A Volunteer Nurse on the Western Front: Memoirs from a WWI camp hospital

by Olive Dent

Starring Oona Chaplin as a V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment), and Suranne Jones and Hermione Norris as trained nurses, The Crimson Field is a gripping drama set in a tented hospital on the coast of France, where plucky real-life V.A.D. Olive Dent served two years of the Great War, and kept this extraordinarily vivid diary of day-to-day life – ever cheerful through the bitter cold, the chilblains, hunger and exhaustion. Resilient, courageous and resourceful, nurses, doctors and patients alike do their best to support each other. A Christmas fancy-dress ball, a concert performed by a stoic orchestra covered in bandages, church services held in a marquee and letters from Blighty all keep spirits up in camp, as wounded soldiers suffer terribly with quiet dignity on the makeshift wards, and nurses rush round tirelessly to make them as comfortable as possible.With original illustrations throughout by fellow V.A.D.s, Olive’s memoir is a fascinating period piece, a rare first-hand account of this little-known story, which will resonate very strongly with viewers of The Crimson Field.

Genres: World War I, Nonfiction, History, War

Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1917

Reviews

[Marie (UK) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dont understand what other people have seen in this. I thought it was a poorly written, dry and fragmented narrative about 20 months during the war which seems to have taken place exclusively in the winter

[Ginger Monette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I laughed, I cried, I learned.

Most first hand accounts of WW1 are either diaries, letters, or military documents--all of which, when written, assumed the reader is familiar with the culture and setting. This one was written almost as if Ms Dent was writing to me, a future audience, who would not be familiar with the places and events of 1915. With her vivid descriptions of what back then may have seemed mundane, the layout of an army hospital or the morning routine of a VAD, I felt like I was there, seeing what she saw, and in many instances, feeling what she felt.

The book is organized topically. Chapters covered a variety of topics: some chapter titles include:
-Active Service in the Snow (Challenges of nursing from ward to ward in wretched weather)
-A BEF Christmas
-Housekeeping on Active Service (Great details on army kitchen, meals, cookery, and improvisation)
-BEF Nicknames
-Our Concerts
-Red Cross Needlwork
-Some of My Boys (funny tales about some of her patients)
-More from My Diary
-History Makers (A poignant soliloquy on the ordinariness of a hero)
And my favorite chapter, Blighty, (because I am researching British military medical machine) was a solid overview of the evacuation chain.

Ms Dent was a very gifted writer, adeptly alternating between humorous anecdotes and poignant moments, with a dash of philosophical musings stirred with the mix. Highly recommended for someone researching 'the personal side' of WW1 and looking for specific details of camp life.

I leave you with two moving quotes:

[After a grueling day treating the first casualties of the Somme where a spirit of cooperation abounded]: " I have heard little scraps of conversation to-day. I have seen little acts of self-sacrifice, kindliness and thoughtfulness between the men, that have made me feel reverent. There may be brutality, bestiality, fiendish recklessness, devilish remorseless-ness, anguishing mutilation and destruction in war, but to-day I have met fortitude, devotion, self-abnegation, that has brought with it an atmosphere of sanctity, of holiness." --From Ch. XXX A Big Push—July 1916

[After the funeral of a VAD]: "And what a magnificent end to one's life, to lie there among those splendidly brave boys in the little strip of land which the French Government has given over in perpetuity to our dead. Thousands of the children that are to be, will come to such cemeteries, and will be hushed to reverence by the spirits of those who are not, by the spirits of the fallen that will for ever inhabit the scene." --From Ch XX More From My Diary

I am one of those children hushed to reverence. Thank you Ms Dent for telling their story.

PM me if you would like my notes.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of a nurse's work in doing her "bit" for the English in WWI. Personal, funny, and tragic, the book details hospital tents set up just behind the front lines in France. The boys and men from all walks of English, Australian, New Zealand, and French life she cared for spark laughs and tears. Excellent resource for anyone interested in The Great War.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first-hand telling of life as a WW volunteer nurse. First published in 1917, the somewhat archaic writing and British vocabulary makes for awkward reading and somewhat boring. Overall, though it's worth giving it a try

[J'nell Ciesielski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening, heart warming, realistic, and insightful. A must read for anyone wishing to learn more about WWI and the courageous nurses.

[Heather P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Amazing diary of Olive Dent, a British V.A.D. (Volunteer nurse) in WWI. When Dent was unable to serve as a soldier because of her gender she still wanted to actively help the cause and volunteered to become a V.A.D. Although not formally trained as a nurse before the war, she performs direct patient care of wounded soldiers just the same. Dent is intelligent, articulate, funny, open and provides a very vivid descriptions of both patient care and camp life behind the battle lines in France. Dent is a capable writer and her heartfelt sentiments when soldiers who have no hope of recovering die are very touching. Not every patient encounter she writes about is terminal and many of her interactions with convalescing patients are very funny.

Although written over 100 years ago, I don't think contemporary readers would find this book antediluvian. I personally enjoyed the book immensely. I admire and respect Olive Dent and am grateful for her having recorded her experiences in writing. I highly recommend this book.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is actually quite light reading. It is not as medical as I thought it might be likely because she is with the Volunteer Aid Detachment without full nurse's training. Dent tells the story of everyday life at their tent hospital. A lot of it is about trying to keep the soldiers comfortable before they are shipped back to England (Blighty). I missed the meaning of some of the expressions of the era and had to look up some of the medical procedures and supplies they had that are no longer used.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading several books by WWI nurses and VADs lately, and I enjoyed this one, because she wrote most of the book about the hospital. She had moving descriptions of the soldiers who came through the hospital, amusing descriptions of the staff, the situations, the hardships (I hope I never endure a winter such as she describes, wherein everything is frozen including the nurses!) In this anniversary of the American entrance into the war, we are seeing many books published, and I find the nurses' diaries very much absorbing.