The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt

Assistance of Anglo-Egyptians

Surveying the work of the Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt, it does seem to me that sufficient acknowledgment has not been made of the services rendered and the help given to the Australian sick and wounded by the British residents in Egypt, who, from their Excellencies Sir Henry and Lady MacMahon downwards, spared no effort to help wherever assistance was possible. Very many of the officials employed in the Egyptian Government service came to the hospitals when the day's work was over and worked till late in the night, rendering services which freed the orderlies for other special duty. It was impossible to get reinforcements with any rapidity, the pressure was enormous, and the least that can be said is that these ladies and gentlemen are entitled to respectful and grateful acknowledgment from the people of Australia.

Special acknowledgment also should be made of the sympathetic help given by the courteous and able officers of the Egyptian State Railways.

I do not think it will be right to close the work without personal acknowledgment of the exceedingly valuable help given in a time of crisis by the ladies and gentlemen whose names are attached, and who, at great inconvenience, came forward at the time when other help was unobtainable.

No. 1 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL – HELIOPOLIS PALACEFrom its establishment until the opening of No. 2 General HospitalPrincipal Red Cross VisitorMrs. ElgoodWard Visitors (daily or several times a week)

Lady Oakes

Mrs. Abramson

Mrs. Blakeney

Mrs. Frank Watson

Mrs. Boys

Mrs. Madden

Lady Brunyate

Mrs. Perels

Mrs. Dale

Mrs. Mackworth

The Hon. Mrs. Home

Lady Cheetham

Mrs. Everett

Miss Devonshire

Mrs. Teal

Lady Douglas

Mrs. Paxton

Mrs. Fletcher

Mrs. Dunhill

Most valuable assistance was also rendered by Mrs. Travers Symons and Mrs. W. Jessop.

Flower Ladies (visiting three times a week)

Mrs. Hodgson

Mrs. Spong

Miss Marshall

Mrs. Crawley

Mrs. Garrett

Mrs. Spencer Smith

Mrs. Lumley Smith

HELIOPOLISFrom the opening of the No. 2 General Hospital, till end of July 1915Principal VisitorMrs. ElgoodWard Visitors (daily or several times a week)

Lady Oakes

Mrs. Waller

Mrs. Sender

Mrs. Fox

Mrs. Summons

Mrs. Maxwell

Miss Mavris

Mr. Dulle

Mr. Schreiber

Major Blakeney

Mrs. Blakeney

Mrs. MacDonald

Mrs. Everett

Mrs. H. Chisholme

The Hon. Mrs. Home

Mrs. Perels

Mrs. Dale

Mrs. Fletcher

Mrs. Spencer Smith

Mrs. Dawnay

Mrs. and Miss Knox

Mrs. and the Misses Spens

Three Ladies from C.M.S.

Mme. and Mlle. de Lancker

Mme. de Rey

Mrs. Dunbar Brunton

Miss Hanauer

Mrs. Watson

Mr. St. Clair

Dr. Grace Russell

Mrs. Adie

Mrs. Wisdom

Mrs. Makeham

Mrs. Bruce

Organiser of ConcertsThe Countess de LavisonNo. 1 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL Gentlemen who did Telephone Duty at Heliopolis Palace

Mr. H. O. Bennett, Kubba Gardens

Mr. G. Brackenbury, late of Palais de Kubba

Mr. L. Billson, Zeitoun

Mr. N. L. Ablett, Helmieh

Mr. A. Abramson, late of Heliopolis

Mr. T. H. Clarke, Zeitoun

Mr. G. R. Tadman, late of Heliopolis

Mr. H. B. May, late of Zeitoun

Mr. A. R. B. Milton, Heliopolis

Mr. S. Fraser, Heliopolis

Mr. R. Lawson, Heliopolis

Mr. M. R. Pattison, Zeitoun

Mr. G. Muller, Kafr el Gamous

Mr. H. E. Gardiner, Kafr el Gamous

Mr. E. Griffith Jones, Mataria

Mr. J. C. Mansfield, Kubba les Bains

Mr. J. K. Parkes, late of Heliopolis

Mr. Hanauer (Senr.), late of Heliopolis

LUNA PARK – SKATING RINKFrom opening till middle of July 1915Principal VisitorLady OakesWard Visitors (daily or several times a week)

