Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

My mate Nev

Captain Terry had come across a large supply of American Grenades, which he had liberated from the American base at Gasmata. Though we preferred British 36 Grenades, which we thought were more reliable, Capt Terry had altered the training syllabus to include the American Grenades, and had scheduled a full day of Grenade practice.

So on the 3rd of April, we marched out early, and luckily it was only lightly raining. Though we still had to march about 3 miles to the grenade practice range. It certainly felt different marching out as a section commander. We had three platoon stands running at the same time and the practice went well during its morning session. This time was also different for us as we had fresh bead for our bully beef. Butter is unheard of, plus it melts within seconds or becomes rancid. As far as we were concerned it was an easy day, which is a pleasant change from running our guts out. So far so good, no hitches, though there have been a few premature explosions, we put this down to the inferior manufacture of the Yank grenades. Nev throws his grenade is explodes in mid air by the side of his head with a loud bang, I remember saying to myself “shit that was a bit too close).

I did not see Nev go down, he just crumpled, the base plug or a large piece of the grenade had hit him in the left hand side of his head just under the rim of his tin hat. Nev is hurt bad. We all rush to see what has happened and then see the blood, lots of blood , it’s just pouring out of his head . Lt Morgan applies a field dressing to his head. But we have no stretcher-bearers with us and no stretchers either. No time to build a bush stretcher. Lt Morgan looks at me and my section – “you know what to do”, he says. Snow says “give him to me” and hoists Nev onto his shoulders and begins to run back to the base at the Wunung Plantation.

Snow runs all the way with Nev on his back, Punchy and Les, have run ahead to warn the Hospital that a causality is coming in. I look at Nev’s face, it is white and his eyes look different. Snow does not stop, I don’t know how long it took for us to make our way but Punchy and Les, have run the 3 the miles in record time and a jeep ambulance meets us along the way, driven by one of the Clearing Station’s orderly’s, with Les in the front seat with him. We quickly put him on the jeeps stretcher, and they are away, maybe he has a chance, he is still breathing.

We arrive at the new 105 Causality Clearing Station, it’s a modern Hospital and is staffed by Doctors and Australian Army Nurses just arrived in New Britain in February. Les is waiting for us, its pouring rain, he tells us we are not allowed inside the Sister in charge says it’s forbidden. I remember I looking at my watch it’s just on 1400hrs. The rain gets heavier, and I remember looking at my watch again its 1700hrs 3 hours in the rain. Lt Morgan comes over, he has been making a report to the Lt Col.

How long have you men been waiting he says, a few hours Sir, we answer, OK get out of the rain, I’ll find out what is happening. We let ourselves in out of the rain and wait at the entrance of the hospital. I look out side and look at the teaming rain. We are worried sick about Nev, what makes it worse is that we don’t know what happened to him. We wait for another hour and then Lt Morgan and Sister come towards us, this is Sister Wilson, she tells us the Doctors have operated on Neil and have removed a large piece of shrapnel from the side his head, he is badly wounded and there is little hope that he will make it. I ask where he is and can we see him. The sister looks at Mr. Morgan, saying it’s not allowed, but OK follow me. She takes us all to a tent standing by itself, there is Neil laying on a bed, heavily bandaged, his face is white and swollen out of all proportion. Punchy says under his breath, this is a dying tent.

I sit down beside Nev, and tell him his mates are here, Nev does not move, he can’t hear me. Sister says the Doctors have operated and removed several large grenade fragments from the side of his skull, he’s badly hurt, they have given him a heavy dose of Morphine and he is comfortable. I look at his face, I can’t recognize him. Snow asks the Sister, can we please stay awhile. Mr. Morgan says they aren’t going hurt anything, better for Pte Stenner to be with his friends. Sister Wilson lets us stay. Punchy has grabbed a pile of chairs and we all sit silently Neil is silently moaning. We sit quietly and wait Neil is cold and his body is shaking. Lt Col Cusworth and Father Reis enter the tent, we all stand, Lt Col Cusworth asks Lt Morgan, what is the news, Lt Morgan, tells him there is little hope.

Father Reis puts on his alter service and begins to pray, he gives Neil the Last Rites, we all pray together. I remember the prays so clearly and the voices of my mates as re recite the Our Father. Father Reis says he will stay with us and Lt Col Cusworth tells Lt Morgan to keep him informed. Neil’s body is still shaking and I hold his hand, Les has his hand around my shoulder. I look at my watch is now 2300hrs, we sit silently with our friend. Sister Wilson comes in every half hour but she goes off duty at 0100hrs, she bids us farewell.

We wait, no one is talking. Father Reis is quietly praying, he has not stopped. Snowy says, I’ll try and get us a hot brew, who wants one. Lt Morgan says I’d better go with you, better for me to ask then you Snow.

