Interview with Connie Fall (When the war came to Australia)

Places
Accession Number F04010
Collection type Film
Measurement 37 min
Object type To be confirmed
Physical description Betacam SP/Colour/sound
Maker Look Film Productions Pty Ltd
Look Television Productions Pty Ltd
Date made 11 February 1991
Access Open - view only
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Period 1990-1999
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Description

Matron Connie Falls was the matron of a country hospital, and applied to be on the nursing reserve. She went into the 6th Division. She experienced some tragedies in nursing the wounded troops. She met Queen Elizabeth in England, Robert Menzies and the Greek Royal family. Matron Falls' hospital was situated in Gaza, had six hundred beds, and finished off with two thousand beds. Her insistence on a wet mess set a precedent. On her return to Australia, she went to WA, started a hospital at Guildford grammar school, then Meriden. Then she went to Concord Repatriation Hospital and became matron there. She discusses the psychological problems of young men - some should never have gone. Shellshock is mentioned. She concludes that she is glad she didn't miss the war, as it gave her such a range of different experiences.