Mrs. Spencer Smith

Mrs. Elgood

Mrs. H. Chisholme

Miss Griffiths

Mrs. Wellburn

Mrs. Barry Davies

The Misses Crewe (2)

Mrs. Woodifield

Mrs. Clogstoun

Mrs. Mackworth

Major Blakeney

Mrs. Teasdale Smith

Mrs. Rebett

Miss Christian

Mrs. Knox

Mrs. Parlato

Mme. Yenidimia

Mrs. Bailey

Mrs. Everett

Mrs. Williams

Mr. Blythe

Mrs. Makeham

Mrs. Bruce

Mr. Naggiar

Mr. Airlet

Mrs. Fenwick

Daily Ward Workers

Miss Villedieu

Mrs. Addison

Miss Ratzkowski

Mrs. Le Fleming

Mrs. Murray

The Hon. Mrs. Morrison Bell

Mrs. Hibbert

Mrs. and Miss Leathes

Mrs. Sender

Mrs. Walker

Mrs. Fox

Miss Morrison

Miss Pound

Mrs. Wilson

Mlle. Picciotti

Mrs. Fanous

LUNA PARK PAVILIONPrincipal VisitorMr. BlytheHelpers

Mr. and Mrs. May, late of Zeitoun

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Kubba Gardens

Mr. and Mrs. Micklam, Palais Kubba

Mr. and Mrs. Stopford, Zeitoun

Mr. and Mrs. Ablett, Helmieh

Mr. and Mrs. Levy, Heliopolis

Mr. and Mrs. Hood, late of Kubba Gardens

Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, now at Kubba les Bains

Mrs. T. and Miss Williams, Zeitoun

Mrs. Watkins, late of Zeitoun

Mrs. Hogan, late of Zeitoun

Mrs. Fenwick, Helmieh

Mrs. Tite, Zeitoun

Mr. Goadby, late of Zeitoun

Mr. Brackenbury, late of Palais Kubba

Mr. Poths, now at Kubba les Bains

ATELIERPrincipal VisitorMr. GoadbyDaily Workers

Mrs. Goadby

Mrs. and the Misses Spens

Mrs. Dawnay (Librarian)

Mrs. Morris

SPORTING CLUBPrincipal VisitorMr. HerbertDaily WorkerMrs. Eddy (after Nov. 1916)

[The first Inquiry Bureau in Egypt for service in connection with the Wounded and Missing was established by Mrs. Jessop, of the Y.M.C.A.]

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX I: TRANSLATION OF GENEVA CONVENTION OF JULY 6, 1906

APPENDIX II: CONVENTION FOR THE ADAPTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION TO MARITIME WAR

APPENDIX I

CHAPTER IThe Wounded and SickArticle 1

Officers and soldiers, and other persons officially attached to armies, shall be respected and taken care of when wounded or sick by the belligerent in whose power they may be, without distinction of nationality.

Nevertheless, a belligerent who is compelled to abandon sick or wounded to the enemy shall, as far as military exigencies permit, leave with them a portion of his medical personnel and material to contribute to the care of them.

Article 2

Except as regards the treatment to be provided for them in virtue of the preceding article, the wounded and sick of an army who fall into the hands of an enemy are prisoners of war, and the general provisions of international law concerning prisoners are applicable to them.

Belligerents are, however, free to arrange with one another such exceptions and mitigations with reference to sick and wounded prisoners as they may judge expedient; in particular, they will be at liberty to agree —

To restore to one another the wounded left on the field after a battle;

To repatriate any wounded and sick whom they do not wish to retain as prisoners, after rendering them fit for removal or after recovery;

To hand over to a neutral State, with the latter's consent, the enemy's wounded and sick to be interned by the neutral State until the end of hostilities.

Article 3

After each engagement the Commander in possession of the field shall take measures to search for the wounded, and to ensure protection against pillage and maltreatment both for the wounded and for the dead.

