|
In memory
of Scottish matrons (1912 – 1918)
Serbian
soldiers are still appreciative to those wonderful and dedicated Scottish
women – matrons and nurses, not only because they cured them observantly,
but also because of their emotional relationship that turned into love to
Serbia and its people. They manifested it through many acts. So, doctor
Elsie Ingless refused English conslul’s call to retreat her hospital from
the town of Krusevac, under the incoming aggressors. She did something
else – she stayed waiting for the Germans standing by the wounded
Serbian’s beds. She has been there for the next three months living in
occupation, and although living in hard and poor conditions, she managed
to finish her mission. She was deported to the prisoners camp somewhere in
Europe. Even then she continued fighting for the Serbs and Serbia.
Mrs
Stobar stayed with some small units of Allied soldiers, living through
Albanian scenario (when Serbs had to retreat through the mountains of
Albania, running from the Germans’ incoming, because they needed to arrive
in Greece, to receive medications and to have some rest). She also
received orders to retreat using the safe road and to take her hospital
with herself. There was a risk for equipment to be destroyed (although
that didn’t happen), English donators criticized her and later on she was
dismissed from her function of hospital’s director.
The
unprecedented curiosity was seen in the case of Mrs Flora Senz, once
gracious lady living in the highest London social class. As she didn’t
want to leave wounded Serbian soldiers (her medic unit was withdrawn) she
decided to change her medic uniform for the soldiers’ one and she was
determined to continue with Serbian army’s withdrawal through Albania. On
the Thesalonika front she was charging at the Bulgarian occupators’
trenches and she was wounded few times.
No one
could write some more emotional memories of the Serbian warriors as those
wonderful women did. Here are some extractions :
Doctor
Wakefield: “Serbs are great nation – firm, strong, persistent, even they
become ill, they don’t complain. They are ideal patients. They now how to
live, but they also now how to die. We really loved them.”
Thanks to
Milan Koricanac for sending
in this translation. |
