Fierce yet fair, they said of this woman with biceps like a man. She gave us instruction on each patient and ended with a booming, ‘Any questions?’

Barbara, straightforward as ever, raised a hand. ‘Is it possible to know where we’re headed, Matron?’

Merriberry rolled her wide shoulders and frowned, pausing for a moment to consider. ‘As we won’t meet land again until we arrive at our destination, I don’t see why you shouldn’t know.’ She drew herself up. I held my breath. ‘We are heading for the port of Mudros, on the island of Lemnos. It’s the largest hospital clearing station in Europe, thanks to the tragedy of Gallipoli last year.’

I gasped, clasped my hand over my mouth, and stared at Matron.

‘Miss Smith, is there something you wish to say?’

‘No, Matron, yes, Matron, my sister was there. I’m trying . . . in her footsteps . . . to help my parents get over their loss.’

Matron paused, unravelling my nervous words, and after staring at the floor for a second, she nodded and continued. ‘The island is home to major medical facilities and supported by hundreds of Australian nurses in their own field hospital, as well as our British force and facilities. More than a hundred thousand casualties were transported out of Mudros last time I was there. Thousands of soldiers are receiving medical care there now, and waiting to be shipped back to Britain. Numbers are rising by the hour.’

There was a stunned silence, for who could imagine that many soldiers? I glanced at our six patients. One of them caught my eye and winked. I turned my attention back to Matron, but still felt a blush burn into my cheeks. I feared I had been naïve to hope the soldiers wouldn’t give me trouble, but Matron was ahead of me. She turned towards our six patients and raised her voice.

‘Gentlemen, welcome to our fine hospital ship, the Britannic. These excellent nurses will take good care of you until we reach Mudros. However, I warn you; we have a certain amount of ice on board and I’m eager to demonstrate the procedure for an ice bath. This painful technique is known to cure certain afflictions, sometimes permanently. The slightest misbehaviour, from any of you, will give me my first subject. Is that understood?’ She glared at each in turn.

Their smiles fell.

*

HMHS Britannic left port, but the sea rose again tossing the great vessel from side to side. I hugged myself, head spinning, saliva rushing into my mouth. My first experience of mal de mare.