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Australia

Daughter of Henry Sneyd GLENIE and Amelia Lucy nee BEVEY

Married Hugh Trevanin BONYTHON 10 June 1909 at Manresa House, Norwood, SA aged 41 years

BONYTHON.—On the 13th February, at Childers street, North Adelaide, Agnes Maud (Nurse Maud), beloved wife of Hugh Bonython, and daughter of the late Henry Sneyde Glenie.

Hospital Work in
South Africa.
INTERVIEW WITH NURSE GLENNIE.
We have had ample accounts during the war in South Africa of the stirring incidents of the campaign, the marching and fighting on kopje and veldt, and the heroism and hardships of both Briton and Boer, but little has been heard of the no less arduous duties of those who, in the ambulance van and hospital tent ministered to the wounded and suffering. With a view to obtaining some particulars respecting hospital work at the front, a representative of the "Southern Cross" waited on Nursing Sister A. M. Glennie, who has had two years experience in the military hospitals in South Africa, and who, with Sister M. S. Bidmead, was on July 12th last presented by Lady Tenny son with a gold medal on behalf of the S.A. Nurses Fund committee "for devoted service." Sister Glennie, though some what reluctant to be "interviewed" consented to relate some particulars of her experience in the military hospitals, on being assured that they would be of interest to the readers of the "Southern Cross."
"Going to Table Bay."
Well to begin at the beginning, she said, I left Adelaide in the "Australa sian," 19th February, 1900, in company with Sisters Bidmead, Watts, Cox, Stevenson, and O'Shanahan. We went first to Melbourne, where 40 of the New South Wales Lancers embarked, and then via Durban to Capetown. None of us were very good sailors, so we were glad when we landed. We were sent immediately to the base hospital at Wynberg near Capetown, where we were under canvas but very comfortable, and had a supply of everything for the care of the patients. There were many cases of enteric, and also wounded soldiers, Boers and British, from the front. I was in the surgical wards.
A Bough Time at Bloemfontein.
After three weeks at Wynberg I went to Bloemfontein, arriving there on Holy Saturday. Lord Roberts' army was camped in the Free State capital, after the capture of General Cronje, preparing for the advance on Pretoria. We had a terrible time there. The place was one vast camp. It rained incessantly and the ground was a quagmire with slush and mud. Sickness was rife. All the schools and colleges, St. Andrews, St Michaels, Grey's College, the Dame's school and the Convent school, were turned into hospitals, and the Boer Artillery barracks, and even the Raadzill, Parliament House, were appropriated for the same purpose. The S.A. nurses were attached to the barracks hospital. There were no beds, furniture, or equipment at first, and the men had to be wrapped in blankets on the floor. The place was filthy, swarming with vermin, and we had no change of clothing for the patients, not even a clean shirt. Surgeon-Major Fiaschi, of Sydney, was the principal medical officer, and was most attentive to those under his charge. The railways were fully occupied carrying military stores for the army, and the hospital supplies had to wait. This lasted for some weeks and then our equipment began to arrive, and when No. 10 hospital took charge things were better. The barracks hospital was closed by order of the Burdett-Coutts Commission which was sent out from England to enquire into the treatment of the sick and wounded. Sisters O'Shanahan and Watts went to Pretoria. I was transferred to Grey's College. The arrangements were very complete and satisfactory there, and we would have been comfortable but for the continuous rain. Our equipment when we went outside the hospital was top boots, mackintosh, lantern, and a stick, quite a masculine get up. Even with a macintosh you would get wet through going from tent to tent." "Did you see any of the South Australian Contingents, Sister?"—"Oh, yes. Major Beid and Major Howland, with the First and Second Contingents were camped at Bloemfontein for a time. We were out to see them once in a Scotch cart—a conveyance without any springs —and had afternoon tea on the veldt, but we could not go about much as the ground was swamped. The state of things in the camps was miserable— cruel. There were seven thousand cases of sickness, and the condition of the troops for some time was wretched. From Bloemfontein I returned to Wynberg, Capetown, where I was attached to No. 2 hospital, and remained there from March till May. From there I went right up to Pretoria. I was then laid up with a bad foot, and Was sent to the convalescent home at Johannesberg, an institution entirely fox the nursing sisters. On my recovery I was ordered On Transport Duty to England, taking home sick and wounded soldiers. We left South Africa on 24th August for England, where I remained five weeks. I stayed at Lady Douglas' Home for Nursing Sisters, where we were very comfortable and received every attention. The nurses were conveyed wherever they wished, to see all the sights and places of interest. Some went to the continent. I enjoyed the rest and recreation very much after the hard work and anxiety at the front. 