He shall arrange that a careful examination of the bodies is made before the dead are buried or cremated.

Article 4

As early as possible each belligerent shall send to the authorities of the country or army to which they belong the military identification marks or tokens found on the dead, and a nominal roll of the wounded or sick who have been collected by him.

The belligerents shall keep each other mutually informed of any internments and changes, as well as of admissions into hospital and deaths among the wounded and sick in their hands. They shall collect all the articles of personal use, valuables, letters, etc., which are found on the field of battle or left by the wounded or sick who have died in the medical establishments or units, in order that such objects may be transmitted to the persons interested by the authorities of their own country.

Article 5

The competent military authority may appeal to the charitable zeal of the inhabitants to collect and take care of, under his direction, the wounded or sick of armies, granting to those who respond to the appeal special protection and certain immunities.

CHAPTER IIMedical Units and EstablishmentsArticle 6

Mobile medical units (that is to say, those which are intended to accompany armies into the field) and the fixed establishments of the medical service shall be respected and protected by the belligerents.

Article 7

The protection to which medical units and establishments are entitled ceases if they are made use of to commit acts harmful to the enemy.

Article 8

The following facts are not considered to be of a nature to deprive a medical unit or establishment of the protection guaranteed by Article 6: —

1. That the personnel of the unit or of the establishment is armed, and that it uses its arms for its own defence or for that of the sick and wounded under its charge.

2. That in default of armed orderlies the unit or establishment is guarded by a picquet or by sentinels furnished with an authority in due form.

3. That weapons and cartridges taken from the wounded and not yet handed over to the proper department are found in the unit or establishment.

CHAPTER IIIPersonnelArticle 9

The personnel engaged exclusively in the collection, transport, and treatment of the wounded and the sick, as well as in the administration of medical units and establishments, and the Chaplains attached to armies, shall be respected and protected under all circumstances. If they fall into the hands of the enemy they shall not be treated as prisoners of war.

These provisions apply to the guard of medical units and establishments under the circumstances indicated in Article 8 (2).

Article 10

The personnel of Voluntary Aid Societies, duly recognised and authorised by their Government, who may be employed in the medical units and establishments of armies, is placed on the same footing as the personnel referred to in the preceding article, provided always that the first-mentioned personnel shall be subject to military law and regulations.

Each State shall notify to the other, either in time of peace or at the commencement of or during the course of hostilities, but in every case before actually employing them, the names of the societies which it has authorised, under its responsibility, to render assistance to the regular medical service of its armies.

Article 11

A recognised society of a neutral country can only afford the assistance of its medical personnel and units to a belligerent with the previous consent of its own Government and the authorisation of the belligerent concerned.

A belligerent who accepts such assistance is bound to notify the fact to his adversary before making any use of it.

Article 12

The persons designated in Articles 9, 10, and 11, after they have fallen into the hands of the enemy, shall continue to carry on their duties under his direction.

When their assistance is no longer indispensable, they shall be sent back to their army or to their country at such time and by such route as may be compatible with military exigencies.

They shall then take with them such effects, instruments, arms, and horses as are their private property.

Article 13

The enemy shall secure to the persons mentioned in Article 9, while in his hands, the same allowances and the same pay as are granted to the persons holding the same rank in his own army.

CHAPTER IVMaterialArticle 14

If mobile medical units fall into the hands of the enemy they shall retain their material, including their teams, irrespectively of the means of transport and the drivers employed.

Nevertheless, the competent military authority shall be free to use the material for the treatment of the wounded and sick. It shall be restored under the conditions laid down for the medical personnel, and so far as possible at the same time.

Article 15

The buildings and material of fixed establishments remain subject to the laws of war, but may not be diverted from their purpose so long as they are necessary for the wounded and the sick.

Nevertheless, the Commanders of troops in the field may dispose of them, in case of urgent military necessity, provided they make previous arrangements for the welfare of the wounded and sick who are found there.