The are gone maybe for 15 minutes, but as they are away, another Sister has come on duty, I remember her name is Captain Barnes, she sternly asks what the hell is going on here. Father Reis tells her we have permission to be here with our mate, the other sister – Sister Wilson said it was OK. This Sister says to us, “Well it’s not Ok with me get your filthy bodies out of this hospital”. Punchy simply says “Piss off Slut, we’re going nowhere”. The Sister lets out a gasp, and quickly disappears. She must have run past Lt Morgan and Snowy along the tented walkway. Lt Morgan, comes into the tent – and asks, “ has something happened”, Punchy, answered no Nev is still here, that silly bitch that was here told us to get out, I told to piss off”. Father Reis is still in deep prayer. Lt Morgan silently says “I don’t think we have heard the last of this”. They pass hot sweet black around to us all.

We are all around Neil’s bed, his body is shaking and contorting, I know it’s not good, he is now gasping for breath. I can feel myself tensing up. I tell Nev – Don’t you die one me, come on mate you can make it. I say it again, don’t you die on me” .

We sit waiting, Lt Morgan is with us, the rain has not let up. Punchy says “its god crying for Nev”, we agree.

As we sit quietly, with our Mate, the Nursing Sister returns, with several hospital orderly’s. I want you men out of here now, she says to the Sgt Orderly, you have your orders, remove these men, Lt Morgan stands up and the Sgt sees he is an Officer, Sorry Sir says the Sgt, I have my orders. Don’t worry about her Sergeant, none of my men are moving and Sister how about showing a bit of compassion, my men are hurting no one”. It’s against regulations Lieutenant, says the Sister. Lt Morgan asks, What regulations are they Sister. She answers, Hospital Regulations Lieutenant, remove your men or there will be trouble. Sgt carry my orders. Lt Morgan looks at the Sgt, Telling him, Sgt don’t waste your time, Snow the Sgt wants to leave. Snow gets up and dwarfs the Sgt. Sister Barnes tells the Sgt to get Lt Col Hyatt, who is the commander of the hospital. Lt Morgan, looks over at Les and says, Lt Col Cusworth, wants to be kept informed, please give him my compliments and tell him what is going on here. The Sister looks at us all and says you will all be on charges. Lt Morgan looks back at the Sister and says, “And so will you” Are you threatening me Lt, “Yes” says Lt Moran in reply. I look up at her, and call her a cold-hearted woman your are I think to myself, Punchy repeats his last words, piss of slut . Again the Sister gasps and flees the tent and waits outside.

We all look down at our mate, we all look at each other, it’s hard to keep our emotions from overcoming us. Nev is fast deteriorating his breathing is labored and fast . We all sit and watch our friend. As we wait, in walks the commander of the Hospital Lt Col Wyatt, we stand to attention, He asks, “what’s going on here then, the Sister tells me her orders are being disobeyed and she has been personally insulted, and you Lieutenant do you command this shit pile”. I look up to Lt Morgan who is standing face to face to the Lt Col, yes Sir that’s right, I command this shit and that’s one of my men there, we aren’t leaving. so you can go to buggery”. The Lt Col jaw drops in shock, OK. Your on a charge all of you, and you Lieutenant, your through. Lt Morgan answers, do what you like, we aren’t leaving, The Lt Col, orders his orderly Sgt and his men to remove us by force. Punchy shapes up to the Lt Col, and says, (I remember his words) “Well shit for brains, one man might be dying here tonight, but I’ll tell you what you will be joining him, I’ll promise you that, I’ll kill you”, Punchy is deadly serious and means every word he says. Lt Morgan looks at the Sgt and says, your know Sgt, by tomorrow you will have half our Battalion here, and I can’t promise your safety, you will be a marked man, and so will you to Sir (looking at the Lt Col).

All this is going on whilst our mate is lying on the bed, it’s a disgraceful scene put on by the hospital staff . There is a stand off, none of the Hospital Staff want to make the first move. Just at this moment Lt Col Cusworth appears through the open flap of the tent. We all stand to attention. “Please wait out side men, Col Hyatt, can I have a word outside please”.

Lt Col Cusworth, Lt Col Hyatt, Captain Barnes and Father Reis are having a very animated discussion, we can’t overhear what they are saying, the rain on the tent roof is too heavy for us to hear, the Hospital Orderly’s also stands to one side looking at us, I peer onto my mate, it’s close to 0200hrs. The other sister who went off duty comes along the tented walkway, and joins the discussion that is taking place, this goes on for maybe 15 to 20 minutes.

