On This Day, 4 September 1916

Birmingham Daily Post (excerpt)

Monday 4 September 1916

ANZACS IN BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS

With reference the statement made in the “British Australasian” that Australian soldiers were unhappy in Birmingham hospitals, we have received number of letters, which show that there is little or no foundation for the report, which appears originate from a few confirmed grumblers. We give the following extracts from some of the letters we have received:

GENERAL HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM.

An Australian sergeant writes: “My comrades and I have been patients of this hospital for the past forty days, and the attention given us by the hospital staff has been excellent. They have done all in their power to help us; also the great kindness of the people of the neighbourhood has never failed us. Our only troubles is on the part of our military authorities. They seem to forget that there are any colonial troops in this institution, and therefore make no effort to forward us any of our home mail, in spite of us acquainting them with our address. These complaints should not be directed against the hospitals, but our authorities who need to give us more attention.”

QUEEN’S HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM.

“Grateful Australians” write: “We beg to say that the complaints do not apply to all hospitals in Birmingham, for there is one that, to our mind, is above complaint, and that is the Queen’s Hospital. The treatment we Australians and others have received whilst we could have been here (six weeks) is everything that we could desire. The staff, from the highest downwards, have always treated us with every kindness and consideration, which we will never forget or be able to thank them enough for. It will always be a pleasant memory. We are getting such good and kind treatment where we are that we cannot quite take it in that other hospitals are so much different as ‘Lonely Australian’ says. We have never wanted for anything, although we had nothing with us on arrival here. We have been supplied with all things such as toiled and writing materials. We have never been without a smoke, thanks to many kind friends in Birmingham who visit and entertain us, and have a chat and make kind enquiries as to our progress, and who bring flowers and comforts. All we can say is that if we go back to the front and again get ‘knocked’ we hope we are sent to the Queen’s Hospital and Birmingham people every time.”