The Glass Soldier: Not All of Him Shall Die by Don Farrands

Author:Don Farrands [Farrands, Don]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Published: 2017-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

Part IV

Providence

A Continuing Military Commitment—1960

It was now some 45 years since the Australian Army had first given Nelson its commitment to look after him until the end.

That commitment was real and continuing. He was still living in the same house which had been funded in part by a returned soldiers’ war loan granted in 1926. He was on a part war pension which was supplementing his teacher’s pension. And he was still getting regular medical assistance as required through the repatriation department of the Commonwealth of Australia. The army had after both world wars, and other military engagements, continued to provide pensions, facilities and treatment to returned soldiers. The Australian Services League, and other organisations such as Legacy (an offspring of the Remembrance Club founded in Hobart in 1923 by Major General Sir John Gellibrand, who had landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915), were also providing very considerable financial, social and emotional support.

But the army knew, because it had kept the records, that the cause of Nelson’s now failed sight was the mustard gas used in World War I, and that his lungs were fragile as a result of it, and becoming more so.

The army’s slow but deliberate support over many decades had helped a great deal. But its enduring challenge remained: to provide the opportunity to remedy the damage, not just ameliorate it.

If the army had the power and resources to put Nelson into battle some 45 years earlier, it might just, even at this late stage, be able to help pull him out of the current one as well.

But if the opportunity for that were to occur, a great many things would need to happen first.

An Entitlement Card—1960

‘The Repatriation Department has written to you again, love,’ said Madeline.

‘Do they want me to check in again for a review of my eyes?’

‘Perhaps, let me see.

Well, according to this letter, you are entitled to have your eyes treated. It says here the Repatriation Department will pay for it. Look there’s also an “Entitlement Card” with the letter. This is wonderful, love.’

‘What do they mean by “entitlement”, Maddie?’

‘I am not sure. Let me read it carefully.’

Madeline held up a small square card, labelled ‘Entitlement Card’. It read:

REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT

ENTITLEMENT CARD

Name: FERGUSON, Nelson Harold – 6 Karma Avenue, East Malvern Regtl No. 9123A Rank Pte Unit 15th F.A.B.

DISABILITIES DUE TO WAR SERVICE

SCARRING OF CORNEA

ENTITLED TO TREATMENT (AT REPATRIATION EXPENSE) FOR

SCARRING OF CORNEA

‘It says here we need to make an appointment with the department’s eye specialist, Mr Glassford.’

‘That sounds very exciting, love. Let’s see what the specialist can make of my condition. There might be something more they can do. They’ve been pretty good to me so far, Maddie, but if more can be done I’m all for it.’

The Specialist—September 1960

‘Please take a seat, Mr Ferguson.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Tell me how your sight has been in the last little while.’

‘Well, Doctor, it’s been the same for some time. I can only read with great difficulty by using a magnifier.’

‘Let me make an assessment then, Mr Ferguson.

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