SWH 1914-1918
Category: Other
Updated: 31 Jan 2018
A timeline documenting the formation and wartime activities of the Scottish Women's hospitals during the Great War.
Contributors
Created byNatasha Stoyce
Attachments
Events
28/06/14
Gavrilo Princip
assassinates Archduke
Franz Ferdinand in
Sarajevo.28/07/14
Austro-Hungary declares
war on Serbia.04/08/14
Britain joins the war
on Serbia's side.18/09/14
A notice is published
in the 'Common Cause', journal
of the NUWSS stating that the
Scottish Federation appeals for
£100 (£10,588 in 2016) to enable
a mobile Red Cross Hospital
to work at the Front. Elsie
Inglis named as main proposer of the
scheme.At some point in October, 1914,
the Scottish Women's Hospitals
officially form and are
given their name. Fundraising
begins.04/12/14
First SWH French
Unit crosses the Channel
to Dieppe.11/12/14
First Serbian Unit
headed by Dr Eleanor
Soltau begins journey
to Serbia (via Malta &
Salonica).07/11/14
The French
accept the
SWH's offer
of medical assistance.08/11/14
The Serbian
government
accept the SWH's
offer of medical
assistance.Mid-April:
A telegram is received at SWH HQ
stating that Dr Soltau is ill with diptheria.
Dr Elsie Inglis resolves to replace her.
Takes Rt. Hon. Evelina Haverfield (administrator) to Kragujevac with her.Mid-February
The SWH equipment
sub-committee in operation.
Hold first meeting.
Deal with mundane
but essential business
(e.g. Who will supply whisky/cotton
pyjamas for the units etc.).21/04/15
The second Serbian Unit
headed by Dr Alice Hutchison
sets sail for Serbia, but is
diverted en route.27/04/15
Second Serbian Unit
arrive in Malta.
Though they expect to
move on swiftly, the unit
is commandeered by the
Maltese who beseech them
to help treat the wounded
from the Dardanelles.18/05/15
Colonel Hunter of the RAMC
proposes that the SWH move
to Mladenovac to deal with
the incresingly worsening
Typhus epidemic.May:
The Kragujevac unit splits in two.
Surgical hospital left
in Kragujevac with
Dr Lillian Chesney in charge.
Unit members:
Dr Lillian Chesney
Dr Laird
7 nurses
The rest head to Mladenovac.06/06/15
Dr Hurchison's unit arrives in Serbia.
The first tent is pitched at Valjevo.28/05/15
Mladenovac Unit forms:
Dr Elsie Inglis
Dr Beatrice MacGregor
Dr Bignold
Dr Mary Phillips (Sent home after suffering badly from enteric fever.)
Dr Sybil Lewis (Replacement doctor.)
Dr Ellen Porter (Replacement doctor.)
Evalina Haverfield (Transferred to Mladenovac from Kragujevac because of a personality clash with Dr Chesney.)
Vera “Jack” Holme.July:
Heads of the SWHSU
meet at Kragujevac
to discuss their role
in a country where there
was no fighting and - by then -
very little disease.
1) Resolution passed that no
unit should leave. Wait for emergencies.
2) Dr Inglis proposes the takeover
of a Serbian hospital in Lazarovac.
Puts Dr Holloway in charge.In August (Valjevo):
3 doctors and 3 nurses
become seriously ill with
enteric fever.
Dr Mary Phillips becomes
too weak to continue and is sent home.
Dr Sybil Lewis & Dr Ellen Porter
replace Dr Phillips.
One nurse - Sister Sutherland - died.07/09/15
Stone Fountain is unveiled
in Elsie Inglis' honour at Mladenovac.May, 1915
The Girton & Newnham Unit
forms - funded by the Cambridge
women's colleges.
Sent to Troyes.
Members:
Dr Laura Sandeman in charge of medical beds.
Dr Anne Louise McIlroy in charge of surgical beds.
Isabel Emslie (Junior Doctor)
Honoria Keer (Junior Doctor)
Edith Stoney
Mary Laird
Olive King
Violet Inglis (Elsie’s niece)
Mrs Harley (Administration)
Katherine Loudon (New Administrator – June 1915)September:
Girton & Newnham unit prepared for
Allied offensiveThe Battle of Loos:
Took place from
25 September – 8 October 1915
in France on the Western Front.06/10/15
Girton & Newnham Unit
asked to go along with
the French Expeditionary
Force to Salonica.20/10/15
Girton & Newnham Unit
set sail for Marseilles. Arrive
in Salonica at the beginning
of November.08/10/15
The Fall of Belgrade.
Serbian Retreat begins.12/10/15
Mladenovac Unit forced to evacuate.
Set up emergency dressing
station at Kragujevac. Handling
aprox. 400 cases a day.17/10/15
Dr. Hutchison's
Valjevo Unit receive orders
to evacuate by the next day.
After a stop-over, they reach
Vrnjacka Banja where they
are given hospital of 100 beds.Takeover of Serbian
hospital at Lazarevac
by Dr Holloway.Evacuation of Lazarevac
hospital.Following 3-day journey
Lazarevac unit reach
Krusevac.
Open another dressing
station at a barracks.Mladenovac Unit:
Ordered to Kraljevo.
