A Woman's Diary of the War-Sarah MacNaugtan

 

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... FURNES. The first soup kitchen was a very small, dark little place. It was really only a small space p, under an archway, and cut off from J the rest of the station by a door of sacking stretched on a wooden frame. The actual space within the room measured eight feet by seven feet, and in this not very lordly apartment was a small stove which burned, and a large one which didn't. There were a few kettles and pots, and a little coffee grinder, too, with a picture of a blue windmill on it, for which I conceived an earnest hatred, such as inanimate things sometimes inspire in one! It was so silly and so inadequate, and in order to get enough ground coffee its futile little handle had to be turned all day, while the blue windmill looked busy and did nothing, and was perfectly cheerful all the time. With these not very useful tools to work with (and it was very difficult to buy anything at (1,866) 7 Furnes at that time), there came a rush of work, which is not unusual in war time, and there was a great deal to do at the kitchen. The first convoy of wounded men used to come in about 10.30 a.m. They arrived always in one of those road trains which are common in Belgium, and which make circuits and stop at various small stations. We used to hear a horn blown, and then the noisy outer door of the station slammed, and we knew the train-load of men had arrived. The "sitting cases" were always brought in first. These were men damaged for the most part in their feet or hands, or with superficial scalp wounds, or frostbitten. They hobbled in, or were carried on men's backs, or leaned against some comrade's shoulder. And across the entrance hall of the station went, day and night, a long stream of them, to pass under the archway, and out at the other..

My Take:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I quite liked this book. It has Sarah telling us her take on war and it's sad, horrifying and a story that must be told.