15th & 16th March, 1948 - A damp journey back from Sarafand to a scene of disarray...

Monday, 15^th March, 1948

A shower of rain opened this morning of my leaving hospital.  I put on my badly creased uniform, had my breakfast and bid adieus to my new friends.

First thing on leaving the ward was to hand in all the clothes issued to me by the hospital.  Then with the others going out today I went to the reception room outside the OC’s office to await our parting interview.  The Colonel just asked me if I had any pains now to which I answered in the negative, then he gave me a discharge certificate.  We now all went to the camps reception office to await transport back to Jerusalem.  This transport eventually arrived in the form of two open three ton lorries.  It was now raining lightly and we were told it was the brigadier’s orders that the trucks be open.  We set off getting gradually wetter then the rain poured down and we put in at a nearby army camp and put a cover on before proceeding.  The journey was very tiring & boring.

In warmer weather the open back
of a truck was not so bad!

Tuesday, 16^th March, 1948

What a place to come back to, it is perpetually cold and the barrack rooms are always damp.

There have been a number of changes in staff since I left.  The sergeant who was so put out at my untimely illness has gone to take charge of the reception camp in England.  Another sergeant was released from close arrest yesterday for being drunk on duty.  Another sergeant is going to the Bahamas as an A.S.P.

Two B/Cs a few days ago stole 13 T.M.C.s from the armoury loading them onto an Arab truck parked outside the wire and absconding with it.  The armourer & the tower guard are both under close arrest as a result.

This morning I woke to find a layer of four inches of snow outside.  It is bitterly cold inside the room as I write this.  My feet are feeling as though they are frozen stiff.  I am not looking forward to getting back on static points again.  Roll on the summer & the boat.  My Gratuity works out to be just over £100.

13th and 14th March, 1948 - Ron gets his "all clear", enjoys the company of some Dragoons and the irony of the cinema show.

Saturday, 13^th March, 1948

The hospital here is in varying degrees of closing.  Everyday equipment is being packed up ready for the final moves.  Some patients are being told where they are going, some to Egypt and others to England direct.  I hear the Police are being evacuated on every troopship going and I am looking forward to my leaving.

Every evening here we get a cup of beer each as a ration.  Apparently this is a standing order for Hospitals.  I have become very friendly with a Coldstream Guards Sgt [Sergeant] and a Pte [Private] in the 3/7^th Dragoon Guards[1] and as these are relatively old time[r]s in the army and its ways it is not altogether surprising that we get a little more than a cup of beer each evening.

All of us going out on Monday went to collect our kit this evening but we were told by a fast removing private (removing to the mess) that we could not have it until tomorrow.

[1] I have found reference to the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards being deployed in Palestine from 1946 - 1948 but nothing about 3/7th... anyone?  Anyone?

Sunday, 14^th March, 1948

I[t] was raining this morning when I went up for my kit and I was fairly wet by the time I returned to the hut.

After arranging my bags ready for tomorrow I joined in a game of cribbage with the other chaps.

The fellows here have been very good fun, their wit was quite different to ours back in the barracks and came as a pleasant change and a source of inspiration with which to continue our usually unending stream of “cracks”.

There was a cinema show in the camp this evening the subject was a series of murders in a hospital.  We found this very amusing and many very amusing comments were heard during the performance. [Green For Danger?]

11th & 12th March, 1948 - Ron gets up, tries a bit of embroidery and goes to the cinema..

Thursday, 11^th March, 1948

Every morning between 9a.m. and 12 mid-day we are not allowed to smoke.  It is during this period that the inspections by the officials & M.O.s take place.  Yesterday the Colonel I/C the camp came around and as a result I was told this afternoon that I could get up for a while.

I felt a little dizzy after being in bed without food but this passed off and I sat out on the veranda in the Sun.

Not quite finished...

The walking around made me quite tired and in the evening I sat by a chum’s bed and continued the embroidery of my badge, given to me by the Sister in charge of handicrafts for the patients.  There are various things which can be done in this way to break the monotony of days in bed.  All come under the impressive title of “Occupational Therapy.”

 

Friday, 12^th March, 1948

This morning as an “Up” patient I had to wash in the wash room.  There are also showers and baths in the ablutions.

When a patient is up he is required to help with the duties in the ward.  These comprise such tasks as dusting and washing lockers, supplying bed patients with “bottles,” washing water, meals, drinks etc.

This all helps to occupy the time and for the other spare time we read, talk and listen to the Radio.  I think I shall go out on Monday.  I heard the doctor tell the sister this morning that I was ready to go out.

This evening I went to the hospital cinema, it is very much of a barn but quite large and well seated.  On the walls are small murals of scenes in the Arab lands.

The film was a Cowboy type and passed an evening away if of no other value.

9th and 10th March, 1948 - Appendicitis? Yes or No - it's all about what a hungry Ron can eat!