Opened another dressing
station.Kragujevac Unit:
Dr Chesney's unit still in
Kragujevac but full to
overflowing.
Beds increase from 125 to 175.Kragujevac Unit receives
orders to evacuate.
Sent to Krusevac.
Journey tooke 40 hours
instead of 4.German Army occupy
2 bridges over the Danube.
Kragujevac becomes their
first objective.25/11/15
Serbian Field Marshal
Radomir Putnik orders
a full retreat of the Serbian
military south and west
through Allied Kingdom
of Montenegro and into
neutral Principality of
Albania.SERBIAN RETREAT:
SWH Serbian units
faced with choice:
Retreat
OR
Remain in
Serbia and fall into
enemy hands.REMAIN:
Dr Hutchison resolves
to stay in Vrnjacka Banja along with
some other women from her
Valjevo unit.REMAIN:
Dr Inglis, miserable
about abandoning
patients in
Kragujevac, stays
(in Krusevac?).05/11/15
RETREAT:
Two groups of women
join the Serbian Retreat.
1 group under William Smith (clerk).
1 group under Dr MacGregor.23/12/15
Some of the retreating
women arrive home
in Britain.07/11/15
Chesney's unit, now in
Krusevac (with Inglis?).
German's arrive and
takeover.
Orders for removal of
ALL Serb patients.All Serb patients from Krusevac
ordered to Czar Lazar Hospital
where Dr Hollway is in charge.08/11/15
German's order the women
to leave and join Dr Hollway.24/11/15
German's prepare
to leave Krusevac and handover
occupation duties to the Austrians.10/11/15
Austrians enter Vrnjacka Banja.30/11/15
Dr Hutchison's unit
sent to Krusevac.Kevevara:
Dr Hutchison's unit
not allowed to stay
in Krusevac.
Sent out of Serbia
into Hungary.
32 women were
given 2 rooms.
Held as prisoners for 5 weeks.17/12/15
Dr Hutchison ordered
to take charge of Serb
cholera block.
Received a backlash of abuse.
Kept incarcerated until end
of the war and treated like a
prisoner.Dr Hutchison and Dr Inglis
meet in Kevevara.
Dr Inglis' unit of over 20 people
being held in 1 room where they
eat, sleep and work.c. 20/11/15
Girton & Newnham Unit start to work
for the Serbs.
Whilst the Serbs retreated and
other SWH units were taken hostage
the Girton & Newnham unit
sent to Ghevgheli.04/12/15
After a fortnight of
working, orders received
by Girton & Newnham unit
to evacuate their hosptial at Ghevgheli.
Sent back to Salonica where another
SWH unit is now working.c. Beginning of November
Girton & Newnham unit
arrive in Salonica.End of October:
Corsica Unit arrives in
Salonica. There does not seem
to be much for them to do.
Head = Dr Mary Blair25/12/15
Dr Blair's Corsica unit
land in Corsica on Christmas morning.
Blair: 'It was the dreariest Christmas
that any of us have ever spent.' There were
over 300,000 refugees 'and they looked
so desolate and forlorn though most
of them put a brave face on it, that we
all felt inclined to weep.'
They spend their time offering aid
to Serbian refugees.28/12/15
28 members of Inglis' unit
accept offer of repatriation.
They had been held as prisoners
and transferred from:
Belgrade > Kevevara > Vienna > Waidhofen.
Held at Waidhofen for 5 weeks before being
sent back to Vienna, Switzerland & then home.07/02/16
Unofficial reports that whole
hospital unit to be moved to
Belgrade.
Inglis, Haverfield, Holme & Dr Corbett
wish to stay in Serbia. Concoct a scheme
to conceal themselves in peasant's
cottages, thus be left behind.
Due to delayed departure of the unit,
their absence was noticed and they were
forced to join the rest.29/02/16
The unit reaches England.28/12/15
28 members of Dr Inglis'
unit accept offer of
repatriation.29/02/16
Dr Hutchison's unit
sent to Keceskemet, near
Budapest.03/02/16
Dr Hutchison's unit
told they would be
going home.05/02/16
Dr Hutchison's unit
begins their homeward
journey from Vienna.
At Austrian frontier
they were searched and
all letters, diaries, photos
and undeveloped film was
seized.
Margaret Kerr, Alice Hutchison
manage to save their diaries by
concealing them.12/02/16
Arrival of Hutchison's
unit in London 'having
had no communication from
home for four months.'08/02/16
Dr Blair reports
42 patients.
20 = soldiers.
3 bad typhoid cases.
1 tubercular meningitis.
Several cases of abscesses.
Several pneumonias.
2 cases of Phtisis.
Many cases of high fever.By the beginning of April ...
Dr Blair's hospital has 62 patients.
Very short-staffed.
The opening of an isolation
hospital really stretches them.
Blair wires for another
doctor and more nurses to be sent out..April:
Dr Elsie Inglis visits Corsica. Very pleased
with hospitals running and progress.May:
Dr Edith Hollway & Dr Mary Phillips,
who have both served in Serbia,
are sent out to Corsica.
