Medical evacuation
Thousands of sick and wounded passed through Mudros Harbour each week. The most serious cases received treatment in advanced medical facilities farther from the frontline.
Hospital ships were key to evacuations, transporting critical cases to Egypt, Malta, England and sometimes Gibraltar. Facilities and treatments at these places were superior to what Lemnos could offer. During the week of 14–20 October, for example, 5708 cases were treated on Lemnos and 7,740 transferred: 2,595 to Egypt, 1,290 to Malta and 3,855 to England.
The ships on which Australian nurses primarily served were the Gascon and Clan MacGillvaray. The staff of Gascon also comprised medical officers from the Indian Medical Service, a Royal Army Medical Corps matron and orderlies from the Royal Army Corps and the Indian Medical Service.
The standard of hospital ships varied greatly. Some were hastily converted transports. The medical staff of each included around six doctors and 10 nurses, supported by 40 orderlies.
Staff would have been working in often-terrifying conditions.
‘We are in Mudros with 954 patients, they are all over the decks, they are a great many sick boys lying about on deck.’
– Sister Ella Tucker (hospital ship Gascon), quoted in Guns and Brooches, p. 44
‘Shells are bursting all around. We are off Gaba Tepe.’
‘We took 700 on board, and when you think they all had to be fed, the 400 cot cases washed, and all those dressings done, fractures set, serious cases operated on, and every man’s name and regimental details entered up in the 24 hours.’
