From the Author
I have always been interested in my family history from a very young age. My grandmother, and aunties on my father’s side, gave me over the years anything they had on Sargent family history knowing I was interested, and would value this material. This went on for many years.
When I came into possession of my uncles WWI dairies I was so interested when I browsed through them, that when my children were older and I had more time, I started the daunting task of trying to first of all read all the text, and then compile hand written copies of all five diaries. I had to do this as the writing was often very small and hard to read, necessitating constant stops and sometimes resorting to looking at the text under a magnifying glass. I then typed all the material so that it would be easy for anyone to read.
I was also given two albums of photos that my Uncle took when he served on the ‘Karoola’ as he was a keen photographer, plus a number of loose photographs and postcards that went with the diaries. All those in the albums, as well as most of the loose photos have never been published.
There were five diaries in all, some very small. The writing was of course written mostly in ink, which when my uncle was at sea for a long length of time, he had to water it down to make it last, and this of course was fading. Room in some of the diaries daily dates was limited, and he often pasted pieces of paper into the diaries so as to jot down everything that he had seen or done, or that had happened on his travels. Fortunately, I am short sighted and was able to get through, often with the need of my magnifying glass. It was a fascinating journey that I took with him for the two years he spent on the No.1 Australian Hospital Ship ‘Karoola’ as a Medical Orderly and part time Pathologist.
I went to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT in the year 2000 and used their research centre, but could not find a great deal on the ‘Karoola’ at that time. Since then more photos are on their website. I have also visited Maritime Museums in Brisbane, Victoria, Adelaide and Perth and State Libraries.
I obtained a government copy of the file on all aspects of the ship from fitting it out, to how many soldiers died, how many diseases, deaths etc., and a full report from Lt. Col. T.G. Wilson A.A.M.C. who was appointed O.C. Troops and O.C. Hospital Unit in May 1915, after it had been running as a Hospital Ship for eight months. There is much, much more of interest in this 52 page document, and I would be happy to share any information that I have. Anyone researching the total complete package of operating a hospital ship, and the everyday running of such a huge floating hospital with all the modern equipment of the day, as well an insight into the lives and duties of the Australian Medical Corp, who helped all our brave soldiers on their long journey by sea to England and then back home to Australia would be interested in this WWI different war story.
It has now been 100 years since my Uncle wrote these diaries. I have completed all this work to only honour him, but also all the Doctors, Nurses, Medical Orderlies and Crew who gave their all to the grievously wounded WWI soldiers while serving on the Hospital hip Karoola. This work has been a labor of love, and has taken many, many years to complete.
Rhonda Dolzan (nee Sargent)
Get in Touch
If you would like to purchase a Hard Copy of this book, please contact the Author below,
and we will be happy to arrange a copy sent to you. Cost for hardcopies is $135.00 AUD plus postage. (Please enquire regarding postage costs with your address details)
If you have any questions relating to this book, please do not hesitate to contact us also.
We hope you enjoy this important part of WWI war history, and thank you for taking the time to discover the story of the Karoola’s Medical Service, Official War History, and the Diaries of Rex Sargent (Medical Orderly & Pathologist) serving onboard this Hospital Ship during this period.