Many of the nurses who
also arrive in Corsica have
served in Serbia previously, too.03/04/16
Elsie Inglis becomes first woman to
be awarded the "Order of the White
Eagle," highest honour that can be
bestowed in Serbia.16/04/16
Dr Inglis receives a response from
Government of India to her
offer of medical assistance for
Mesopotamia.
They shift responsibility of acceptance
back to Chief Imperial General Staff War
Office, who originally sent Inglis to them.
Eventually, case ends up with Sir Alfred Keogh,
who refused SWH assistance in 1914.
REFUSED AGAIN WITH NO CLEAR REASON
OTHER THAN THEIR GENDER. (p. 57).16/03/16
Fundraiser Kathleen Burke is raising
funds for SWH's Serbia mission in
America.
In May she reaches her goal of £10,000
(present day: £798,230.77).JUNE 1916:
Serbs from
Austro-Hungarian empire
surrender to the Russian
Army rather than fighting
against other Serbs.
Serbian government request
medical units from SWH
to be attached to the Serbs in
Russian Army.
SWH Committee agrees as long as Dr Inglis
heads it.
Dr Inglis refuses, claiming that
'Serbs need hospitals badly.'
(p. 59)JUNE 1916:
Dr Inglis adds in her letter responding to SWH
Committee's requests that she wishes to resign. (p. 59)
Cites the committees attitudes as a reason for her resignation.
Their wish for her to take the unit to Russia, she claims, makes it seem:
'not a question of "Is the Unit needed,"
only of who will take it. The Unit may
be needed but if I don't take it, it is not
to go.' (p. 59).The SWH Committee believe that:
'It would surely be disastrous to our
future if Dr Inglis carries out her
threatened resignation. What a fiasco
for the public to gloat over - how it would
thrill them to think when women cannot
get their own way in every little detail,
they must needs all threaten resignation.'
(p. 60)01/07/16
Battle of the Somme begins.Events at Somme = Increase
in cases at Royamount.JULY 1916:
Due to length of the war,
War Office was now recruiting female doctors.18/11/16
Battle of Somme ends.September:
Dr Blair advises committee
she will be leaving in September
alongside Dr Edith Hollway.Summer of 1916:
Macedonia experiences malaria
epidemic.August, 1916:
'American' Unit arrives
in Salonica.
60 members.
CMO: Dr Agnes Bennett.
Some members old 'SWH'
members. Dr Lewis & Dr Scott
were prisoners. Dr Muncaster on the
Retreat.
Mrs. Harley's transport column attached.
Ishobel Ross' unit!17/08/16
American Unit is moved from
Salonica to Ostrvo. Very near
the Front.LONDON UNIT:
01/09/16
The London Unit set out for Russia.
CMO: Dr Elsie Inglis
Evalina Haverfield Transport Column.
Known as 'the greys' because of
their uniform.10/10/16
LONDON UNIT
Arrives in Archangel, Russia.London Unit:
Mid-September, 1916.
Travelled South by train from Archangel to Odessa.London Unit:
Arrive in Odessa 9 days after leaving Archangel.
Many of the locals were amazed by these
"masculine" women:
'They stop and ask us if we're Boy Scouts!'
(Katherine Hodges, p. 75)
Newspaper accounts were:
'killingly funny ... [they]
said we were strong manly
women.' (Elsie Bowerman, p. 75.)24/09/1916:
London Unit leaves for Medjidia, Rumania.
They were given their own barrack hospital.
First 2 days spent cleaning, then wounded
came pouring in.08/10/1916:
Ethel Moir, orderly, writes:
'we were all at the "end of our tether",
but the sight of a mail bag bucked us up
no end, & altho' dead weary, we sat up
1/2 the night reading the home letters
& newspapers.' (p. 78)14/10/1916:
The railway line in Medjidia hit.London Unit is split:
12 members of unit headed by
Dr Chesney, sent forward to
Bul-Bul-Mic to start a field hospital.20/10/1916
Chesney/B unit:
Moved back from Bul-Bul-Mic line.
Medjidia had a 'diabolical' morning. (p.78)21/10/1916:
B Unit:
Left Bul-Bul-Mic on this evening
due to German & Bulgarian advance.26/10/1916:
B Unit:
Started retreating at 5am and did
not halt at all that night.27/10/1916:
B Unit:
Reach the pontoon bridge at
Isaccea and crossed the Danube from
Rumania into Russia.
The Bulgarians 'very nearly nabbed us.'
(Ethel Moir, p. 80.)25/10/1916:
Span of the main bridge across the Danube at
Tchernavoda was blown up by the retreating
Rumanians.22/10/1916:
Constanza abandoned.Early November:
Dr Chesney's Unit still retreating.Autumn, 1916:
During this second retreat members of the
SWH occasionally met, but for the most part
retreated via different routes.SWH Unit members end up
in 3 different towns:
Galatz & Braila = Rumania
Ismail = Russia.
Equipment was in Galatz.
Thousands of wounded men pouring into Braila
& only 1 surgical hospital and 1 civillian hospital
in the town. Dr Inglis ordered as many
of her unit as possible to Braila.B Unit:
In Ismail, capital of Bessarabia, Dr Chesney
opened small hospital.
Serbian doctor looked after medical cases.
