The Herald (Melbourne)
3 July 1915
Floating Hospital
Rough-and-Tumble Surgery
Captain V. Benjafield, who is attached to the Second (New South Wales) Australian General Hospital Staff, in a letter to friends in Sydney, tells of the difficulties which the medical officers faced and overcame when the wounded were placed on board a hospital ship station in Anafarta Bay, near Cape Suvla, in Gallipoli. He pays a high tribute to the assistance rendered by one of the chaplains, Captain W. E. Dexter, of the Second (Victorian) Infantry Brigade.
Short Notice Given
Captain Benjafield says: —
"We were supposed to have five hours to prepare the ship for the reception of wounded, but as a matter of fact they were landed on us before the first of the troops had left the ship. Our men were landed in torpedo boats, and the first one to come alongside had about a dozen on board, and one dead. There was nothing for it but to take them and do the best we could for them. Fortunately the hospital had been cleared, giving us accommodation for some 35 of the seriously wounded: the remainder were stowed just wherever we could find room. Gradually as the troops were taken off more wounded men arrived, and in the meantime, as best we could, we ripped out all the mess tables in the troop decks, laid down tarpaulins, hammocks, blankets, and everything we could find, so us to keep the men as clean as possible. By lunch time I had 150 wounded aboard and more or less attended to.
140 Cases An Hour
"At a little after three we got one big rush of wounded, and between that time and 8 p.m. we took them in at the rate of over 140 per hour, till at the last we had "a total of over 850 on board. We could do nothing more than sort them out as best we could, and send them to what appeared to be the most suitable portion of the ship. The very worst cases, unconscious and dying, were simply placed on a hatch and covered with a blanket; the next worst were put into the hospital, and the next upon some mattresses and stretchers I had found and placed in 'A' troop deck. The remainder were packed into the troop decks like sardines. Of course, most of them had on their first field dressings, and these had to suffice, except for the very bad ones, until such time as we could attend to them. One boatload of very severe cases I simply had to refuse, and insisted on their being taken to another ship.
"Then began the work of attending to them, and we were hard at this till about 3.30 a.m. Anything like surgical treatment was past all hope; all we could do being to re-dress the worst of the wounds and stop hemorrhage. Even fractures were left to the next day, merely being placed in a position which gave the greatest degree of comfort, or the least degree of pain.
Peace Out Of Pain
"Fortunately, I had plenty of opium and morphia on board, and this was liberally given to all who were in pain. Some of the wounds were terrible: one man had a large portion of the head blown away at the back, but lived two days. One young naval officer, shot clean through the head, caused us a lot of anxiety during the first few days, but is now conscious and should recover. Lung wounds are quite common, and where caused by bullets give rise to comparatively little trouble. On the other hand, when caused by shrapnel — the bullets of which are spherical and about 2/8 of an inch in diameter — the injury is much more severe. Almost every conceivable portion of the body has been hit. And the escapes are wonderful. I know of at least three whose identity discs saved them from lung wounds; one man found a bullet in the testament he carried in his left breast pocket — quite the orthodox thing. Another man had two jack knives in his trousers pocket, and these were both perforated by a bullet which then just hurled itself in his side, right over the femoral artery. In all 15 of our patients have died, and some 20 are still in danger. All the remainder should recover ....
A Soldier Of The Cross
"I must not finish up without a reference to Captain Dexter, chaplain to the 2nd Brigade, who came aboard, and throwing off his coat, waded in, and has helped us with our work with never a murmur or a complaint of any kind. He has been quite as good as a third doctor to us, and I feel more than grateful to him. There's no question he is one of the very best, and proves his Christianity by deeds as well as Words."
Soldier Identified: Major Vivien Benjafield, Surgeon, A.A.M.C., A.I.F. Returned to Australia, 27 July 1917.
Note: Captain Benjafield was on board one of the troop ships at the landing of Gallipoli. Before the troops from his ship had begun to land they were already receiving wounded on-board. On 30 June 1915 he received Special Mention for compassion, gallantry and invaluable service during the period April 25th, 1915 to May 5th, 1915.
The Hospital Ship "Soudan" off Anzac (Gallipoli). 25 April 1915. (Courtesy: Australian War Memorial)
Sources:
- Stirring Scenes from Gallipoli Portrayed by Soldiers' Pens (1915, July 3). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1.
- The Hospital Ship "Soudan" off Anzac (Gallipoli). 25 April 1915. Australian War Memorial
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