Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Thomas Wilson Corbin & Laura Mary Louisa nee Hardy. Married Ethel Margaret nee Glen
23 October, 1901, Christ Church, Mount Gambier, South Australia.

BACK FROM THE FRONT.
FIRST AUSTRALIAN TO RETURN.
HOSPITAL WORK IN FRANCE
DR. CECIL CORBIN'S EXPERIENCES. .
The first man to return to South Australia from the fighting lines in France is Dr. Cecil Corbin, who arrived in Adelaide by the mail steamer Morea. a few days ago. Last June Dr Corbin left Adelaide on a  health trip, and arrived in England only a fortnight before war was declared. He intended to tour Great Britain and the Continent, but an end was put to travelling for pleasure. Immediately all attention  was given to the war. Everything else was out of the question. Medical Men Wanted. On enquiry at the Commonwealth offices I found that the War Office was very badly in need of qualified medical  men, more especially men with military experience, said Dr. Corbin to a "Mail"' reporter in the course of an interview. I have had, as you know, seven years experience with the Australian Military Forces. There were a large number of Australian medical men in London at the time, and the majority volunteered for active service at once. We had drills and lectures in London for a few days, and after a week in camp at Woolwich we were, on August 16, somewhat hurriedly ordered to the front, and were shipped by steamer from Southampton to Rouen.
During this time the Australian Voluntary Hospital had been organised, and Col. Evans placed in command. I was attach ed for duty to No. 11 general hospital, but would sooner have gone with the  Australian hospital.  The Australians left England a few days after we did and landed at Havre. 
Hospitals at Rouen.
We were stationed, at Rouen for 10 days. during which time we did duty in the hospitals established there. The reason of our stay in Rouen was because the fighting line was constantly changing, and it was uncertain, in which direction our services would be most needed. When the news came that the French forces were retreating it was thought wiser to remove the hospitals further back. As a result four hospitals were crowded into one steamer, and we sat on deck all night expecting to be sunk by the Germans. Men would gallop into the town with the news that the Germans were only a few miles off, but the stories were rather exaggerated, as the enemy failed to mater ialise in our direction.
Praise for Australians.
"The British base in France was then removed to St. Nazaire on the Loire. Here we were stationed for a month, which brought us to the end of September. Nearly all the wounded men were brought by  train to this base, trainloads arriving about every six hours, the men having to travel in cattle trucks on beds of straw, and the long journey did not improve their condition. The Australian hospital had  been moved also, and was one of the first to get into working order. In fact, it was the only hospital that had the X-rays in use. Dr. Herschel Harris, of Melbourne, who had charge of the Xray  department, must feel very gratified that through his instrumentality so many patients were able to be treated by the use of the X-rays. Dr. Harris got his X rays in working order when other hospitals  could not, and this proves the adapt ability of Australians. This also applies to other departments. The green oil waterproof covered camp of the Australians was a source of unending interest to the  natives."
Troops for the Front.
'During this time all the troops going to the front were passing through St. Nazaire, where they spent about a week in camps of concentration, awaiting orders. These men required a great deal of attention, and we were kept very busy. The bulk of the camp was situated on a huge dried-up swamp, but as soon as the first rains came it was converted into a morass. Fortunately by this time affairs in the fighting line were more satisfactory from our point of view, and we received orders to pack up. Then we spent a week in a slow-moving French train, and ultimately arrived at Boulogne.
Established at Boulogne.
"At Boulogne the congestion was so great that it was three days before we could secure suitable premises to establish the hospital. The place once decided upon we were receiving wounded men from the neighbourhood of Ypres in six hours. From the tops of the hills behind Boulogne constant cannonading could be heard. It was a wonderful piece of work in establishing the hospital so quickly. In one month 2,700 patients passed through No. 11 hospital. Those slightly wounded were sent after treatment to a convalescent camp a little way out of the town, and then, when they recovered, were  drafted back to the trenches. Others more seri ously injured received treatment, and were sent to England as soon as they could travel.