Dr Chesney looked after surgical cases.12/09/1916:
The Battle of the Gornichevo ridge begins.
Only a few miles from Ostrvo.
Pressure to open hospital.19/09/1916:
the Drina Division make it to the summit
of Kajmakcalan (Gornichevo Ridge),
send the Bulgarians into retreat.05/10/1916:
Olive Smith, the masseuse, seemed
to be recovering from malaria, but passed
away the same evening.16/11/1916:
Dr Agnes Bennett, who had strong views on
acceptable behaviour, is worried about the
'very objectionable' rumours that were
doing the rounds about the girls. (p. 90)27/10/1916:
Delegates had come to Salonica
to set the Girton & Newnham Unit to rights.19/11/1916
Monastir retaken.
Morale boost for the Serbs and Allies.December, 1916:
LONDON UNIT:
On the move again. Dr Inglis agrees
to place her unit under the Russian Red
Cross as temporary measure.
Sent to Ciulnitza - next target for
attack. Bucharest falls next day.27/11/1916
Battle of Bucharest begins.06/12/1916
Battle of Bucharest ends.
Bucharest falls to Central Powers.
Allies withdraw from Dobrudja.
Galatz threatened.11/12/1916
LONDON UNIT:
Reaches Braila.
Uncertainty of the Russian defence
means the unit is swifly moved back
to Galatz.
'This has been our second retreat in
less than three months,' wrote Dr Inglis,
'and the unit has behaved with its usual
good temper and cheerfulness through
this last, which I think has been the most
uncomfortable retreat I have ever
experienced: and I feel that I am becoming
an old hand at them now.'December in Galatz.
One of Dr Inglis' primary concerns
- in addition to setting up a hospital -
was 'the discovery that some members
of the unit were swearing (not surprisingly,
the Transport were the worst offenders).
(p. 96).27/12/1916:
Hospital in Galatz is ready. (Only
hospital in the town!)30/12/1916
Wounded begin to pour into
Galatz hospital.
By the end of the first night the hospital
is completely full with 109 patients.01/01/1917:
Elsie Bowerman recorded the arrival
of 147 more wounded in Galatz.
(Hospital max. 107).04/01/1917:
Order is given to evacuate Galatz.
Dr Inglis insists upon staying until
every last patient is taken to safety.B Unit:
Ismail heavily bombed.
B Unit unable to remain in Ismail.
Eventually decided that Dr Chesney
would start a base hospital in Odessa.22/12/1917:
B Unit arrive at 100 bed
hospital in Odessa.04/01/1917:
9 members of Evalina Haverfield's
Transport unit just arrived in Odessa
after a bust with Mrs. H.
Unclear what the bust up was about.22/01/1917:
Dr Inglis travels the 150 miles from
Reni to Odessa in an attempt to sort out
Haverfield's Transport unit woes.02/02/1917:
The London Committee of the SWH
hold a special meeting re:
Mrs. H Transport woes with 5 of
Mrs. H's transport members who had
returned home.
Women cited a lack of proper
administration/organisation as reason for
woes. Mrs. H is difficult to work for.Early February:
'B Unit' have packed up
because there is little work in Odessa.23/02/1917:
Ellie Rendel writes:
'Here we are still stuck fast in Odessa
and in a state bordering on homicidal
mania.' (p. 100).19/03/1917:
'B unit' finally receives orders to
move.December:
Dr Bennett's 'American Unit' is
packed up and ready to go, but
orders to leave never arrive.December:
Dr Agnes Bennett has the idea
to establish an outpost hospital at
Dobraveni in the mountains.
Just 40 beds would make a difference
to the many wounded men in the area.09/12/1917:
Dr Bennett travels to Salonica
with Agneta Beauchamp to see
Col. Sondermeyer re: outpost
hospital.
He is 'biddable as a lamb' and agrees
to the idea.11/12/1916:
The French suspend operations
on the Macedonian front; Monastir
was to be held but no further
advance to be made.22/01/1917:
Incident regarding SWH Ostrovo/American
unit leaving the French causes a rift
between Dr McIlroy and Miss Bauchamp.
Miss Beauchamp, fearing that the
doctors would resign rather than submit to
outside control, tries to resign to avert
crisis.Mid-January:
British War Office hands
over the 300 bed Girton
& Newnham unit to the Serbian Army.
The French are very offended because
the unit had worked so well under them.
SWH believe request has come from French,
whilst French claim the request has come
from the SWH.
Misunderstanding cleared up by
Dr McIlroy who insists they wish
to remain under the French.American Unit
Seeing the Ostrvo hospital so idle
Miss Beauchamp suggests dividing
hospital into two with 100 beds
given to Dr Hutchison in Vodena.
This arrangement was much to the
distaste of Dr Bennett, who threatened to
resign.11/02/1917:
Dr Bennett reports
that the work done by outpost
station is so good that Dr Cooper
has been decorated by Russians.19/02/1917:
Girton & Newnham Unit
For a fortnight in February,
the Girton & Newnham Unit
comes under duristiction of
British WO.
Dr McIlroy very unhappy about this.
