May 1, 1915: Diary of Alice Kitchen, Australian Army nurse

“May 1^st. Another strenuous day. Some worked till late at night, others till nearly 11 pm. Batches of wounded came in, many bullet wounds, every room crammed & such a muddle & disorder...Many of the wounds are slight, some marvelous escapes & some horrible injuries. 25 or so died on the boats coming over. Such dreadful news for so many at home to hear. It all makes one realize the awfulness of war. . . . One dreads to hear who next has gone . . . Worked till nearly 11 p.m. Another train expected in at midnight… At present I find it difficult to remember even the names of the patients for an hour or so & the transferring of patients from one ward & one hospital to another is very trying..."

Australian sisters on board S.S Mooltan, 1915 [AW Savage, photo album, PXE 698, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales]

Diary excerpts from the Alice Kitchen Papers, Special Collections, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne.