ANZAC Girls

New Zealand's Army Nursing Service is on board.

New Zealand Command wanted us here on Lemnos

but we've heard British High Command have a different plan.

Nurses do little towards the actual saving of life in war,

though they may promote a more rapid recovery.

My nurses rank as officers.

The medical orderlies must stay under my and my nurses' command.

We made a promise to these boys signing up that we'd care for them.

I'm Norvel, but everyone calls me Pat.

He writes about everything except how he feels about me.

The sooner you come to accept military regulations,

the easier your job will be.

Please come back to me.

19...

I never asked for nurses in my unit.

If you're looking to change the army's opinion of your profession,

Lemnos is your challenge.

What is all this? Delivery from the Red Cross.

Clothes, tea, chocolate! Smokes.

I'm glad they did not forget the most important item.

Alice Ross-King, eat your heart out!

They sent us 20 more of those.

Marvellous.

Oh... oh, mail!

No, Sister. It's the First Brigade heading back to Anzac.

Quick, let's gather up some things.

# Then let your voices ring and altogether sing

# Are we downhearted?

# No!

# Not while Britannia rules the waves

# Not likely! #

# ..long, long way to Tipperary

# But we're not downhearted yet. #

Sisters. A word.

I'd like to address the issue of our authority.

As part of the army, we have honorary rank.

I am a captain.

Sisters are first lieutenants and staff nurses are second lieutenants.

That's not how it plays out.

The orderlies ignore everything we say. Not all -

As officers we should be professional and courteous to lower ranks.

We mustn't fraternise.

You will not socialise out of hours with privates, NCOs,

anyone under the rank of second lieutenant.

A disciplined approach, sisters.

It's the only way to earn their respect.

My cousin is private here.

He said he'd take me one of the villages on my day off.

Does that mean I can't go? That is the order.

Back to the ward, please.

'My dear Alice, I'm sorry I haven't written for so long.

We've been flat chat,

but the other day when a patient mentioned your name,

I realised how very behindhand my correspondence has become.

Lately, we've had as many cases of illness as we've had injuries.'

Oh, Jesus!

'Dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid, trench foot.

One shudders at what our boys are enduring.

The sickest are being sent to Cairo.'

Get the lights down.

They're targeting us again.

Lights to be doused. Lights to be doused.

Lights to be doused.

Lights to be doused.

'Bombardments continue.

At night we've often been ordered to show no lights.

Certainly the closest I'll come to being the Lady with the Lamp.

Have you heard from Olive and Elsie?

I do so miss you all.

Fondest regards, Hilda.'

PS, the chap who asked me if I knew you

is one who's been sent to Cairo.'

Sister Steele, I need you in the ward - now.

'PPS, His name was something Moffitt.'

Harry.

Alice. Hello.

How are you?

Laid waste by an army of typhoid bacillus.

I tried to sent you word, but -

I got your letters.

You receive mine? Yes.

I'm so glad you're back, Harry.

I'm so glad you're safe.

I'm happy...

..I'm happy to see you too.

Hello.

Things have quietened down at Luna.

In fact it seems we're to wind down the auxiliary hospital

and allow back the ice rink.

Makes me wonder if perhaps this Dardanelles campaign

is coming to a close at last.

Are you unwell?

Harry's - Lieutenant Moffitt has been invalided from Anzac Cove.

He's got typhoid.

Poor fellow.

How's his fever?

His temperature is 102.

He looks so ill.

Typhoid takes some recovering from.

In fact, I've seen men emerge from a bout permanently weakened.

You take care too.

Typhoid sufferers can remain contagious for some time.

Don't want it becoming a case of 'Nurse, heal thyself.'

Ernest invited me to the NCOs' mess for supper.

Now I have an excuse not to go.

You weren't planning on going?

Of course not. Besides, the officers invited me to the recreation tent

for a special dinner.

Are you going, Florence?

No, I'm as tired as 60 cats.

Looks like you're stuck here, Olive.

There goes my letter writing. Lucky I'm not getting any.

Go on then, have fun.

What is that idiot playing?

We shouldn't be here. Trust me.

I don't know...

Oh, goodness.

Sister Tilley.

My order was plain as day. WHAT on earth is going on in here?

What do you think you're doing?

What is going on?

P-Private Rogers has a tendency to drink,

and I thought if I spent time with him I could wean him off the habit -

It's 11:30 at night and you snuck into the stores tent.

I'm so sorry, Matron. I... I've...

I've just been so miserable and so cold.

Matron.

Come with me.

She made her resign?

I was in the officers' mess last night and I'm not in trouble.

That's the point, you were in the officers' mess.

And you weren't there alone, after lights out, on a potato sack.

But firing her is as silly as a hat full of worms.

She's a good nurse. Clara, Fiaschi found out.

Matron had no choice.

She told the CO?

No, the bugle boy got someone to cover for him

but the dill played the call to retreat instead of lights out.

Which is all it took to send Fiaschi charging into the night.

Like a bear with a sore head.

I guess if Colonel Fiasco found out...

My father would disown me if that's how I came home.

And my mother would die

then come back to life strangle me in front of the neighbours

and die all over again.

At least you wouldn't be on Lemnos.

How are you doing?

There you go. How are you feeling today?

Cooler.

His temperature is down, so fingers crossed, he's on the mend.

He hasn't had any breakfast?

We've been busy. Really?

We served it on our ward 20 minutes ago.

Typhoid patients need more than just sponge baths

to regain their strength, you know.

I'll just see to these.

I hope...

Did you sleep?

A little.

Been dreaming.

Do you remember the last time we were together

before I went to Gallipoli?

Groppi's cafe. You had rock cakes. Yeah.

Do you remember how I said this campaign

would be a chance for Australia to make a name for itself?

One day, a Pommy Colonel came into our trenches.

He asked my CO if I'd lend my platoon to mix with his troops.

He wanted to buck up his men, you see.

Give 'em courage.

'Cause one Anzac is worth a dozen tommies.

You didn't tell me that story in your letters.

No. Lots I didn't write you about.

What else?

A story I heard about two stretcher bearers.

They found a Turk behind our lines, they took his rifle,

they made him lie down on the ground

and one sat on his chest while the other one slit his throat.

You were right, Alice.

We're never gonna win this thing.

This whole campaign is just a waste of time, effort, lives.

Yes, but as you said...

..people back home know about Gallipoli.

Perhaps it won't be all for nothing. Perhaps.

Did you think about other things while you were there?

Happier things?

Poetry.

Songs... punchlines of jokes.

Here you go, Moff. Best custard in Cairo.

Shouldn't you be getting back to your own ward, Sister Ross-King?

I'll come back.

Just slow.

That's it.

I need to sit.

Just a couple more...

I need to sit NOW dammit!

I'm sorry.

There's no proper convalescent care. They're all crammed in together.

He is making progress, though?

Well, his speech gets tangled up now and then.

I just wish he could get more attention.