Back to the Seat of Wab. 
I returned to South Africa on duty by the hospital ship "Nubia," stayed four days in Capetown, and then the captain was ordered on to Durban, where we stayed a week waiting orders. I could have returned to England with  another hospital ship, but desired to resume duty at the seat of war, and had seen the Surgeon Director General in London, and he forwarded a letter to the P.M.O. at the base, with instructions that I was to be sent to the front. I was accordingly sent on to Heidelberg in the Transvaal, passing by train through Ladysmith, Newcastle, and the famous Laing's Nek and Majuba. At Heidelberg I was attached to No. 15 hospital, P.M.O. Surgeon-Major Hutchison. There were 170 beds, and the equipment and accommodation was very good. Each sister had 4 E.P. tents to attend to, with six patients in each. "Did you have any experience of the actual fighting?"—"No! none of the battles. The nurses are never allowed near the firing line. That is left to the ambulance and the doctors. But at Heidelberg we were in the middle of a hostile district, surrounded by Boers, and the firing was going on continually all round us. One one occasion 150 cattle were raided from within a couple of miles of the camp at midday. A party of mounted infantry followed the Boers for some miles, and recovered some of the cattle."
CONCENTHATION CAMP.
"Did you see anything of the concen tration camps—"Yes, there was a camp at Heidelberg, which I went through. It was kept in good order, as there was a matron who saw that cleanliness and sanitary arrangements were
properly attended to. The Boer women, in the camps at any rate, are not very cleanly in their habits. They distrust the English, and view with suspicion everything coming from them. They are also very bitter about the war. Mothers used to hide away their sick children under the beds and in other places rather than let them be sent to the hospitals. Dutch girls were trained to do some of the simple nursing, such as taking temperatures, and sponging the patients. They were of great assistance with their countrywomen, and were able to gather in the sick children." "Tommy Atkins and Brother Boer." "You liad Boers and British together in the hospitals, I suppose, nurse?"—"Oh, yes! and they were great friends—real chums in fact—used to joke and play cards together like old comrades." "No recriminations or disputes about the war?"—"Never! A little good-humored chaff sometimes, but never any ill feeling. 'Tommy Atkins' makes a perfect patient. Tractable and grateful for any attention. On the field he is always grumbling, but always doing his duty. In the hospital he is most patient and unrepining. Tommy' thinks a lot of the Australians—officers and men. The colonial officers particularly are much more popular than the British. You often hear the soldiers remark, "An Australian officer is a man, and knows how to treat a man!' There was an Irish-American named O'Reilly in the hospital at Bloemfontein. He Had fought with the Boers and was badly wounded. O'Reilly was a great favorite with everyone. He was full of Irish wit to his finger tips, and was the life and soul of the hospital. We all missed him very much when he left." "Were the wounded soldiers much - mutilated?"—"Some of them were, especially those that were hit with explosive bullets. These make a terrible  sound. The Mauser rifle bullet only makes a small hole, and if not near a vital part, it soon heals. Injuries from splinters of shells were often very bad, and the doctors were always extracting pieces from the poor fellows. Wounds in the spine were also dreadful, rendering the disabled men quite helpless, causing bed sores, too, and generally leading to a lingering death. 

