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[Page 26]
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PART 7.
My work in connection with visiting hospitals had extended considerably, and I found that in some of the wards it was possible to arrange a programme of music, and in this I was greatly assisted by Miss Doris Carter, (one time of Melbourne), who came often, and with others greatly cheered the wounded men, who were unable to leave their beds for the concerts provided in their recreation rooms.
To the King's College Hospital, where I had introduced her, came Cecil later, suffering from shock through a bomb bursting close to his machine, and he recognised her and sent to say he was amongst her laying down audience.
I always arranged to be at the Overseas Club on the monthly afternoon address arranged, for they were unvaryingly interesting and gave much first hand war experience. We had Hamilton Fyfe and J.F. McKenzie, both war correspondents for the Daily Mail, and Dr. Caroline Matthews, a spirited little lady, who when with the Serbians was detained for a time by the Germans, she wore full regimentals just as men medical officers did, and she cut a queer little figure in her manly trousers. She published a book dealing with her experiences called "In the Hands of the Enemy".
Ron now a fully qualified Pilot, came to town for his last leave and my visit with him to dinner and the theatre was not altogether a festive occasion. He left for France the following week and I went on a visit to Oxford to friends he had made when doing his theoretical course at Exeter College.
It may be interesting to reproduce what I wrote at the time, but in addition to the Thames trip described, I visited Stratford-on Avon, and spent a day visiting Shakespear's House, Ann Hathaway's Cottage, and looked in at a hospital near by, where out under the trees in a cooling inviting spot were wounded soldiers. I soon found there were some Australians, and they seemed well pleased with their peaceful and delightful surroundings, no greater contrast from the turmoil of war could be imagined.