The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-06-24
THE RED CROSS IN ENGLAND.
(By Mrs. B. S. Norcrass. }

(By Mrs. B. S. Norcrass.)
we, twenty-five of the Barrow
Unit, were stationed at Camp 40.
hnotty Ash, Liverpool, England. We
termed ourselves unlucky to be put
off in England, when we did so much
want to go to France. Uncle Sam
left us in England so we decided we
would make the best of it.
First thing we saw on landing
was Red Cross car waiting to carry
us to camp. On reaching camp, we
began to wonder where we could get
our money changed-for you know
it is pounds, shillings, six-pense and
half-pennies in England, instead of
dollars, quarters and cents. Anyway
we were told to go to the Red Cross.
Next morning we were put on
duty. Then there were these aues-
lions to be answered.: Where can
we get pajama suits, socks. sweaters.
underwear, razors, toothpaste and
brushes and the many other things
that the patients needed. Answer:
From the Red Cross. Fruit, candy.
and cigarettes were distributed to all
the patients, twice and sometimes
three times week. Who furnished
them? The Red Cross.
Our hospital had a conveniently
furnished recreation room for the
personnel and convalescent patients.
where they spent their evenings
reading, writing or anyway they
liked. Who built and furnished
these? The Red Cross.
If the boys needed money they
went to the Red Cross.
Each ward was furnished with
Victrola and records, books, station
cry, pens, pencils and daily papers.
including The Stars and Stripes.
Who furnished all these? The Red
Cross. The Red Cross was really the
boys best friend.
You people know what happened
during the flu epidemic in this coun-
try. In England it was perfectly
awful, When the first large con-
voy Of flu patients landed at Liver
pool, our hospital was already filled.
Yet we had to make room for our
boys. Everybody got busy. We
turned the casual camp, which con-
tanned at least 80 or 40 barracks in
to a hospital. These barracks were
supplied with hospital equipment
sufficient to handle the emergency
While patients were waiting to be
admitted, doctors, nurses and corps
men worked day and night, doing
what we could for those poor unfor-
tunate boys. When it came time for
us to go off duty, we were relieved
by night nurse, but we knew she
had important medication sufficient
to take all her time-same as we had
during the day; so instead of going
off duty, many time, we fingered un-
til long past midnight to answer the
call Of the poor dying boys who
would plead for someone to take a
and send to mother, father,
or perhaps wife and children. 9th
ers wanted water and would beg for
to stay close by for they
realized they were dying. To me,
this was even worse than seeing the
boys give their lives on the battle
field. Why, sometimes We would
lose six or eight patients in one
night. Their condition on admission
at the hospital was such that slim
ulation seemed to be the only help.
Never again do l expect to see so
sad a sight as this and you people
must have been most as unfortunate
as we.
Pardon me if l seem to be leaving
my subject, but remember, it was
the Red Cross" which equipped and
sent the nurses.
1t was our dear boys who did the
fighting, giving their lives, many of
them; but next to the boys in khaki,
| think came the Red Cross.
Just to give you an idea as to how
much the boys of Camp 40 loved the
Red Cross and appreciated what they
did for them, I'll give you their Red
Cross yell:
Who won the war, the French?-
Who won the war, the British
No.
Who won the war, the Yanks?-
They helped!
Now, Boss, who won the war;
The Red Cross!
You people at home may rest as
sured that the boys all knew who
gave their services, time and money
to make the Red Cross a success.
You who have done these things
surely did your bit toward winning