'The whole object of these Scottish
Women's Hospitals was to show that
although doctors were refused by the
W.O. they were capable of doing the
work of Army doctors, and the French
were generous enough to give us the
opportunity of showing it. Now we have
been commandeered by the War office.'
(p. 105.)19/02/1917:
Administrator Lilian Laloe
writes to Mrs Laurie that
no one quite knows what kind of
hospital the Girton & Newnham
Unit are now.January 1917:
Corsica Unit
Hospital now has 80 beds
& has treated c. 2000 patients.
Personality clash raging between
CMO Mary Phillips - beloved by the
Serbs - and the administrator,
Miss Culbard.The Russian Revolution beginsThe Russian Revolution "ends."March, 1917:
When Russian Revolution began
several Transport members, and
some orderlies,
were in Petrograd awaiting
passage home.
Street fighting took place outside
their hotels.March 12-17th, 1917:
Revolutionaries take over top floor
of London Unit's building.
Elsie Bowerman and her friend have a
narrow escape when they hide in a church
from gunmen, only to learn that the
church is being fired at.
By the end of the week,things seem to
have returned to "normal."20/03/1917:
Prince Dolgourkoff, who commanded
the Reni area, paid Elsie Inglis' unit
a surprise visit and decorated some
of the wounded and ALL unit members
who had taken part in the Dobrudja retreat
with the St. George's Medal 'for bravery
under fire.' (p. 112)10/04/1917:
One of Dr Inglis' orderlies, Agnes
Murphy, is arrested on suspicion of spying.
Russians insisted upon taking Murphy
away for questioning, but Dr Inglis refused
to let her go alone, so accompanied her.11/04/1917:
Ellenor Broadbent, taking a walk and carrying
2 books (her diary and a book on Russian
Grammar) is arrested and her
books confiscated.
Dr Inglis immediately pays a visit
to town commandant and Broadbent was
released. Leaves the women 'boiling
with rage and insult.' (114)Easter:
'B Unit'
Have left Odessa for Tecuci in Rumania.
Spend 2 days upon arrival searching
for hospital site and camping ground.09/05/1917:
Ellie Rendel writes to her mother
to let her know their hospital is
full.Spring 1917:
Germany's declaration of unrestricted
submarine warfare means WO is refusing
to consent for women doctors and nurses
to travel abroad.05/06/1917:
Dr Inglis has vexations.
Advises the London Committee
that Margaret Marx (Transport Officer
since Haverfield's departure) was so
worried about the situation in Russia that
she did not want to have women drivers
anymore, and when Dr Inglis refused male
drivers, she resigned.
(See p. 116 for more.)Mid-July
Most trained nurses had completed
their contracts and departed. The Foreign
Office was adamant about no more
women travelling to Russia, so replacements
could not be sent, and Dr Inglis
reluctantly closed down 'B' Hospital in Tecuci.Mid- July 1917:
Closure of 'B Hospital' in Tecuci.
Remaining women move forward
to Varnitza.2 days later:
Air-raids begin in Varnitza.10 days later:
Women moved to another valley,
but the Germans attacked leaving the
women under constant shell fire.
Unit members retreated to Tecuci and
thence to Reni, where they joined Dr
Inglis' unit.10-20 August, 1917:
Dr Inglis is in Odessa
trying to persuade authorities not
to demand a useless sacrifice of the
Serbs by sending them back to
another debacle in Rumania.17/08/1917:
Margaret Fawcett writes that
there is no time to write home
because there are 200 patients in
the hospital.05/05/1917:
Dr Bennett writes to the committee
that the American Unit has been through
a troublesome time because of individuals
claiming the unit is 'not wanted.' (119).Early June:
Dr Bennett works on reorganising
the staff work.20/06/1917:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Main preoccupation of CMO is
finding another site for the hospital.
'The smells nearly knock one over there,
and it is not the fault of the hospital.' (121).August, 1917:
Great fire sweeps through
Salonica & for several hours
there are fears that the SWH camp
would go, too, but the wind changed
direction and they were saved.June, 1917:
Everybody in Corsica unit
is much happier now
after the departure of administrator,
Miss Culbard, whose personality clash
with Dr Phillips had been causing
misery.
Katherine Royds takes over admin post.June 1917:
Arrival of Dr Elizabeth Coultard from
Royamount to replace Dr Phillips.Beginning of August, 1917:
Corsica Unit
New CMO comes to the island,
Dr Matilda Macphail, to take over
Dr Courtauld's role.Committee begins to mull over the idea
of a Scottish Women's Hospital in Britain.
Would be renamed Scottish Women's
Hospitals for Home and Foreign Service.Early August:
War Office, surprisingly, approves
the idea of a home-front SWH, even
approving their chosen premises.15/08/1917:
Hospitals committee votes to
give up the idea of home-front
SWH because, citing costs.April, 1917:
American fundraiser, Kathleen Burke,
managing to raise and send £1000 a week.08/09/1917:
Kerensky and Kornilov
quarrel. London unit hears
of civil war in Petrograd.3 weeks later:
The unit has not left for Archangel
and neither have the Serbs.21/10/1917:
Plans changed. Serbs are to remain with
the Rumanians.27/10/1917:
Unit learns that the Serbian Division
is going to be transferred to
Macedonia - and the unit is to be sent
to Archangel and from there to home.30/10/1917:
The Unit leave Hadji Abdul for
Archangel.
