1915-08

No. 3 Australian General Hospital established

Location

The nurses of 3AGH prepare to follow ‘Piper Monk’ (Warrant Officer Archibald Monk) into their camp at West Mudros — THE NURSES OF 3AGH PREPARE TO FOLLOW ‘PIPER MONK’ (WARRANT OFFICER ARCHIBALD MONK) INTO THEIR CAMP AT WEST MUDROS, LED BY MATRON GRACE WILSON AND LIEUTENANT JAMES DICK. nM7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

On 5 August, 3AGH arrived at Turks Head (now Pounda) Peninsula. Three days later, Scotsman Warrant Officer Archibald Monk led the nurses ashore to the strains of his bagpipes.

The hospital’s vital medical equipment and supplies were delayed by several weeks. Staff treated the wounded on open, stony ground, using whatever was at hand. This included nurses’ own kits, and bandages made from their petticoats.

Matron Grace Wilson soon created order from chaos. The 1,000-bed hospital was serviced by around 100 nurses, 25 medical officers and 230 other staff of differing ranks.

‘It is awful to see the way they are shattered and to have nothing to give them ... All we can do is feed them and dress their wounds. They beg to be washed, but we have no water. It is awful to just leave them in their dirty blood-stained clothes … A good many died; they were beyond hope when they arrived’.

– Matron Grace Wilson, quoted in Lemnos and Gallipoli Revealed, p. 173

Colonel Stawell passes cigarettes to the wounded men awaiting hospital admission — COLONEL STAWELL PASSES CIGARETTES TO WOUNDED MEN AWAITING HOSPITAL ADMISSION. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

The rudimentary sleeping quarters in the early days of 3AGH. — THE RUDIMENTARY SLEEPING QUARTERS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF 3AGH. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

The 3AGH sisters’ field kitchen soon after their arrival on Lemnos. — THE 3AGH NURSES’ FIELD KITCHEN SOON AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL ON LEMNOS. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

3AGH during its erection. — 3AGH DURING ITS ERECTION. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Egyptian labourers construct the building for the X-ray and dental facilities at 3AGH. — EGYPTIAN LABOURERS CONSTRUCT THE BUILDING FOR THE X-RAY AND DENTAL FACILITIES AT 3AGH. zEEJL48mMEeO - STATE LIBRARY NSW

The freshwater shortage meant 3AGH’s bedlinen was washed in the harbour’s saltwater. — THE SHORTAGE OF FRESH WATER MEANT 3AGH’S BEDLINEN WAS WASHED IN THE HARBOUR’S SALTWATER. nX6DekVY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Nurses engaged in needlework. — NURSES ENGAGED IN NEEDLEWORK. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

3AGH sisters’ accommodation, West Mudros. — 3AGH NURSES’ ACCOMMODATION, WEST MUDROS. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

3AGH staff accommodation, West Mudros. — 3AGH STAFF ACCOMMODATION, WEST MUDROS. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Officers’ accommodation during later days on Lemnos. — OFFICERS’ ACCOMMODATION DURING LATTER DAYS ON LEMNOS. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Wooden hut accommodation was eventually built for nurses. — WOODEN HUT ACCOMMODATION WAS EVENTUALLY BUILT FOR NURSES. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Outside their hut accommodation, nurses are at work with needle and thread. — OUTSIDE THEIR HUT ACCOMMODATION, NURSES ARE AT WORK WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

The 3AGH operating tent showing improvements such as the skylights. — THE 3AGH OPERATING TENT SHOWING IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE SKYLIGHTS. M7Bo6ZY - STATE LIBRARY NSW

Parasol and notebook in hand, Matron Grace Wilson ‘does a round’ of the wards. — PARASOL AND NOTEBOOK IN HAND, MATRON GRACE WILSON ‘DOES A ROUND’ OF THE WARDS. A05332 - AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

The hospital had surgical, medical, ear, throat and infectious wards, along with X-ray, dental and pathology facilities. Its mortality rate was 2 per cent, remarkably low given its limited equipment and supplies.

3AGH in its completed state. — 3AGH IN ITS COMPLETED STATE. 0QrkbpZrVwJL5 - STATE LIBRARY NSW

‘The theatre was going day and night, and in about six weeks time, we were fully fitted up.’

– Staff Nurse Charlotte Donnelly, quoted in Veiled Lives, p. 171