Nan Reay has been at the base hospital in St. Nazaire for three weeks. She has been told that they have had over 650 patients during that time. We are introduced to Major Studdy and Colonel L’Estrange Eames, her Australian O.C – Officer in Command. Too old to be recruited into the Australian Imperial Forces at the age of 51, Col L’Estrange Eames, was recruited by Lady Dudley to the AVH. The British War Office only accepted the hospital on the understanding that a man holding a Royal Army medical commission should be put at the head of it, and this position was given to Colonel L’Estrange Eames with the title of temporary Lieutenant Colonel.

Rumours abound as to where the nurses, medical officers and orderlies will be moved onto next.

World War 1 Timeline for Episode 6

After the invasion of Belgium by the German army, most of the Belgian army fell back to the fortress city of Antwerp. The siege of Antwerp from 27 September to 7 October 1914 started with a major bombardment on the fort and city by the German army. The British began to land naval infantry but as the German army closed in the Belgians decided to abandon the city on 7 October and move towards Ostend to fight on more open terrain. Two days later, German troops entered the Antwerp and the siege was over.

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Dispatches from the Frontline is brought to you by:

Geraldine Cook-Dafner – Narrator

Naomi Edwards - Director

Alex Dafner – Voice recording and editing

Zoltan Fecso – Music composition, sound design and editing

Tristan Meecham – Creative Producer, All the Queen’s Men

Image – Sarah Corridon

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