The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-09
OVER THE TOP
ARTHUR GUY EMpEY


she started jumping up and down,
clapping her hands, and calling out to
three nurses across the ward:
Come here, girs-at last we have
got a real live Yankee with us"
They came over and besieged me
with questions. until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that | WAS an
American he almost crushed my hand
in his grip of welcome. They also
were Americans, and were glad to see
me.
The doctor very tenderly removed
my bundages and told me, after view
ing my wounds, that he would have to
take me to the operating theater i'm
mediately. Personally l didn't care
what Was done with me.
In a few minutes, four orderlles who
looked like undertakers dressed In
white, brought stretcher to my bed
and placing me on ii carried me out of
the ward, across courtyard to the
operating room or pictures US Tom
my calls it.
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 large American
flag over the head of the bed and
claSpcd in my hand was smaller flag,
and il made me feel good AL over to
again see the "StarS and Stripes"
A. hn / ,,rhn ha
boys in the trenches would see the
emblem of the land of the free and
the home of the brave" beside them,
doing lis bit in this great war of civil
liZation.
My wounds were very painful, and
that myriads of khakiclothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, THE
best of luck. mate"
Souked with perspiration | 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, l WAS able
to sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy-five patients,
30 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. S. w" or IS. 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 rs to the respective fighting abil-
ity of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
freshman, then strong Cockney ac-
cent would butt In in favor of a Lon
don regiment. Before long Welsh
man, followed by 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 Il
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 fags. 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 a 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 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 visi-
/ tors would make clever joke book
to 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 be suffering friChtful pam.
A bullet, did you say? Well. tell me,
| r have always wanted to know, did 1t
| hurt worse going in or coming out?'
Tommy generally replies that he did
/ not stop TO figure it out when he was
hit
One very nice-looking, overenthuSi-
astic young thing. stopped at my bed
and asked. "What wounded you in the
! face"
In polite but bored tone l an
swered. "a rifle bullet"
| With n look of disdan she passed
to the next bed, first calculating ooh
! Only bullet? | thought 1t was a
shell" Why she should think a shell
wound was more of Il distinction beats
me. don't see whole lot of differ
ence myself.
The American Women's War hospi-
tai was a heaven for wounded men.