Catholic Chaplains and Soldiers.
"The Boers are said to be very bigoted, Sister. I suppose you did not see many Catholic churches in the Republics?"—" O there was a Catholic church and a convent at Bloemfontein. Sister O'Shanahan and myself were very fortunate. We had Mass every Sunday. There was a Dutch priest there, but he could not speak English very well. We had a visit from Father Clements, the Passionist, whom you know so well here, and we were delighted to see him. He preached one Sunday and the church was full. He also called at the hospital at Wynberg. There was one ward in the hospital nearly all Catholics, mostly Cameron Highlanders, nearly all of whom are of the old faith. We saw a good deal of the Inniskillings, too. There were, I am told, about 7,000 of them in the army, and nearly all Catholics, but not a single oflicer of their faith with them. At Heidelberg Father Prince used to come and celebrate Mass occasionally. He was a great favorite, and Protestants as well as Catholics used to look forward with pleasure to his visits. The Sisters of the Holy Family have a school and hospital at Bloemfontein. We took out a number of scapulars and medals with us, and the Catholic soldiers were so glad to get fhem. Protestants used sometimes to ask for them also." 
Home Again.
I remained at Heidelberg from November, 1901, till the end of March, 1902, and then went to Wynberg, Capetown, again, where I was in No. 1 hospital, so you see that after making the circuit of the seat of war I found myself at the point from which I started. On the 4th May I left for Australia in the "Auraria." There was a contingent of New Zealand and Australian soldiers returning, and several sick and wounded among them, so I was still nursing. We reached Albany on the 1st June, and Adelaide a few days later, glad to be at home again, but still ready to go to the front again if required. . Sister Bidmead arrived shortly after me. Sister Cox has also returned. Sister O'Shanahan, when I last heard of her, was at Elandsfontane, still on duty." 

Some Curios of the Campaign.
Sister Glennie has several interesting curios from the battlefield with which the room was decorated. A miniature coal scuttle, and a gong made from a pom-pom shell; neat little salt-cellars made out of Ivruger's coins; a piece of a fifteen pounder shell, the bullet of which found its billet at Modder River, looks well mounted and supporting designs showing the arms of the Transvaal Republic; a lot of bead work and ornaments made by the Kaffirs, who are surprisingly deft in that sort of work; a number of photographs of scenes, peaceful and warlike, complete a very interesting collection. The medal which Sister Glennie received from the hands of Lady Tennyson for devoted service is of solid gold in the form of the military cross, with the Union Jack and S.A. flag in relief. 

We are indebted to Miss Esther Boss, of Gover-street, North Adelaide, for the following interesting correspondence "from the front":—Nurse Glennie, writing from "Artillery Barracks Hospital," Bloemfontein, April 18, 1900, says:—We are attached to the above at present. There are a great many cases ot enteric fever here. The Sydney surgeons are running this hospital now. We have been here just a week, and are all quite well and happy. We are the only "Australiaa nurses in Bloemfontein." We were sent far from Wynberg, and had only a short time to pack up and catch the tram. I have seen a number of the South Austialian men. They come often to see us. Dr. Toll and Colonel Gordon called on us on our arrival. We like his place very much. There are no end of soldiers here, and mostly, fine, big men. "I saw Lord Roberts the other day" and met Mr. Rudyard Kipling at Wynberg. Will write a
long letter soon.. ..Most of the others, are doing so now. We often think of you, and can never forget your kindness to us. Remember  us to all enquiring friends and to the Ladies' Committee. (Written on a half Cape of Good Hope postcard.)

Evening Journal Wednesday  23 May 1900 page 3

In August 1901 Miss Glennie was at Johannesburg.

OUR WAR NURSES.
Sister Glennie having gone to England on transport duty, writing to Lady Brown from London, says:-"I have been here just over a week. We had a pretty good trip from the Cape. I shall be here a month. I am, I think, going to Sheffield for a week. Lady Dudley is so very kind to us all, and rends us anywhere we want to go. She intended me to go to the Highlands and to Edinburgh, but I cannot find a sister who would like the trip," so that must pass. I feel disappointed about it, as it is a chance in one's life-journey and all expenses paid from a fund. I am stay- ing in one of Lady Dudley's Homes for Sisters, and very comfortable it is. We can do exactly as we like, Which is very nice after hospitals. Lady Dudley is a most charming woman. I saw the director general yesterday; he is very nice also." Miss Glennie goes on to say that she has been seeing some of the interesting sights of London, and she speaks of the pleasure it has been to meet South Australians, and desires to be remembered to the committee.

