The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-09-13

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take me to the operating theater i'm.
medlately. Personally l didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlles who
looked like undertakers dressed in
white. brought a stretcher to my bed
and placing me on II carried me out Of
the ward, across a courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom-
my calls 1t.
don't remember having the anes-
thestic applied.
When came to was again lying In
bed In Munsey ward. One OF the
nurses had draped a large American
Gag over the head OF the bed, and
ciasped 10 my hand was smaller flag,
and Il made me feel good all over to
aEain see the Stars and Stripes"
At that time l wondered when the
boys In the trenches would see the
emblem of the land Of the free and
the home of the brave" beside them,
doing Its bit In this great war of civil
llzation.
MY wounds were very painftS. and
A
that myrfRds of khaki-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, 1.-THE
best Of luck, mate"
Soaked with perspiration / would
awake with cry, and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got to be habit with
ma nntf haE ntsHf
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 seventy-flve patients,
80 per cent Of which were surgical
cases. At the head of each bed hung
temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet. Across this sheet would be
written C. 8. W." or 49, w." the for.
mer meaning gun shot wound and the
latter shell wound. The rs. W." pre-
dominated, especially among the Royal
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
represented, and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil-
ity Of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
Irlshman, then a strong Cockney ac-
cent would butt in In favor of Lon
don regiment. Before long a Welsh
man, followed by a member of York
shire regiment, and, perhaps, Cana
dian intrude themselves and the argu-
ment wakes loud and furious. The
patients in the beds start bowling for
them to settle their dispute outside
and the ward is In an uproar. The
head sister comes along and with
wave of the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and again silence
reigns supreme.
Wednesday and Sunday OF each week
were visiting days and were looked
forward to by the men, because they
meant parcels containing fruit sweets
or Tags. When a patient had a regular
visitor, he was generally kept well
supplied with these delicaeies. Great
jealousy is shown among the men as
to their visitors and many word wars
ensue after the visitors leave.
When a man is sent to a GONZALES
NNht hVhhNt ht tulno OVBE HIS
steady visitor to the man In the next
bed.
Most visitors have autograph albums
and bore Tommy to death by asking
him to write the particulars of his
wounding in same. Several Tommies
try to duck this unpleasant job by tell
ing the visitors that they cannot write,
but this never phases the owner of the
album; he or she, generally she, offers
to write 1t for them and Tommy is
stung into telling his experiences.
The questions asked Tommy by visl-
tors would make a clever Joke book
to a military man.
Some kindly looking old lady win
stop at your bed and In a sympathetic
voice address you; "You poor boy,
wounded by those terrible Germans.
You must be suffering frightful pain.
A bullet, did you say7 Wen, tell me,
have always wanted TO know, did IL
hurt worse going in or coming out?"
GRO BE CCNTINITEDN