Brewster 'A Glimpse of War through a Private's Eyes', a retrospective account of experiences in World War I, 1915-1917 / John James Brewster - Page 551
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[Page 551]
consequence of such a fine, & he did, & he said he would remain where he was.
The Sentry was afterwards informed by Machine Gunner J[dash] with whom he came home to Australia on the Hospital Ship Ayrshire in July 1917, that every one of the 129 men (left behind) who had paraded sick (& he was one of them) had been forced to go through some hours physical drill. This order came from the same Staff Captain who had drilled the sick men at Fleurbaix, he knew better than the Doctor what was good for men parading sick after an action in which the Captain took no part whatever except as a Staff officer in a dug out miles back
The day following this "physical Jerks" medicine M/Gunner J[dash] had to be sent to Hospital thence to England & eventually to Australia M/G J[dash] did not know how the others fared afterwards, but that kind of "medicine" gave him his chance to get back.
After leaving Ligny-Thilloy all along the road to the Rest Camp, at every place & at every stop whether attended by Australian or "Tommy" women or men the Sentry, as on his trip from Fleurbaix (wounded) to Calais, nothing but the greatest kindness, the best attention, most thoughtful & untiring care that even profuse thanks seemed a futile & unsatisfactory recompense.
You fellows have done your bit! It is quite a pleasure to do ours to try & make it easier for you!! & such like answers being given. This sort of treatment makes a man feel almost glad that he has been wounded or incapacitated.
After a good nights sleep at the Rest Camp the two new patients had to be interviewed by the Doctor who as he entered the hut asked the orderly to point them out. He examined the first man then turned to the Sentry. After the examination which seemed very satisfactory as the sentry appeared & was strong & healthy, the Doctor asked for full particulars of whence he had come & what he had been doing during the bitter winter,
The Doctor became very interested & sat on the end of the bed listening to the details as to how the Advance had been carried out, but when the Sentry explained that he could not understand why it was so difficult for him to walk