Article 16

The material of Voluntary Aid Societies which are admitted to the privileges of the Convention under the conditions laid down therein is considered private property, and as such to be respected under all circumstances, saving only the right of requisition recognised for belligerents in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

CHAPTER VConvoys of EvacuationArticle 17

Convoys of evacuation shall be treated like mobile medical units subject to the following special provisions: —

1. A belligerent intercepting a convoy may break it up if military exigencies demand, provided he takes charge of the sick and wounded who are in it.

2. In this case, the obligation to send back the medical personnel, provided for in Article 12, shall be extended to the whole of the military personnel detailed for the transport or the protection of the convoy, and furnished with an authority in due form to that effect.

The obligation to restore the medical material, provided for in Article 14, shall apply to railway trains, and boats used in internal navigation, which are specially arranged for evacuations, as well as to the material belonging to the medical service for fitting up ordinary vehicles, trains, and boats.

Military vehicles other than those of the medical service may be captured with their teams.

The civilian personnel and the various means of transport obtained by requisition, including railway material and boats used for convoys, shall be subject to the general rules of international law.

CHAPTER VIThe Distinctive EmblemArticle 18

As a compliment to Switzerland, the heraldic emblem of the red cross on a white ground, formed by reversing the Federal colours, is retained as the emblem and distinctive sign of the medical service of armies.

Article 19

With the permission of the competent military authority, this emblem shall be shown on the flags and armlets (brassards), as well as on all the material belonging to the Medical Service.

Article 20

The personnel protected in pursuance of Articles 9 (paragraph 1), 10, and 11 shall wear, fixed to the left arm, an armlet (brassard), with a red cross on a white ground, delivered and stamped by the competent military authority, and accompanied by a certificate of identity in the case of persons who are attached to the medical service of armies, but who have not a military uniform.

Article 21

The distinctive flag of the Convention shall only be hoisted over those medical units and establishments which are entitled to be respected under the Convention, and with the consent of the military authorities. It must be accompanied by the national flag of the belligerent to whom the unit or establishment belongs.

Nevertheless, medical units which have fallen into the hands of the enemy, so long as they are in that situation, shall not fly any other flag than that of the Red Cross.

Article 22

The medical units belonging to neutral countries which may be authorised to afford their services under the conditions laid down in Article 11 shall fly, along with the flag of the Convention, the national flag of the belligerent to whose army they are attached.

The provisions of the second paragraph of the preceding article are applicable to them.

Article 23

The emblem of the red cross on a white ground and the words "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross" shall not be used either in time of peace or in time of war, except to protect or to indicate the medical units and establishments and the personnel and material protected by the Convention.

CHAPTER VIIApplication and Carrying Out of the ConventionArticle 24

The provisions of the present Convention are only binding upon the Contracting Powers in the case of war between two or more of them. These provisions shall cease to be binding from the moment when one of the belligerent Powers is not a party to the Convention.

Article 25

The Commanders-in-chief of belligerent armies shall arrange the details for carrying out the preceding articles, as well as for cases not provided for, in accordance with the instructions of their respective Governments, and in conformity with the general principles of the present Convention.

Article 26

The Signatory Governments will take the necessary measures to instruct their troops, especially the personnel protected, in the provisions of the present Convention, and to bring them to the notice of the civil population.

CHAPTER VIIIPrevention of Abuses and InfractionsArticle 27

The Signatory Governments, in countries the legislation of which is not at present adequate for the purpose, undertake to adopt or to propose to their legislative bodies such measures as may be necessary to prevent at all times the employment of the emblem or the name of Red Cross or Geneva Cross by private individuals or by societies other than those which are entitled to do so under the present Convention, and in particular for commercial purposes as a trade-mark or trading mark.

The prohibition of the employment of the emblem or the names in question shall come into operation from the date fixed by each legislature, and at the latest five years after the present Convention comes into force. From that date it shall no longer be lawful to adopt a trade-mark or trading mark contrary to this prohibition.

Article 28

The Signatory Governments also undertake to adopt, or to propose to their legislative bodies, should their military law be insufficient for the purpose, the measures necessary for the repression in time of war of individual acts of pillage and maltreatment of the wounded and sick of armies, as well as for the punishment, as an unlawful employment of military insignia, of the improper use of the Red Cross flag and armlet (brassard) by officers and soldiers or private individuals not protected by the present Convention.

