From Heidelberg Historian No. 154 February 1993 newsletter of the Heidelberg Historical Society
The following memories were written by George M. Mollison of Ivanhoe in December 1968, relating to his experiences at the Macleod Military Hospital in World War I.
I knew Heidelberg in the early 1910’s where we used to drill in the Militia and sometimes camped there for weekends. It was all open country and most hilly. The houses were few and on the way to Macleod all countrified and under cultivation. The Hospital was a very small place and was for incurables only. There were some very bad cases, and as I had a few friends there I used to visit often. Considering how bad they were their spirit was wonderful and the untiring nursing staff was a treat to witness.
‘Opposite us were mental cases, and it was pitiful to watch them, although some of the things they did were amusing. A little further on were some military cases and that was more shocking, mostly shell shock cases, although quite a number recovered. Further away were illness cases from the trainees at Broadmeadows Camp. We seldom met them but I believe they used to call us the “Anzac Noises” and we used to call them the “Hobies.”
‘1 was discharged in 1916 but was still under treatment there till the end of 1919. I obtained a job in the Navy Office for 18 months but went back to hospital for 12 months and had to resign, but the Government treated me well with six months full pay and three months half pay. ‘The hospital at Macleod was about a mile to the station through a rough track and the lads used to hop, skip and jump to the only train that went to town for hours. We were always late but the engine drivers used to wait for us. None of us had proper tickets and when they got to the City, porters used to call out “Soldiers tickets this way” so they would not get mixed up with the genuine tickets. The boys used to get the early morning train back to be in time for roll call, then off again. It was a free and easy life for them. A drag with six horses would take us to Heidelberg Station when we were too late for Macleod which cost 6d. ‘Very rarely I got leave as being a bad case Doctor would not take the risk of a collapse. He let me go but I had to promise I would get the train home in time to catch the drag from Heidelberg. Well, I did not come home with the rest in the morning. But by luck the doctor got in the same carriage as myself, and the fat was in the fire. However he was a sport and did not say anything. ‘The stationmaster at Macleod had a collection of dud tickets he would not sell for any money. He was always a friend of the boys but no civilian could get by on a dud ticket. The engine drivers were good and often took us on the engine to Hurstbridge, and altogether we were a happy lot at that hospital.
‘Almost next to the Austin Hospital was the Council’s library and I think they used it for Council meetings there too. As years went by the Austin began to progress at a rapid rate and all classes of ailments were being treated there. I often called in when I was at Macleod Hospital for over three and a half years. The Military Hospital was 14 AGH *, mostly for less dangerous cases.
‘I had ten years military training from school cadets, Naval Reserve, Militia and compulsory
training where I was area officer at East Melbourne until war broke out. I did not have to go for I was offered a commission in instructional staff but refused. I played up a bit here and there in Egypt and returned as just a private. I lasted thirteen days from the landing at Gallipoli when four machine guns got me on 8 May 1915, so I have been an expensive soldier to Repatriation.
Photo: Troops going up to 16 A.G.H. from Macleod Station
* It was in fact the 16th Australian General Hospital
Photo: 16th Australian General Hospital, Mont Park. Alice Broadhurst collection, Yarra Plenty Regional Library
This story was also published in “Fine Spirit and Pluck: World War One Stories from Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea” published by Yarra Plenty Regional Library, August 2016
