大象传媒

Social life in the field hospital at Gebeit

Annette Le Page was a nurse who had trained in London. She came from Guernsey, which had been occupied by the Germans, so she was out of contact with her home and family. The following is an extract from the diary which is in the form of the letters which she could not send to her family.

Friday Sept. 12 1941
For the first time for 8 months, our swimming pool was opened for the use of the Sisters

Saturday Sept. 13
Went with Nancy Laythorpe to a party at Wadi Gagaiya 鈥� at the R.A.F. Officers mess 鈥� met Flight Lieutenant. Ken Dundas who escorted me on our ride home in the truck.

Tuesday Sept. 16
Went to the cinema with Ken after celebrating his birthday with P/O Jeff Furnage & Nancy on the verandah.

Friday Sept. 19
Went for a picnic supper with Ken Dundas.

Sept. 30 Oct 11th
Major Monteith took me for a ride on one of the three horses, which he is looking after 鈥� I wanted to write and tell Father, that little did I ever expect to ride a horse either in Eritrea or in the Sudan.

Wed. Oct 15th
Another novel experience for us. The officers invited six sisters to go on a Camel picnic. I had only been on a camel ride once before 鈥� about 4 or 5 months ago whilst I was on night duty, when two sisters were thrown. I had not ventured again.
We all met at 2.30pm wearing various types of garments, some jodhpurs & shorts or slacks. We mounted our camels one by one, and feeling very high up in the air we sallied forth, it was a little nerve racking at first, but gradually I gained confidence & apparently able to control my steed - & we arrived at our destination & had a most enjoyable picnic & came home in much less time 鈥� the camels simply raced (?) home.

Wed. Nov. 5th
Life is becoming a little bit unsettled 鈥� Ten sisters have left us to be transferred to Egypt 鈥� we are all wondering who will be amongst the next ten. I do not want to Cairo 鈥� I am enjoying this life very much now that it is cooler and we are able to play tennis and swim &camel rides 鈥� this is a much healthier place during the winter.
Today I left 5am for Port Sudan (80miles) with Capt. Solomon & Brenda. We arrived there at 8am 鈥� simply ravenous for our breakfast 鈥� Capt George Watts joined us for breakfast, and after shopping Brenda & I went to the swimming pool 鈥� it was glorious 鈥� Solomon & George joined us at 12.15pm & after lunch we left for home. At 6.30 we were expected at Rachel Brown鈥檚 birthday party 鈥� After a huge meal and competitions 鈥� we arrayed ourselves in our cloaks 鈥� and carrying hampers of lemonade & fruit, not forgetting the birthday cake, we almost made a procession following the 鈥淕uy鈥� yes, we had a guy, with khaki trousers 鈥� grey woollen coat (into which a family of mice had been born), grey hat & gloves. We went into the desert & there we gathered sticks & erected the guy and made a lovely bonfire. We had fireworks & we all danced around the Guy while he burned. Afterwards we refreshed ourselves with coffee or lemonade & ate birthday cake after a sing-song 鈥� whilst the Indian bearer piled up branches on the fire, Then we sang Auld Lang Syne around the fire, the scarlet cloaks over our white frocks looked most picturesque in the firelight.

Nov.13th
Dearest Mummy & Father
I know that you were thinking of me more than ever today 鈥� I would have given much to have been with or even to have had a letter from you, but I had as happy a birthday that it was possible under the circumstances.
During the morning, Margaret Kingston, Rachel Brown, Nancy Laythorpe, Ella Hubbard & I went for a camel ride 鈥� I did enjoy it 鈥� all my special friends came to my tea-oarty & they had had a birthday cake made as a surprise 鈥�
Capt Chignell, Margaret & I had some drinks on the balcony at 6pm & just to make matters more complete, Ken (who had been in Khartoum for 2 鈥� 3 wks) came down during the evening, a lovely surprise.

Dec.30th
Xmas has come and gone 鈥� we had a very happy & quiet Xmas 鈥� I was on night duty but was very glad to be able to miss most of the festivities 鈥�
Unfortunately Ken was transferred very suddenly on St. 20th Dec. 鈥� therefore I was not looking forward to our dance and other parties
I had a parcel from Palmers Green 鈥� I should say a tuck box 鈥� a book from Hildred 鈥� also a parcel from Em & Fred, chocs & cigarettes & Handkies, some of which were from Auntie Emma, & best of all a message was enclosed with Mummies signature. I was very thankful to receive on Xmas Eve 鈥� the message from Hildred 鈥� that Mum & Father were both well on Aug 30th
I had telegrams from Palmers Green, Hildred, & Aimee.

Dec 31st
After much hesitation, I went to our dance on New years Eve 鈥� It was a great success, I met Jack Willmott, an R.A.F. officer who accompanied me to the watch night service 鈥� there were very few there 鈥� but as jack had come with me, I had to return to the dance and not go to bed as I had previously intended.
The dance was in great style 鈥� everyone was kissing everyone else a Happy New Year.

Jan. 1st. 1942
Today was spent on duty & this evening we had a Covenant Service otherwise the day was as any other.

Jan. 12th.
The Principal Matron paid us a visit 鈥� she was quite impressed with our hospital altho鈥� she was very charming we were very glad that she went on the train to Khartoum.
Rumours are current that we shall soon be moving as a hospital. Forecasts are plentiful as to where our ultimate destination. We all favour Palestine.

Jan 15th
Jack Willmott & the 鈥淒oc鈥� came with their brake & we went as far as Abint Pass, one of the famous passes in Gordon鈥檚 time. There was a thick mist 鈥� but we had made up our minds to climb a hill & climb a hill we did in spite of the rain. After a thoroughly enjoyable climb we had a picnic tea in the brake, it was great fun and made us homesick for England and I for Guernsey.
I forgot to tell you of two great joys.
One was a walk to the water hole. We walked over the desert, which was rather rough going over loose stones, but we found our way in record time, & we discovered the well, which was 20ft deep, & lined with large stones, the water is collected in goatskins by the camel boy & emptied into a large trough made of mud from which the animals drink. It was a lovely walk & we came back at sunset time 鈥� it was marvellous.
The second joy was yesterday, when Margaret Hingston & Joyce Weston (both from Barts 鈥� Joyce was my set & Margaret was a junior nurse in Childrens) & I went for a three hours camel ride 鈥� The camels were good ones- the saddles were comfortable 鈥�(very important) & away went. Ali was on his camel & was our guide 鈥� we walked, trotted, cantered, & finally we galloped home, it was simply great.

Jan 18th.
To-day I am wondering more than ever how you are 鈥� I could not help thinking of the other birthdays when we had Xmas pudding for Father. I do hope that next Jan 18 I shall be at home or be able to communicate with you.

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