The Advertiser Wednesday 30 October 1901 page 4

Returned to Adelaide SA per 'Aurania' via Albany WA (23.05.1902)

Nurse GLENNIE has returned from South Africa. Miss GLENNIE, one of the six nurses who went to the war from South Australia, reached Adelaide on Sunday [1.6.1902].

OBITUARY.
MRS. H. T. BONYTHON.
The sudden death of Mrs. Hugh T. Bonython, of Childers Street, North Adelaide, on Saturday evening last, will cause deep sorrow to a large circle of friends. The deceased lady received a stroke on Saturday afternoon and passed away about 7 p.m., after receiving the last rites of the Church from Fr. Hogan, O.P. Mrs. Bonython was a daughter of the late Mr. Henry Sneyd Glenie, stock inspector of Chowilla, River Murray. Before her marriage she was well known as Nurse Maude Glenie, and received her training at the North Adelaide Hospital. She volunteered for the front when the South African War broke out, and left Adelaide with several other nurses in February, 1900. She was at the Base Hospital at Wynberg for a time, and then went on to Bloomfontein after its capture by Lord Roberts. Subsequently Nurse Glenie went to Pretoria and Johannesberg. In August, 1901, she was ordered on transport duty to England in charge of sick and wounded soldiers. After a few weeks in Lady Douglas' Home for Nursing Sisters, she returned to South Africa on duty in the hospital ship Nubia, and went to the front once more. She was in the Heidelberg Hospital till March, 1902, when, the war being over, she returned to Australia on July 12, 1902, with Nurse M. S. Zidmead. Nurse Glenie was presented with a gold medal by Lady Tennyson "for devoted service" on behalf of the South Australian Nurses Fund Committee. An interesting interview with Nurse Glenie appeared in the "Southern Cross" after her return. Mrs. Bonython was buried in the Catholic Cemetery, West Terrace, on Sunday afternoon last.
R.I.P.

THE LATE MR. H. T. BONYTHON.
Pathos and tragedy are always associated with the death of those in the prime of life. There was a special note of sadness, however, in the death of Mr. Hugh Trevanion Bonython, whose portrait we publish this week, because it followed so closely and was so palpably hastened by that of his wife. The home in which they had lived so happily is now desolate, and their only child, a bright boy, three years of age, is bereft of both his parents. Mr. Bonython, who was the second son of Sir Langdon Bonython, was seriously ill when his wife died, with awful suddenness, on Saturday, February 13, and he never recovered from the blow. He was nursed with the tenderest care and all that medical skill could suggest was done for him, but his strength gradually ebbed away, and the end came on Wednesday, March 10. Within the limits of a month he and his wife were laid to rest in the West Terrace Cemetery. Mr. Bonython, who was only 35 years of age, was a general favorite. At Prince Alfred College he was always popular with his comrades, and as he grew to manhood he made friends everywhere by reason of his genial nature and his winning manners. He was for many years associated wtli the literary staff of "The Advertiser," and in the office, as in private life, his charm of disposition and his invariable cheerfulness were irresistible. He was always a gentleman, and showed kindly consideration for those about him. He was lovable and generous at all times, and it was characteristic of him that he never spoke ill of anyone. He had no enemies and bore no  resentments; a cheery smile always lightened his face when he offered his hand in greeting. His wife was a remarkably accomplished woman. She was a daughter of the late Mr. Henry Sneyd Glenie, of Chowilla, on the River Murray, who was formerly inspector of stock in the South-East. She was a granddaughter of an Anglican archdeacon and a niece of a Catholic canon. Miss Glenie was a highly trained nurse, and when the South African war broke out she offered her services to the military authorities, who gladly accepted them. She went to the front, where she remained throughout the war, except for a visit to England in charge of soldiers invalided home. She did splendid work among the sick and wounded, and was rewarded not only bv the gratitude of her many patients, but by the award of a military decoration '"for devoted service." Mrs. Bonython was held in the highest esteem by a wide circle of friends, and her untimely death occasioned expressions of intense regret.