III
On Active Service

That night sleep came to us on the beach at Point Cruz. We were exhausted after one of our hardest working days, but were still prepared for possibly harder days to come. Conditions were fairly trying until our camp was established, and they were aggravated by the intense heat. It is worthy of note that within 48 hours of landing on Guadalcanal we admitted 36 patients from the 22nd Field Ambulance, which was again preparing to move. Ten days later battle casualties began to arrive from Vella Lavella, where the 14th Infantry Brigade Group had gone into action.

Besides running the hospital there still remained a great deal of work on the camp site to be completed, and we sought the assistance of the engineers, who at once began clearing the area page 125with a bulldozer and undertook the building of kitchens, mess huts and recreation huts. These were interesting days for all ranks. Under Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson's leadership the unit as a whole was determined to give of its best. Members were rewarded for their labour in the latter stages when they gazed upon a camp area that was second to none on the island.

With a steady flow of battle casualties and sick from the forward area, and because of the uncertainty of shipping, arrangements were made for the evacuation of patients by air to the 4th General Hospital at New Caledonia. This proved very successful, and the first casualties from the Treasury action were back at '4th General' within 48 hours of being wounded. American air headquarters on the island cooperated handsomely, with the result that air evacuation was used throughout the whole of our period on Guadalcanal. The policy that had been laid down was that patients with a convalescent expectancy of less than 30 days remained at the CCS until discharged fit, others were evacuated to New Caledonia. Patients remaining with us appeared to delight in the camp surroundings, which by this time had become very attractive. By January, 1944., a definite phase in the life of the unit was completed. Both the Vella and Treasury campaigns were over, divisional headquarters had returned to Guadalcanal to prepare for further action, and our hospital admissions consisted only of sick and injured.

The second phase in the life of the CCS was satisfying to all ranks. We had been tested and felt that we had proved our worth. We were now able to settle down to a smooth routine of work and leisure. The gardens around our area at this time deserve some mention. Young coconut palms had been planted bordering all roads and paths, gardens were in full bloom at wards and other centres, and no one will forget the array of colour at the entrance to the admission and discharge department. Corporal Jack Davies was responsible for this, and is also to be commended for the efficient running of this very important centre. Other NCOs and men remembered for the good work they carried out include Sergeant-Major R. M. Velvin, our RQMS. Sergeant Jim Pycroft, a nursing sergeant, and Corporal Percy Grant, who had a difficult job in control of the hospital pack store. Staff-Sergeant West led a creditable team of general duties personnel, which included Privates Morrie O'Connell and John King. Lance-Corporal Schultz, whose genius for improvisation page 126was astounding, caused much comment when he produced a water pump made from shell cases and scraps of piping. Corporal Jim McBride became noted for his devotion to the welfare of the infectious disease ward, while Lance-Corporal Maitland and his water cart were wellknown identities. Once again there was time for sport, and credit is due to the unit sports committee, which did such good work under difficult conditions. Driver Arthur Leahy could be heard anywhere in camp any evening calling out in his wellknown voice, the numbers drawn in the 'housie-housie' game. Morale-booster Private Mick Thodey was a popular figure and a source of much amusement to the unit.

Early in January, 1944, came more changes in officer personnel. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, whose health had been impaired by long service, relinquished command to Lieutenant-Colonel E. Y. Comrie, while the second-in-command, Major J. Dempsey, was relieved by Major Riley, who had been senior physician and still continued in that capacity. At this stage, too, we welcomed Major I. A. Alexander, Captain J. Menzies, the newly-appointed radiologist, whose untimely death occurred only a few weeks later, Captain G. B. Courtis, Lieutenant A. N. Talbot, the eye and ear, nose and throat specialist, and Second-Lieutenant R. Aitken. Other units and new appointments claimed Captains Hartnell, Rich, MacDonald and Gatman.

About this time members of the unit became conscious of the market value of souvenirs made for our American allies. Trade began to prosper, and such lines as shell bracelets, necklaces, lockets, and handles for sheath knives brought quite fancy prices. There was nowhere to go on leave, so these hobbies kept men interested and were, besides, a source of revenue for them. A US naval unit had established its camp a few hundred yards away from the hospital, and they proved excellent neighbours. Not only personnel of the CCS, but of all New Zealand units on the island, were very fortunate in being able to attend their open-air picture shows on any night of the week. Swimming proved very popular, a diving board was erected well out into the deeper water, and several handy rafts were made by enterprising individuals. The lighter side of life on Guadalcanal cannot be left without recalling the strong bond of affection that existed between Private George Beamish and a black and tan boar which he reared from its very early days. One of George's jobs was that of keeping page 127unit roads in good order, and he could confidently claim that the boar was as good as an extra 'fatigue' in assisting him to clean out water tables. The dozen Solomon Islands 'boys' whom we employed for grass cutting and general manual labour were a source of great interest and some amusement throughout their period of attachment to the unit.

