The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-08-29
ing my wounds, TINT ne would have to

ing my wounds, TINT ne would have to
take ME to the operating theater I'M
mediately. Personally ! didht care
what was done with me.
In few minutes. four ordtrltcs who
looked like underwriters dressed In
white, brought Il Strctcher 70 my beG
ana placing me on 1t carried me out of
the ward, across courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls It,
I don't remember having the nnes-
thestic applied.
When came to was again lying In
bed in Munsry ward. One of the
nurses had draped Il large American
flag over HE head Of the bed. and
claspcd in my hand was smaller lng.
and II made me feel good all over to
again see the stars and Stripes"
AT that time | wondered when the
boys In the trcn hes would see the
emblem of the land OF the flee and
the home OF the brave" beside them,
doing It's bit in this great war Of civil
lizatiOn
My wounds were very pninr,sl. and
l
that mNriadS of~kh6ki clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, und whisper. THE
best of luck, mate"
Soaked with pcrspiration | would
awake with cry. and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got to be habit with
me until That particular nurse was
transferred to another ward
In three weeks time, owing to the
careful treatment received, | was able
to sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained Srvrnty-fivc patients,
80 per cent Of which were surgical
eases. At the hru,l of each bed hung
temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet. Across this sheet would be
written "G. s. W." or IS. W." the for
mer meaning gun shot wound and the
latter shell wound, The -. W." pre-
dominated, especially among the Royal
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
represented. and many arguments en-
sued rs to the respective lighting nhil-
ity of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. \ jock ar-'png with un
lriShman. then II strong ocknry ac-
cent would butt in in favuI OF Il Lon
don regiment. Before long Welsh
man. followed by IL member Of Il York
shire regiment. and perhaps. Il Cana
dian intrlr!r themselves AMI the nrgu-
mrnt wakes loud and furious The
patients i'm the beds start huwling for
them 10 settle their dispute outside
ana the ward is in an uprnnr The
head sister comes alun;, and With Il
wave OF the hand completely routS the
doughty warriors and again silence
rcigns supreme.
"Wednesday and Sunday OF each week
were visiting days nnd were looked
forward to Ivy the men. because they
meant parcels containing fruit, sweets
or fngS. When Il patient had IL regular
visitor, he was generally Kept we'll
supplied with these dclcaci"S. Great
( Jealousy is shown among the men AS
/ 10 their visitors anl many word wars
! enSu" after the visitors leave.
When Il man is sent to !, Gonzales
cent home, h" generally turns over MS
steady visitor to the ,nun in the next
bed
Most visitors have autograph albums
ana bore Tommy to death by asking
him 10 write the particulars of hi.
w"unnng in same. Several 1on:n!,s
try to duck This unpleasant lob hy tell.
ing tn" visitors lha; they cannp, write
b'lt TINS never phases the owner Of the
album; Il" or She. generally She, offers