The journey takes the best part of
4 weeks, in fourth-class carriages.
Dr Inglis is persuaded, with difficulty,
to travel in second-class carriage.07/11/1917:
Petrograd garrison falls to the Bolsheviks.09/11/1917:
The train arrives in Archangel.
The ship, Porto Lisboa, is scheduled to set
sail on the 13/11/1917.15/11/1917:
In the morning, ice breakers
clear a path and the convoy sets
sail for England.25/11/1917:
After a horrendously difficult (stormy)
and perilous journey, the unit finally
sets foot on land and returns
to Newcastle.26/11/1917:
Dr Gillian Ward, who has been taking
care of Dr Inglis, calls for a second
doctor, but discovers it is too late.
There is no more hope.
Dr Inglis directs final messages to
units, family and friends.26/11/1917:
Dr Inglis passes away that evening.End of September, 1917:
Elizabeth Abbott has nearly finished
Queensland, Australia Tour.
Does not think she will reach the £6000
hoped for.September:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Dr Louise McIlroy on leave
in Britain. Attends Hospitals
Committee meeting in Edinburgh
and reports that a new site has been
found for the unit. Expect to move
in by December. Hospital is to be extended
from 300 to 500 beds.
Asks committee for permission
to start an orthopaedic department.Mid-October, 1917:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Before Dr McIlroy back in
Salonica, Lilian Laloe, admin,
glad they have so few patients
because the camp has been
flooded.Mid-October, 1917:
American Unit in Ostrvo
Hospital now takes in medical
cases as well as surgical.
CMO Agnes Bennett has suffered
so badly from Malaria she is
sent home.
New CMO is Dr Mary de Garis,
formerly a Junior Doctor. First promotion
of this kind for the SWH.
New junior doctor, Joan Rose,
arrives in Ostrvo.November, 1917:
Dr Inglis' remaining SWH unit
rejoins Serbian Division.September, 1917:
Dr Inglis' London Unit
spends month in the village
of Hadji Abdul in Bessarabia.
Dr Inglis reports back to committee
that they have not had much work.
By this time she is extremely ill/
dying from the cancer she has kept
a secret.End of September:
Dr Inglis collapses.
She is, hereafter, too ill to leave her tent,
though on fine days she sits outside.
Continues to direct the work of the unit.
It is believed the Serbs and the unit
will leave for Archangel.02/09/1917:
Martial Law declared in Petrograd.06/12/17:
Decision made to open an Elsie
Inglis memorial hospital in
France for Serbian boys suffering
from tuberculosis.February 1918:
Sallanches Unit (Elsie Inglis Memorial
Hospital).
CMO: Dr Matilda Macphail.
60 beds.Early March, 1918:
Sallanches Unit.
First patients are admitted, though
equipment not yet arrived from
Britain and essentials had to be
borrowed from local sources.
Major problem: water supply short
because of drought.Winter 1918:
Corsica Unit
CMO is now Dr Edna Guest.
A new programme of 'health visiting'
had been started in Corsica, led by
Dr Mary Fergurson.February 1918:
Corsica Unit
Dr Guest becomes very ill.Middle of March, 1918:
Corsica Unit
Dr Guest is still ill.
Mary Saunders (administrator) writes that:
'it is doubtful if she will ever be able
to resume work in this climate.' (143).February 1918:
Elsie Inglis Unit forms.
(Managed & financed by the London
committee.)
CMO Dr Annette Benson.
Destined for the Serbian front
in Macedonia. Fully staffed.
Ethel Moir (orderly) amongst the
returned.18/02/1918:
Elsie Inglis Unit.
Inspected by the King
& Queen at Buckingham Palace.Winter, 1917:
American Unit (Ostrvo)
Avg. of 170 patients at any one time,
compared with 120 three months prior.
New CMO Dr de Garis.
Dr de Garis was a polarising figure.
She 'did not believe in a patient's right
to assent to or refuse treatment but
followed an authoritarian, military model
that said a doctor always knew best and
patients must obey orders.' (145)
Dr de Garis' behaviour led unit matron,
Mrs Nye to resign.25/12/1917:
Arrival of:
Violetta Thurstan (new matron)
&
Margaret Munn (new orderly).
The unit produced 'A DELIGHTFUL CAMP
JOURNAL AT THE TIME.' (146)25/02/1918:
American Unit (Ostrvo).
The unit's camp is hit by a hurricane
at 1am. Raged until nearly 7.
Every tent is flattened. All patients
had to be evacuated.Mid-March, 1918:
Following the hurricane,
Dr de Garis tenders her resignation.
(It was not accepted.)
She did so because she had
learned of criticisms from unit members
regarding her leadership.March, 1918:
American Unit (Ostrvo).
Arrival of Rose West (driver)
from Scotland.January, 1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit
The unit finally moves away
from the appalling site they
had been forced to inhabit up
to this point.January, 1918:
Talks from the Girton & Newnham
Unit of an administrator from
the American unit running a hostel
in Salonica for departing and
arriving SWH members.
