A war nurse's diary : sketches from a Belgian field hospital . ff were to escape onfoot. But, thank goodness, the Germans neverhave broken through. It is we now who areplaying that little game. The soldier-workman had not only mended theroad and front approach, but had planted flowerbeds, and now our front garden became a greatfeature in our life. Three times a week a bandplayed to the patients, beds were brought out inthe shade of the trees, whilst officers and soldiersvisited their wounded friends. Meals were servedoutside to them, and the staff had a long table underthe trees where we took
A war nurse's diary : sketches from a Belgian field hospital . ff were to escape onfoot. But, thank goodness, the Germans neverhave broken through. It is we now who areplaying that little game. The soldier-workman had not only mended theroad and front approach, but had planted flowerbeds, and now our front garden became a greatfeature in our life. Three times a week a bandplayed to the patients, beds were brought out inthe shade of the trees, whilst officers and soldiersvisited their wounded friends. Meals were servedoutside to them, and the staff had a long table underthe trees where we took our meals. Round at theback were the huts where we often had entertain-ments. Bands of soldiers, during their reposefrom the trenches, gave concerts, boxing andwrestling matches, juggling and all sorts of enter-tainments for the wounded men. We had our share of pleasant times. Near tous was one of the Allies captive balloons. Thesegreat pumpkin-shaped things are placed every mileor so all along the back of our lines, as the eyes Sleeping out in an open field. I sent home for a tent A MILITARY HOSPITAL 105 of the army. The one nearby had been a source ofgreat danger to us at one time. It floated up justover our heads and the Germans constantly shelledit, never hitting it, but the shells came down inour premises and two farms near us were injured. A party of soldiers eating their meal in thefarmyard were all wounded and killed. We senta petition to have the balloon moved farther away,so it was placed higher up the road. MajorGerard was in charge of it, with about fifty men were not very busy, so they had timeon their hands. They were a most gifted all lived in a barn and this barn they turnedinto a theatre, built a fine stage with all the scenery,painted screens and drop-curtain, made stage furni-ture, etc. They wrote plays, made all the actorsclothes and acted the plays as well. The hay waspiled up tier above tier, opposite the stage, for theaudience, and two
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookid0111, booksubjectworldwari