Tuesday, 9^th March, 1948

This morning my pains wakened me and continued all through the day.  They are not fierce pains but dull and as if a weight was pressing down on the lower right hand side of the abdomen.

Mealtimes are some of the worst times of the day, for all the others are being given their food while I get nothing.  Since Friday evening I have eaten two poached eggs and four slices of bread & butter.

I wish they would operate if I have appendicitis for it is liable to come back again even if it passes now.

Today I learned that the “Squaddy” in the bed opposite me came out on the same boat as I did though I did not know him of course.

We have a Radio in the Ward and this is played quite a bit, (to the annoyance of the Arabs.)

Wednesday, 10^th March, 1948

source: http://sarafand-al-amar.tripod.com/

Every morning at six we are wakened by the orderly and given a bowl of cold water each which those of us who are able can wash.

At half seven we get breakfast which with other meals I have not yet been able to enjoy.  At 12.30 we get lunch and a mid-afternoon break of a cup of tea and bread, butter & jam precedes dinner at 5.30pm.

The orderly moved me into the other half of the ward today where there are more Englishmen.

At dinner I was brought a meal by one of the patients who are up and helping.  I thought it was the usual mistake made by these people and was very agreeably surprised when he later returned with a confirmation from the Sister who said it was about time I ate some food.  I enjoyed the meal and felt no ill effects from it.

7th and 8th March, 1948 - Suspected appendicitis and transfer to the large military hospital at Sarafand

Sunday, 7^th March, 1948

There is a very strict routine laid out for a hospital day beginning with the taking of temperatures.  I have not felt too bad in myself today and was allowed to eat two thin pieces of bread and butter at lunch time and a poached egg at tea.

The Sisters are all very nice to us patients although the orderlies tell me that their relations with the staff are not so cordial.

This is not to be wondered at.  The orderlies were conscripted into the army and were told to be Medical Orderlies.  Some like it others don’t therefore some work while the others dodge and I suspect it is the latter to whom the Sisters complain.  The majority of the orderlies here seem to be capable but a little lazy.

The Doctor tells me he suspects that I have had appendicitis in a very slight manner & am to be sent to Beit Jacov near Sarafand for confirmation.

Monday, 8^th March, 1948

I felt quite good this morning first thing so fancied some breakfast when asked by the sister.  I eat two poached eggs and two slices of bread & butter.  Almost immediately after, gripping pains made me lie in agony for about an hour.

At 9.30am the orderlies put myself and the others into three ambulances ready for our journey to Sarafand.  We were lying on the stretchers in the Ambulance for an hour before we started off.  I had a small window to look out from onto the two scenes we passed through, the bleak bare mountains of land around Jerusalem and the rolling green fertility of the coastal plain.

We reached the huge military hospital at 12 midday and again had to wait for more than an hour until our fate was decided.  The army sergeant who had been shot in the shoulder was in our ambulance and was crying out with agony by the time we reached the camp.  The huts are very large and long.  From the bed I have calculated that there are about 50 patients in this ward and there are 37 wards in the camp.

5th and 6th March, 1948 - Rain and pain - Ron ends up in hospital.

Friday, 5^th March, 1948

It rained all last night so we were not very pleased when any vehicle wanted to enter or leave the zone as we had to leave the reasonable dry of the sanger and open the gates for them.

The wind has changed its direction and instead of clearing the smoke from the sanger is now filling it up.  We did a sample of hole blocking and opening other hole to allow an exit for the smoke.  This was with some success.

I have had intermittent pains in my stomach for the last couple of days.  These I put down to indigestion possibly from acids from a bad tooth.  They have not improved so this afternoon I went sick.  The sergeant went off the deep end about it saying I should have gone sick at 8a.m. the proper time.  He said it was inconveniencing not only him but the guard duties, the duty driver and the hospital staff.  In fact disapproval was registered only by the sergeant.

I was taken to the local military hospital.  Two doctors heard my story and thoroughly examined me.  They came to the conclusion I could bear watching so put me in bed.  The sister told me I was to have nothing to eat as my case was one of queried appendicitis.

Saturday, 6^th March, 1948

At all hours of the night orderlies who are in the R.A.H.C. came into the ward to take my temperature and pulse.  I did not sleep before midnight as the strange surroundings and my sitting position in bed do not encourage sleep.

At half past six this morning I was wakened and given a bowl of hot water so that I washed myself.  I then had a cup of tea and two orderlies bed bathed me.  (Yesterday I was given an enema but since I have had no motions.)  The pains in my stomach were still present and increased a little this evening.

Two Policemen have come in during the day with bullet injuries.  A Palestinian Arab this morning was shot in the arm he is now proudly exhibiting the bullet

Military hospital in Israel, 1948
source: wikimedia
http://bit.ly/1hss9Hn

extracted from his arm.  An Englishman came in this evening shot in the stomach, he has hardly moved yet but I am told the wound is not serious.

I think they still can’t make out my case.