Dr de Garis resisted this, putting
a strain on the running of the G & N
unit, who bore the brunt of staff
coming and going.Mid-January, 1918:
Elizabeth Abbott sends report to
committee re: fundraising in
Australia & New Zealand, which
she found both fruitless and trying.
Queensland contribution: £6,800.
New South Wales:
£20,000 (target)
£7,000 (raised).
Abbott: 'It is a man's country, run by men
for men; and though one is generally
met with courtesy (not always) I think
the pressure from one business man in each
place would have done as much as my
toiling and speeches.Winter 1917-1918:
Kathleen Burke about to commence
third tour of fundraising in America.
(11 Feb, 1918 - 20 June, 1918).
Continues to be a success.
Calculated that Miss Burke netted:
£10,630: 18: 3d (first tour)
£46,609: 1: 9d (second tour).06/02/1918:
Passing of the Representation
of the People Act means
women householders and the
wives of householders, aged 30
or over, were given the right to
vote.Total of 8 SWH units in the
field:
1 Girton & Newnham (Salonica)
2 American Unit (Ostrvo)
3 Elsie Inglis & transport (Macedonia)
4 Corsica Unit
5 Sallanches
6 Royamount
7 Villers Cotterets
8 CanteensSpring, 1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Spend spring getting their new
camp ready, alongside the new
Calcutta Orthopaedic Centre.June, 1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Asked to host a meeting of
the British Army Medical Society.
Dr McIlroy chairs discussion.Beginning of July, 1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit.
At the beginning of July,
22 unit members (who had been in
Serbia in autumn, 1915 or with a
Serbian unit elsewhere) were awarded
Serbian decorations.20/07/1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Visited by the King of Greece,
who is very impressed by the
unit.23/08/1918:
Calcutta Orthopaedic Unit
Officially inaguarated.Autumn, 1918:
R. W. Campbell states:
'Every doctor, nurse, and driver of these
units has achieved immortality [...] Pick
up any photos and you find them smiling -
hiding their trials and troubles, and never
revealing the awful conditions under which
they have had to work. [...] if you only
knew - [...] that ghastly shambles, the
plague-stricken fields, the scenes of pain,
horror, and devastation in which these
women have laboured you would not
sleep to-night.'
Mitchell Library, (Large Trunk).Hospitals committee seeks
legal advice about the respective
positions of the two committees
(London and Edinburgh).
Things are turning increasingly
sour between the two in their struggle for
power.15/08/1918:
Allied offensive begins in Macedonia.25/09/1918:
Armistice requested by Bulgarians and Allies.30/09/1918:
Armistice reached on Balkan Front.19/09/1918:
Yelak
Kathleen Dillon's transport unit
involved in evacuating wounded soldiers
to Scocivir. on 19th Sept, sent to the
village of Gradesnica.09/10/1918:
Kathleen Dillon's transport unit
leaves for Leskovac.October (?):
Arrival in Belgrade.
'In Belgrade the two commandants were
decorated with the Order of St Sava,
and the rest of the unit with the Gold
Medal for Zealous Service, which was
normally reserved for officers.' (173).23/10/1918:
American Unit (Ostrvo).
Leave Ostrvo and advance to Vranje.
Dr Emslie asked to take the unit there.
'It was a mobile war that the American
unit now faced.' (175)Autumn, 1918:
American Unit sets up hospital
at regimental barracks in Vranje.
Take on many sick patients. Disease is
prevalent so death almost inevitable.
Find themselves now treating
many civilian casualties. (174-175).11/10/1918:
Elsie Inglis Unit:
Ethel Moir sent back to Britain
because she falls ill.
A new arrival enters unit in the form of
Dr Ellie Rendel.
Unit finds itself in Skopje, where it is
full up and very busy with cases of malaria
and Spanish influenza ending in
pneumonia.
Lilian Laloe (administrator) writes that:
the hospital was 'still feeling the
effects of the advance.' (178)29/09/1918:
Girton and Newnham Unit
The only Macedonian unit not to
move during this period.
Dr McIlroy writes to comittee:
'I should think we will be among the
last left behind here, but I am so anxious
to help on this camp and to do the work
we are doing quietly until we are
absolutely compelled to go. I want to be
just at the Front or at the Base, as,
on the lines of communication one may
get little good work, and we are quite
satisfied with our usefulness here.' (178)11/11/1918:
ARMISTICE DAY18/11/1918:
Sallanches Unit:
Growing discord amongst staff.
Mrs Robertson writes:
'Another very worrying day. This place is
becoming as bad as Corsica for unrest
& intrigue. My opinion of women doctors
is not changing only growing "more so".
I'm afraid I'm becoming Early Victorian in
my old age - give me men to work with
thank you! every time.' (183)November 1918:
Corsica Unit:
Continuing to run smoothly under
Dr Keer.End of November:
Elizabeth Abbott is 'in the middle of a
tremendous campaign in Calcutta.'
Believes the campaign should raise
£5000.
Kathleen Burke has been visiting the
various fronts and SWH units and
was preparing to return to America
where she expected to raise another
£10,000. (184)There are continued disagreements
between the London and Hospitals
committees.
The London committee place their
resignation in the hands of the
Executive Committee of the London
Society for Women's Suffrage.
