The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1918-09-14

frg my wounds, that he would have to
take me to the operating theater i'm
mediately. Personally | didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderics who
looked like undertakers dressed in
white, brought a stretcher to my bed
and placing me on it carried me out OF
the ward, across a courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls it.
l don't remember having the aneS-
thestic applied.
When l came to l was again lying in
bed in Munsey ward. One of the
nurses had draped a large American
flag over the head of the bed, and
clasped in my hand was a, smaller flag.
and ii made me feel good all over to
again 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
liZation.
My wounds were very painful and
several times at night l would dream
that .myriads Of khali-clOthed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, "The
best of luck, mate"
Soaked with perspiraton l would
awake with a 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
torsit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy-ive patients,
90 per cent of which were surgical
cases. At the head of each bed hung
a temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet Across this sheet would be
written sc. S. W." or rs. w." the for
mer meaning gun shot wound and the
latter shell wound. The IS. 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. Jock arguing with an
IriShman, 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 aud 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 patient had a regular
visitor, he was generally kept well
supplied with these delicacies. Great
jealousy is shown among the men as
to their visitors and many word wars
ensue after the visitors leave.
When man is sent to GONZALES
cent home, he generally turns over 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 Tomm!es
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 it for them and Tommy is
stung into telling his experiences.
The questions asked Tommy by vis
tors would make a clever joke book
to a military man.
Some kindly looking old lady will
stop at your bed and in sympathetic
voice address you: "You poor boy,
wounded by those terrible Germans.
You must he suffering frightful pain.
A bullet, did you say? Well, tell ME,
I have always wanted to know, did it
hurt worse going in or coming out p
ITO RE iCONTINTJEDl