The conversation ends and Lt Col Hyatt and Captain Barnes walk off together Lt Col Cusworth and Sister Wilson walks towards us .Father Reis has gone back into Neil’s Tent. She tells the Sgt and his men they won’t be needed. Lt Col Cusworth tells us we can stay and the Sister is going to spend the rest of the night with us. Lt Col Cusworth, then looks at Mick Morgan, for gods sake Mick be more careful next time, What did you say Sir, asks Lt Morgan, Lt Col Cusworth answers, I told that fool Hyatt, that Punchy would have killed him, told him he is insane, the Sister has a slight smile on her face. We all thank the Lt Col and the Sister. She looks at Punchy and smiles, Private, if you go down that walkway, can bring back a fresh tray of tea, it’s in the general mess tent you can’t miss, it will be hot there’s a good gentleman .

Captain Spring now enters the tent, and tells us he has spoken to the Surgeon who operated on Nev, Capt Spring tells us a large piece of shrapnel has smashed through his left temple and done a lot of damage. If Nev makes he will never be the same. I think about his beautiful tenor voice. We all sit together until dawn. Nev is still holding on and Mr Morgan now arranges that we can all come to the hospital and spend two or three hours with him, so we do it in shifts and make sure one of us is with Nev all the time.

For 5 days we are at the hospital sitting with Nev, not only us but the rest of the men from the Platoon and Company are back and forward seeing if there has been any progress. Even Captain Terry makes an appearance but tells us to be respectful to the hospital staff. Lt Morgan and Lt Trims are there and simply roll their eyes, Capt Terry seems to be more concerned about helping Nurses than being concerned about his injured soldier.

On the 7th of April we are out doing road building work when we get word that Nev has taken a turn for the worst. We all hurry to the Hospital, just as it begins to pour with heavy rain.

We enter Nev’s tent, and maintain our sad vigil. He is calling out, we can’t understand his words, I am wishing it would end, he is suffering terribly. Sister Wilson calls for the duty Doctor and he gives Nev another large dose of Morphine, Nev is resting a bit better, but he is twitching badly, its horrifying to watch our mate like this. Sister Wilson is holding his hand, we know the end is near. I sit the other side of the bed as does Snow, Les, Lt Morgan and Punchy stands at the foot of the bed as is Father Reis. The orderly Sgt comes to the door, can I take away your cups, sorry about the other day, it’s OK we say, he’s a good bloke and says he will wait with us.

It’s close to 1400hrs, and Nev’s is breathing is much laboured, I wish it would end for his sake. At 1430hrs, our mate Private Neville Stenner, dies, we are devastated, I feel like I have had a part of me torn away, we feel his loss we all stand looking at his body, his face is so swollen, Father Reis prays, he is a hell of a good bloke. The Orderly Sgt, says to Lt Morgan, its OK Sir I’ll look after him now, there is nothing you can do now. We thank him and also thank Sister Wilson.

We leave the Hospital and return back to our lines. Lt Morgan tells Lt Col Cuswoth the news, the other members of the Platoon are waiting and we tell them the news.

The following day with all the associated tragedy and sadness of a young life lost a Battalion funeral is held at the Causality Clearing Station Chapel, the three Padres attend and Father Reis leads the ceremony, its big turnout of men from the 4th Brigade, our Battalion is there as is a huge contingent from both the 22nd Battalion and the 37th/52nd Battalion. Also members of the Hospital too including the Orderly Sgt and Sister Wilson.

Capt Barnes and Lt Col Wyatt don’t attend, their absence is noted. We think it is an insult.

The Service ends and myself and my section are pallbearers, other members of our platoon are formed up as we lower the coffin into the ground. The rifle shots ring out in a salute which makes us all flinch. We all think there will be another sad home in Australia, we think of Nev’s wife and young child. Punchy is devastated and cries uncontrollably, he was close to Nev who was teaching him how to read, Snowy, Les and I try to consol him, but Lt Morgan says to leave him be, he is crying for all of us, but all we keep an eye on him to make sure he does nothing silly.

We are back in our lines, and Lt Col Cusworth and Capt Boyd the Battalion Adjutant come to see us, we all sit down informally and are joined by several other members of the platoon, including Lt Morgan and Lt Trims and newly arrived Lt Tannock . Lt Col Cusworth, tells that Lt Col Hyatt is raising hell, about being threatened. He tells us he has told Brig Edgar the story, and the Brig has advised that he will take care of things. American Grenades are banned.

We later learn that Brigadier Edgar, his berated the Hospital Commander for upsetting his troops and is ordered to show some compassion and understanding during these bad and bloody days. We also hear there is to be a change of attitude in the hospital with the treatment of the soldiers of our sister Brigades who have been in combat against the Japs.

Neville Stenner was 19 years of age and was the youngest of 4 sons. William and Berris Stenner were his parents, his brothers were William Junior (Bill), Les and Norm, his wife Daisy was 18 years of age and the mother of his young son Neville Junior. He came from Sproule Street Lakemba, Sydney. I miss my friend Nev, even now I can remember his face and his magnificent voice.