MAKE PLASTER PYLONS, 217
THE CHIEF COMPOUNDER IN THE DISPENSARY, 232
THE CHIEF CLERK IN THE OFFICE, 233
AIRING LINEN, 248
HOSING THE SQUARE, 249
PART I
THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS IN PARIS AND WIMEREUX
CHAPTER I
ORGANISATION OF THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL CORPS
In August 1914 it was a popular idea that war was man’s business and
that everything and every one else should stand aside and let men
act. But there were many persons who failed to endorse this view and
who held that, though men may have been responsible for the war, the
business of it concerned men and women equally. Far from standing aside
and leaving men to act alone, every woman in the land accepted her duty
and her responsibility, and recognised at once that if the war was to
be won it must be won by the whole nation, and by the common effort of
all her children.
The long years of struggle for the Enfranchisement of Women which
had preceded the outbreak of war had done much to educate women in
citizenship and in public duty. The militant movement had taught them
discipline and organisation; it had shown them new possibilities in
themselves, and had inspired them with confidence in each other. In
face of the greater militancy of men, the Suffragists called a truce,
and set their adherents free for service in government departments,
in factories and in hospitals. Workrooms were opened, day-nurseries
established and surgical supply depots commenced their useful labours.
Women who had been trained in medicine and in surgery knew
instinctively that the time had come when great and novel demands
would be made upon them, and that a hitherto unlooked-for occasion for
service was at their feet. It was inconceivable that in a war of such
magnitude women doctors should not join in the care of the sick and
wounded, but it was obvious that prejudice would stand in their way.
Their training and their sympathies fitted them for such work; they
knew and could trust their own capacity; but they had yet to make their
opportunity.
Amongst others, Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson and Dr. Flora Murray were
determined that medical women desiring to give their services to the
nation should not be excluded from military work and from the great
professional opportunities naturally arising from it. An opening,
therefore, had to be found for them. As militant suffragists they
had had dealings with the Home Office, and had gained an insight into
the cherished prejudices and stereotyped outlook of officials. One
government department is very like another, and to have approached the
War Office at that time would only have meant to court a rebuff. But
it was common knowledge that the French Army was inadequately supplied
with surgeons and hospitals; and they turned their attention where the
need was great.
On the 12th of August these two doctors called at the French Embassy
and were received by one of the secretaries in an absolutely airless
room. The atmosphere was enhanced by red damask wall hangings and
upholstery, and by an aroma of stale cigar smoke. In somewhat rusty
French they laid before him an offer to raise and equip a surgical unit
for service in France. The secretary may have been rather mystified
as to their intentions; for medical women were off his horizon. Very
likely he never realised that they themselves intended to go to the aid
of the French wounded; but he affirmed again and again the real need
of France for medical and surgical aid, for stores of all kinds and
for English nurses. He begged ‘Mesdames’ to call upon the President of
the French Red Cross in London and discuss the matter with her, and,
tendering with the utmost courtesy a card of introduction, he directed
them to her house.
Madame Brasier de Thuy was the President of the branch of the French
Red Cross known as ‘L’Union des Femmes de France.’ The title of her
Society was attractive, and she herself combined great charm of manner
with a pleasing personality. Although she was oppressed with anxiety
for the safety of France and the welfare of her relations, she was
working hard to raise money and necessaries for the French Red Cross.
She had few fellow-workers and no organisation to help her, and
both she and Monsieur Brasier de Thuy often wrote and toiled far
into the night. She received with great cordiality the offer of a
fully equipped surgical unit, comprised of women doctors and trained
nurses. Surgeons were a godsend and English nurses an indescribable
boon. No difficulties were raised; and the offer was transmitted to
the headquarters of her Society in Paris. Within a week, a formal
acceptance from Paris reached Dr. Garrett Anderson, accompanied by
a request that the unit might be organised at once and be ready, if
required, to start on the 1st of September.
There remained exactly twelve days of August in which to raise the
funds required, find a staff and purchase the equipment and all the
stores which would be needed.
The appeal for money was made privately and met with a prompt and
generous response. Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D., Mrs. Granger and Sir
Alan Anderson led the way with large donations. Miss S. A. Turle, Miss
Janie Allan and other women interested in women’s work sent liberal
help. Letters of encouragement and further subscriptions poured in, and
within a fortnight the sum of £2000 was placed to the credit of the
Women’s Hospital Corps, which was the name decided upon for the unit.
This amount was enough to purchase the equipment, defray the
preliminary expenses and leave a working balance in hand.
At that time the authorities in Paris had not decided where the Corps
was to be located; it was thought that it might be established in a
château near Belfort, where it would have to be self-dependent; and
this possibility had to be taken into account when making purchases.
Comprehensive lists of drugs, stores and hospital equipment were drawn
up with a view to all emergencies. Many kinds of serum were included,
with cases of invalid foods and chloroform, chests of tea, clothing,
blankets, camp bedsteads, enamel ware and a full set of surgical
instruments. Altogether, £1000 was spent on the equipment, which
afterwards proved to be adequate for the needs of both the hospitals
managed by the Corps.
Offers of service were gladly accepted from Dr. Gertrude Gazdar, Dr.
Hazel Cuthbert and Dr. Grace Judge. Many applications were considered
from nurses and from girls anxious to go out as supernumeraries or
orderlies; and the staff was rapidly completed. It was decided to
include a few male nurses, and in order to find suitable men recourse
was had to the St. John’s Ambulance Association, at St. John’s Gate,
Clerkenwell.
In these early days every public office probably presented an air of
chaos, and ‘The Gate’ was no exception. In the central hall a swarm of
people circulated without ceasing through a maze of chairs and tables;
loud crashes of falling furniture, due to the entanglement of umbrellas
and draperies, punctuated the incessant conversations. Every one was
friendly, anxious to help and willing to work, but the confusion and
noise of voices had a bewildering effect.
[Illustration: ORDERLY HODGSON IN THE UNIFORM OF THE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL
CORPS
(Page 10)
(_Photo, Stuart_)
]
[Illustration: A WARD IN THE HÔTEL CLARIDGE
(Page 11)
]
In the smaller rooms some kind of departmental order was growing. With
real kindness, the authorities gave advice and assistance, and one of
the officials put the doctors into touch with two first-class male
nurses, who proved most valuable assistants.
The place was full of rumours and of special information brought over
by its Commissioners about military matters and German atrocities. All
the head officials appeared to have different opinions and to come to
different decisions, and one old gentleman, who held a high office,
kept saying, ‘Kitchener will never let you cross, you know. Does
Kitchener know you are going? He won’t let any one cross.’
‘The Gate’ distrusted the French Red Cross, and was quite sure that if
anything was left for it to do it would be muddled; and the French Red
Cross could not understand why ‘The Gate’ should offer to arrange about
passports and baggage, since it was quite able to do all that itself.
As a matter of fact, the arrangements for the transport of baggage were
made, and most excellently made, by Monsieur Brasier de Thuy.
The packing was done by Messrs. John Barker & Co., of Kensington, a
firm which also supplied a great part of the equipment. When the bales
and boxes were complete, they were piled in the street outside their
premises and made an imposing array. There were more than a hundred
packages--many large Red Cross cases with padlocks, all labelled and
painted with ‘Croix Rouge Française’ and ‘Women’s Hospital Corps,’
with lists of their contents noted on them and the address. Piled on
the top of them were enormous bales of wool and blankets, pillows and
clothing. The display attracted crowds of interested spectators as it
lay under the awnings, and members of the Corps who saw it thrilled
with anticipation and eagerness.
The uniform of the Corps had been chosen carefully. It consisted of
a short skirt with a loose, well-buttoned-up tunic, and was made of
covert coating of a greenish-grey colour. The material was light and
durable, and stood wear and weather well. The medical officers had red
shoulder straps with the Corps initials, ‘W.H.C.,’ worked on them in
white, and the orderlies had white collars and shoulder straps with red
letters. The white was not serviceable, and at a later date blue was
substituted for it. Small cloth hats with veils and overcoats to match
made a very comfortable and useful outfit.
That uniform was a passport which admitted the women who wore it to
offices, bureaus, stations, canteens, wherever their work took them.
It was equally correct in hospitals, in ambulances, in the streets of
Paris and among troops. In some magic way it opened doors and hearts
and pockets.
The Parisians murmured, ‘C’est chic, ça!’
The senior British officer asked, ‘Who designed your uniform?’
And the subaltern said, ‘Where did you get that jolly kit?’
Feminine, graceful, business-like, it was invaluable as an introduction
to the character of the Corps.
Before leaving England, it was necessary to appoint a representative
in London to receive gifts and to send over these and any extra things
which might be wanted. Dr. Louisa Woodcock undertook this work, and
found that it was no sinecure. For as soon as the work of the hospital
in Paris became known at home, her correspondence increased by leaps
and bounds and her house was crowded with sacks and parcels coming from
all parts of the country.
Her interest in the formation of the unit was only equalled by that of
Mrs. Garrett Anderson, the pioneer woman doctor, who, though eighty
years of age, came up to London in order that she might hear all the
details at first hand.
‘If you go,’ she said, ‘and if you succeed, you will put your cause
forward a hundred years.’