They shall communicate to one another, through the Swiss Federal Council, the provisions relative to these measures of repression at the latest within five years from the ratification of the present Convention.

General ProvisionsArticle 29

The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible. The ratifications shall be deposited at Berne.

When each ratification is deposited a procès verbal shall be drawn up, and a copy thereof certified as correct shall be forwarded through the diplomatic channel to all the Contracting Powers.

Article 30

The present Convention shall come into force for each Power six months after the date of the deposit of its ratification.

Article 31

The present Convention, duly ratified, shall replace the Convention of August 22nd, 1864, in relations between the Contracting States. The Convention of 1864 remains in force between such of the parties who signed it who may not likewise ratify the present Convention.

Article 32

The present Convention may be signed until December 31st next by the Powers represented at the Conference, which was opened at Geneva on June 11, 1906, as also by the Powers, not represented at that Conference, which signed the Convention of 1864.

Such of the aforesaid Powers as shall have not signed the present Convention by December 31st, 1906, shall remain free to accede to it subsequently. They shall notify their accession by means of a written communication addressed to the Swiss Federal Council, and communicated by the latter to all the Contracting Powers.

Other Powers may apply to accede in the same manner, but their request shall only take effect if within a period of one year from the notification of it to the Federal Council no objection to it reaches the Council from any of the Contracting Powers.

Article 33

Each of the Contracting Powers shall be at liberty to denounce the present Convention. The denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the written notification of it has reached the Swiss Federal Council. The Council shall immediately communicate the notification to all the other Contracting Parties.

The denunciation shall only affect the Power which has notified it.

APPENDIX II

His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia; the President of the United States of America; the President of the Argentine Republic; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; the President of the Republic of Bolivia; the President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil; His Royal Highness the Prince of Bulgaria; the President of the Republic of Chile; His Majesty the Emperor of China; the President of the Republic of Colombia; the Provisional Governor of the Republic of Cuba; His Majesty the King of Denmark; the President of the Dominican Republic; the President of the Republic of Ecuador; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the French Republic; His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India; His Majesty the King of the Hellenes; the President of the Republic of Guatemala; the President of the Republic of Haiti; His Majesty the King of Italy; His Majesty the Emperor of Japan; His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxemburg, Duke of Nassau; the President of the United States of Mexico; His Royal Highness the Prince of Montenegro; the President of the Republic of Nicaragua; His Majesty the King of Norway; the President of the Republic of Panama; the President of the Republic of Paraguay; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; the President of the Republic of Peru; His Imperial Majesty the Shah of Persia; His Majesty the King of Portugal and of the Algarves, etc.; His Majesty the King of Roumania; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias; the President of the Republic of Salvador; His Majesty the King of Serbia; His Majesty the King of Siam; His Majesty the King of Sweden; the Swiss Federal Council; His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans; the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay; the President of the United States of Venezuela:

Animated alike by the desire to diminish, as far as depends on them, the inevitable evils of war; and

Wishing with this object to adapt to maritime war the principles of the Geneva Convention of July 6, 1906:

Have resolved to conclude a Convention for the purpose of revising the Convention of July 29, 1899, relative to this question, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

[Names of Plenipotentiaries.]

Who, after having deposited their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions: —

Article 1

Military hospital-ships, that is to say, ships constructed or adapted by States for the particular and sole purpose of aiding the sick, wounded, and shipwrecked, the names of which have been communicated to the belligerent Powers at the commencement or during the course of hostilities, and in any case before they are employed, shall be respected, and may not be captured while hostilities last.

Such ships, moreover, are not on the same footing as war-ships as regards their stay in a neutral port.

Article 2

Hospital-ships, equipped wholly or in part at the expense of private individuals or officially recognised relief societies, shall likewise be respected and exempt from capture, if the belligerent Power to which they belong has given them an official commission and has notified their names to the hostile Power at the commencement of or during hostilities, and in any case before they are employed.

Such ships shall be provided with a certificate from the proper authorities declaring that the vessels have been under their control while fitting out and on final departure.