14 Cdn General Hospital
C.M.F.
9 May 1944

Saturday evening I went to the Orange Grove; N It was a beautiful night. Mostly we danced out of doors. Much better than inside as there it was very crowded and stuffy. Sunday morning I went to church service had ten to one. ... Sunday evening out to a small party with an American padre. Only two Canadian girls and Audrey Cook from 15. I was pleased to see her. She has been here next door to us about three months and that was the first I had seen of her.

May 11, 1944 was the date set for the Allied assault on the Gustav Line — the first of the enemy's strong defensive positions barring the corridor to Rome through the Liri valley. In good time the R.C.A.M.C. completed setting its stage for the battle. The two hospitals at Andria had moved across from the Adriatic — No. 1 General to Avellino, and No. 5 to a dusty tented site in a ploughed field at Cancello, a few miles southeast of Caserta, where Nos. 14 and 15 General were stationed. Nursing sisters would miss the social life they had enjoyed at Andria — "we were partied it seemed by all services, South African, Americans, British, Canadian, never a dull moment." They would remember with somewhat less enthusiasm the atrocious weather — winds that at times threatened to blow their tents away, and the rain that feel unceasingly, day after day. "Our tents were pitched on an incline," reported a sister with No. 5 General, "and it was rather fun (if that's your idea of fun) to watch regular rivers running in your front door and out the back, the mud at times almost up to your knees."

When the battle opened on the 11th, the 1st Canadian Corps was being held in army reserve. The corps medical units were beside Highway No. 6, south of Vairano, and the Canadian casualties that came back to them were from the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade and the 1st Army Group Royal Canadian Artillery, which were temporarily under British command. The Canadian corps was committed on May 16, and during the ensuing fighting the mobile units of the R.C.A.M.C. swung into action, moving forward as of-ten as was necessary to keep pace with the advance. No. 5 Casualty challenging, inspiring, and soul-satisfying work I have ever done." The four Canadian F.S.U.'s in Italy, two of which were attached to each casualty clearing station, were compact, mobile units, available to move quickly and go into action with a field dressing station at short notice, dealing with seriously wounded men who required immediate surgery. Consisting basically of a surgeon, an anaesthetist, a nursing sister and half a dozen orderlies, they worked in pairs doing alternate shifts of eight or twelve hours. The four auxiliary surgical teams sent forward at this time by the general hospitals functioned similarly. As surgical units packed up and moved on to new locations, they left the post-operative care of their patients to the personnel of field dressing stations and attached nurses specially provided from the staffs of the general hospitals. During the fighting in the Liri Valley a total of twenty-two nursing sisters were employed forward of the casualty clearing stations in the battle area of the 1st Canadian Corps, eight in operating theatres, and fourteen in post-operative wards. The expert nursing provided by the R.C.A.M.C. sisters drew high commendation from the consultant surgeon, Canadian Military Headquarters, following a visit to the battle area: "Too much praise cannot be given to these sisters who work unceasingly, often times with little sleep, and giving their best at all times, not only in post-operative care but in assisting the surgeons of the Field Surgical Units."

14 Can General Hospital
C.M.F. 15 May 1944

... Expect you would like to know how I amused myself. Well first I will tell you of the plans that failed. Two months ago I met an English Lieut. We planned to go to Capri Sat, Sun & come back today. His birthday was yesterday also. Well c'est la guerre. So of course he was moved and anyway we were busy & it would have been impossible to have had the time off. Do you remember Bob of the valentine party. He came down Sat evening and again Sunday. It was grand. The sad part of it is that not likely he will be here very long. But them we have a date to keep in Rome. He will be there first of course and do a rece of the place. The reason for the pencil. Decided to have a bit of sun. So here I was in the sun and no ink but rather than waste the time decided you wouldn't mind the lead for a change. Will wait now until I get indoors to finish. Orderly Officer tonight.

Wed.
... Two of the girls from No 1 have been here a few days. They plan to go back to UK some day soon matrimony is what they have in mind. However after being here six months they wonder if they still have the same idea. Thus in my spare moments I have been showing them a bit of the country. One night we went to the Orange Grove. They were delighted with the set up. Bob and two of his friends were along. The boys had not been there before either.

HJC 1944 05 22.doc

14 Cdn General Hospital
22 May 1944

... Today I received your newsy letter written May 8th. I was very pleased and yesterday I was a very lucky girl several letters and a lovely parcel from Mum. My shoes and all the little comforts of home even to ???? and some spruce gum that I am thoroughly enjoying.

... In this letter today I am tucking some snaps of Pompeii that I think very good. Will tell the story to go with them when I see you. Goodness only knows I hope that day is not too far away.

... Not long ago I had a very nice letter from Helen Gilmore, how it even found me I wonder as it was salvaged from an air crash and nearly worn out, never the less I still could read it.

... The country is very beautiful and believe it or not the cherries are ripe. Lovely cherries I wish I could send you a box but they certainly would not carry. So I fear I must eat your share as well as mine.

... Nearly the 24th remember the picnic you wanted down along the Mediterranean coast somewhere. Afraid we will have to make it another day perhaps the 25th as that is my day off duty this week. Wouldn't it be grand if we could.

... Do you remember Phil Maloney that I used to speak of at the P. H. Her brother Jerry is in Italy I have had a couple of letters from him. Jerry is only a youngster under twenty and finds it very lonely here.

... Matron Miles is next door to us now. She looks well but tired. England must have been hard on her.

... Stockings as you say Margaret are a problem and mine are getting scarce. That is the rayon ones. But I still have quite a number of ?????

... One day last week I was coming over to dinner who do you think I ran into none other than Oscar Moorehouse. He looks fine.

... Doris is on night duty and I must go waken her. Afraid she will be disappointed I think it is going to rain and she wishes to go on a picnic.