Agree to continue work until 29 December, 1918.12/12/1918:
23 members of the Royamount
unit are awarded the Croix de Guerre.31/12/1918:
Royamount to close.
Dr Coultard very upset by this.January 1919:
Sallanches Unit:
Unit continues to care for
tubercular young Serbs.
The unit is unhappy. Rifts between
Dr Bullock and Mrs Robertson.
Mrs Robertson discovers that they are
over-spending budget by almost half.
Mary Milne, the cook, is left most upset
by this. (187-188)December, 1918:
Elsie Inglis Unit
Resignation of London Committee
leaves unit in awkward situation.
Ordered to Sarajevo, so members
leave Skopje in beginning of
December, staying with
Girton & Newnham Unit in Salonica.
Whilst on board ship, Dr Chesney receives
telegram from London ordering unit
not to go to Sarajevo but to return home
at the end of December. She is very upset
but unaware of the London Committee's
resignation.Early January, 1919:
Elsi Inglis Unit:
The first unit members start for home
but small hospital still open.End of January:
Elsie Inglis Unit
Dr Chesney has an acute attack
of sciatica that can only be
alleviated with morphine.Winter, 1918:
American Unit
Still in Vranje where
they are the only hospital
and the only doctors in town.
Dealing with c. 350 patients a day.
The work-load is not decreasing.March, 1919:
American Unit
The committee agrees that the
unit should continue its work.Winter, 1918:
Kathleen Dillon's Transport Column
Remain in Serbia, though there is
no real work for them.
They were requested to stop
by Serbian authorities because Serbian
Army were very dissatisfied. It was
believed that having a foreign unit
continuing to work there would
boost morale.March, 1919:
Kathleen Dillon's Transport Column
Withdrawn.December, 1918:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Dr McIlroy discusses possibility of
opening hospital in Belgrade with
committee. Begins search for
appropriate site.January, 1919:
Girton & Newnham Unit
The hospital receiving patients
from evacuating French units,
with cases of tuberculosis, chronic
bronchitis, influenza and malaria, in
addition to its 120 orthopaedic
patients.End of January, 1919:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Dr McIlroy and Dr Gillian Ward
travel to Belgrade in pursuit of a suitable
hospital building.
Dr Mary McNeil, who has been with
unit since conception, is placed
in charge.14/03/1919
Girton & Newnham Unit
Dr McIlroy writes to the
committee claiming to have found
a perfect hospital building in Belgrade.
3 days later, Dr McIlroy finds herself
having to write to committee again
as she has received telegram claiming
the building is being taken over by
the Minister of Education.Elizabeth Abbott returns home.
No question of further collection
from the Colonies.
America is still very lucrative and Kathleen
Burke sends a further £8500 to Mrs Laurie.November, 1919:
Kathleen Burke sends Mrs Laurie
another £1000 cheque.February 1920:
Kathleen Burke finds it is no
longer possible to raise funds in America.
Her fundraising campaign ends.Spring 1919:
Closure of Corsica hospital.Spring 1919:
Closure of Sallanches Hospital.
Final nail in the unhappy unit's coffin
is the lack of order at the hospital and
the continuing discord between staff and
CMO, Dr Bullock.
'We have some beastly minded boys
here at present, and if any girls show
the least kindness, however innocent,
to a special patient, they at once spread
scandal about her. The place is seething with
filthy tales, and I should not like to
enquire what Sallanches thinks of our morals.'
(195)Spring, 1919:
American Unit
Given a reprieve.Beginning of May, 1919:
American Unit
The hospital in Vranje was full to
overflowing again.Spring 1919:
Girton & Newnham Unit
Dr McIlroy continuing to
make arrangements for
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital in Belgrade.Mid-May, 1919:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Dr McIlroy finds an excellent
building in the city and persuades
authorities to give it to SWH.
Struggles ensue in getting the
equipment and staff to Belgrade.June, 1919:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Dr McIlroy resigns.End of September, 1919:
American Unit, Vranje
Vranje Hospital to be closed down.
Dr Hutton very upset by this.September, 1919:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Dr Hutton is to take over from Dr McIlroy
in Belgrade. Former is most unhappy
about this. She believes maintaining the
hospital at Vranje would have been
the better option as it was more
needed.24/12/1919:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
The committee advise Dr Hutton to continue
working, but she is desperately
short-staffed since so many nurses
have sought other employment when
they were told the hospital was to close.Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Visited by Dr Russell and Miss Kemp
who are very keen on beginning a
training school for nurses. There was a
need for nurses in Serbia, but nursing
profession was despised by the Serbs.December, 1919:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Serbian male doctor returns to his position
at the hospital, which was apparently promised
to him without SWH's knowledge.
The SWH prepare to leave. There is no way
they can work there alongside him.March, 1920:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Hospital ceases operation.
Relations between committee and CMO
Hutton very strained.April, 1920:
Belgrade
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
Hospital disbanded.
There is much bitterness felt towards
the committee by the
nurses, orderlies, doctors and all
others affected.The committee issue a medal
for all who worked with the SWH for
2 years or more, but there
was no ceremonial disbanding of the units,
just a slow and depressing
winding down. (202)
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