Due to the advance of the German army, the Australian Voluntary Hospital is established at St. Nazaire instead of Le Havre. Nan Reay arrives on the 6 September and noticing St. Nazaire to be a little cleaner than Le Havre, sets to work with her colleagues to get everything ship shape at headquarters.

We are introduced to Gabriel, (Ida Gabriel) Nan’s Australian friend with whom she had sailed back to Australia in 1913 after accompanying a ship load of migrants from England to Australia in 1912. Nan Reay is comforted by meeting Melbourne Hospital colleagues and friends who have also joined the AVH. 

For the first time, Nan describes her patients and their injuries. We are introduced to the word “Tommies” which was slang for common soldier in the British army in WW1. 

World War 1 Timeline for Episode 2

4 September 1914.Germany invades Belgium and advances to within 48 kms of Paris. They are stopped at the First Battle of the Marne (6-12 September) in north-eastern France by the French armies and the British Expeditionary Forces. The Germans dig in north of the Aisne River, and a system of fighting known as trench warfare that is to typify the Western Front (areas of Belgium and France) for the next four years begins. 

During the battle, the French had around 250,000 casualties and the British lost 12,733 men. Although the French and British were able to prevent the Germans from a swift and decisive victory, the German army was not beaten and their successful retreat ended what was expected to be a war which would be “over by Christmas”.

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Geraldine Cook-Dafner – Narrator

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Image – Sarah Corridon

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