Australians at Wimmereux.
"The Australian hospital, being unable I to find suitable quarters in Boulogne, was established at Wimmereux, about five miles from Boulogne. Here they very quickly settled down, and the staff were
fully occupied in a day or two. By the end of October every available place in Boulogne was converted into a hospital of some description, and it was really wonderful how things went on, and how excellent the organisation was carried out. 
Caring for the Wounded.
"Coffee stalls were established in the waiting rooms, and troops coming from England were warmed up with a hot drink before being pushed on to the front. These were times of great activity, when every measure possible was employed to get the men to the firing line as quickly as possible. Returning trains came back loaded with wounded. At first it was a makeshift, but very soon the trains were  transformed into comfortable ambulances. Invariably a kitchen department was attached, so that the wounded could have nourishing soup and hot milk on the way down, and each of these trains had a medical staff in constant attendance. The personnel consisted of trained men from the Army Medical Corps. When these trains arrived at Boulogne they were unloaded with the utmost expedition, and the patients distributed to the various hospitals according to their requirements.
Wounded Germans.
"Among the wounded were a fair number of Germans, who were never tired of expressing satisfaction in having fallen into the hands of the British. In fact, many of them voluntarily surrendered, even  though their wounds were not sufficiently severe to prevent them from getting away. Being the only member of the Staff who could speak German, it fell to my lot to attend the wounded prisoners in the hospital. Every wounded German was in possession of a map containing minute details of the country between Boulogne and the frontier, and each man knew where he was going and the locality.
Red Cross Work Praised.
"The British Red Cross Society established a large depot at Boulogne, from which goods supplied from the London centre were distributed to the best advant age along the fighting line. As the cold weather increased the activities of this department were ceaseless, and the grati tude of the woundted men returning from the front showed their appreciation of this splendid society and its  supporters throughout the world. Even articles from Australia and New Zealand were handed out to men in the trenches. It was a fine sight to see the enormous fleet of motor cars, most of which had  been converted into ambulances, and all of which were gifts from all parts of the British dominions. This enormous fleet of cars necessitated a large number of drivers, each one of whom must be  looked upon as doing his bit in the campaign, as well as those who are shouldering a rifife.
Brave Medical Officers.
"The very large number of casualties among medical officers at the front tends to show that the duties of the medical man on active service are no sinecure, and the possession of several coveted V.C.'s by members of the profession show that they are not wanting in bravery'.
Merry and Bright.
"The provision of comforts and necessities for the wounded men entailed a severe strain on the supply department, but never for a moment was any deficiency apparent. A most inspiriting sight was to enter almost any ward and hear the cheery words and see the smiles of those who had sufficiently recovered. Men able to do so knitted comforts for their comrades in the trenches. So long as a man had plenty to eat and tobacco to smoke he troubled marvellously little about his wounds.
Australians Commandeer a
Golf House. 
"The personnel of the Australian hospital lived in tents beside the hospital. On one of the coldest nights in November the whole of this portion was blown down, but it did not seem to produce any serious result, as they replied to the attack of the elements by commandeering a golf house." When Will the War End? "When do you think the war will end?" Dr. Corbin was asked. "It is impossible to  say, and I would not like to hazard an opinion, but there is no doubt as to the way in which it will end.' "When the news of the sinking of the Emden by the Sydney was received what was the effect?" "I was tired of shaking hands. A deep sense of gratitude that it had fallen to the Australian Navy to achieve this was very freely expressed." "What in the feeling of the Dutch towards the Germans?" "As  an indication of the feeling of a section of the community, a Hollander, when- annoyed by a German, will say, "Tipperary to you!"' If the German objects to this many willing hands will be found to throw him on the pavement."
Ill-health Caused Return.
"What was the reason of your return to Australia?" "Owing to a recurrence of my ill-health through an excessively severe winter I was compelled to leave Boulogne just before Christmas. After spending several weeks in a hospital I took my passage to Adelaide by the Morea.'