Arrangements for the replacement of tent wards by wooden buildings were made on two deciding factors: first, because the division was preparing for a further action, from which casualties were to be expected, and, second, because the tents in use had, by this time, deteriorated considerably and were leaking badly. The engineers were in charge of construction, and carried out a programme whereby one ward at a time was erected on the same site as the tented ward. Each took approximately 10 days to complete, and it was not long before all were in use. During this period, after the first two actions of the division and with hospital work down to a routine, there was still plenty to do. The average daily bed state was 130 patients, and almost every day saw 10 to 15 evacuations and a corresponding number of admissions. The clearing of the area itself was an endless job, as page 128there seemed always some log or tree to be removed. Certain trees shattered by shrapnel during the Guadacanal campaign were, if left standing, a grave danger to troops in that they were liable to fall without warning and regardless of weather conditions. These, therefore, had to be removed as opportunity offered.

When the 14th Brigade Group went into further action on Nissan Island there marched into the CCS a team of eight nursing sisters from 4th NZ General Hospital. They were again led by Charge-Sister Joyce Sexton, and the detachment comprised Charge-Sister R. G. Ward, Sisters D. H. Hoyte, H. B. Foster, M. S. Farland, J. G. Galloway, A. M. McLachlan, and M. G. Gwilliam. It could be plainly seen that the arrival of sisters at the hospital was not altogether welcomed by orderlies, who felt that they had managed quite well up to this period. After a few weeks, however, they began to realise the difference made by the skilful hands of these women, particularly in the changes to the genera] appearance of the wards. The sisters were also welcomed by patients, who were most appreciative of the skilled feminine touch which aided their recovery.

Somewhat surprisingly there were comparatively few battle casualties during the Green Islands action, but from Bougainville we admitted a constant stream of Fijian wounded. Fijians had from the beginning been cared for in the New Zealand hospitals wherever possible, and a suitable line of evacuation to Fiji from New Caledonia was in operation. News soon came that enemy resistance on Nissan Island had ceased, and that the New Zealanders were in undisputed occupation. Many of these troops later became infected with hookworm, skin diseases, and, in isolated cases, with malaria, and considerable numbers had to be evacuated to Guadalcanal.

Members of the unit were pleased to hear of the meritorious work that had been carried out by both field surgical units during their stay in combat areas (the commanders, Major Brunette and Major Waterworth, were both mentioned in despatches, and the former was awarded the American Legion of Honour), and we were proud to feel that the CCS was, as their parent unit, associated with them. Some time before this, but after the' Treasury operations, the command of the 2nd Field Surgical Unit was assumed by Major K. Rees Thomas from Major Water-worth, who had been promoted and appointed officer in charge surgical division, 4th NZ General Hospital.

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Early in April, 1944, we heard the amazing news that New Zealand was asking for volunteers from our division to return to work in essential industry. In one week the unit was ordered to list 45 men (almost half our strength) for the first draft of essential workers. The hospital bed-state remained at the same level, and our reduced staff was indeed a hard-working one. Our commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Comrie, left us at this stage for service with the Second Division, and Major Riley assumed command. We continued to operate our hospital until the middle of May, when a warning order was received that it should be closed, our equipment packed, and ourselves prepared to move. Much to their chagrin, a replacement draft of four members of the NZANS—Sisters T. Glass, M. E. Burke, J. M. Cotterill and N. King—arrived at Guadalcanal only one week before all sisters were returned to base.

The hospital was finally closed on 19 May, 1944. While operating on Guadalcanal we had admitted 2,500 patients, and, of this number, there occurred only two deaths. Twelve hundred cases, which required prolonged treatment and convalescence, were evacuated to base, but all other admissions were treated by the CCS and fitted for return to active duty with their units.

Our attention was now diverted entirely to the packing and crating of unit equipment and to the closing of the area. The native (boys' were transferred to the RNZAF base, while the camp site was taken over by the British Resident Commissioner. Our departure was set down for 6 June, 1944; and was carried out on the evening of that date. Whilst waiting on Lunga Beach for the landing barges information reached us of the invasion of France by the allies. This was indeed grand news, though many of us felt somewhat wistful that we were nearing the end of our little adventure at a time when perhaps the greatest chapter in all military history was being written.

In leaving Guadalcanal reference must be made to the changes that had taken place on the island during our 10 months' stay. From a forward base it had become a rear area, and from limited stores and supplies had grown huge reserves of army, navy, and air force equipment. From a policy requiring evacuation of casualties further to the rear facilities for prolonged hospitalisation and convalescence on the island had been developed. We of the 2nd NZ Casualty Clearing Station had seen this transformation take place—we had shared an interesting phase in the military development of Guadalcanal.