Episode 9: 19th to 20th October, 1914

In this episode Nan Reay explains the “drill” for setting up a dressing station and the ferrying of men from the front line to the dressing stations and from there to the clearing hospitals. These drills were conducted like military operations. Amidst all this, Nan manages to do some shopping!

“Bivouacs” – a temporary shelter often with open sides or sometimes made with natural materials such as bracken etc. Medical staff were forced to sleep outdoors at dressing stations, and their equipment sometimes did not arrive for a further three weeks. Nurses worked in tents in primitive conditions: sterilising equipment and preparing food by spirit lamp, with scant water and other supplies.

“Forty-niner” was an army issue biscuit so called because it had 49 holes made in the biscuit. It was said to have as much nutrition as a loaf of bread.

The quote from the bible: “the peace that passeth all understanding" is from the Philippians 4:7. Nan Reay doesn’t provide full quote.

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