An item reported that the 2,000 Australian soldiers returning with the Drayton Grange from South Africa were not to be disembarked while some of them were suffering from an infectious lung disease or scarlet fever
The edition dated the 6th supplied more details. At arrival were 130 cases of scarlet fever, pneumonia and small pox and 100 cases of other diseases. The ship was so overcrowded that 200 soldiers had no sleeping place and were forced to sleep during the entire voyage at deck. The infirmary was equipped for just 15 sick and already 2 or 3 days after the departure were all medicines lacking. Australia was quite upset and the cabinet ordered an investigation.
The edition of the 14 August referred to a report of Captain Shields who was serving as doctor on board of the ship described the whole state of affairs as ’shameful’ and ‘scandalous’. She was overcrowded at Durban and he got a ridiculous small stock of medicines and even this under protest of the authorities in South Africa. The epidemic on board was caused by a rotten atmosphere between decks and a continuous wet deck. The Australian government decided to appoint as soon as possible a commission to investigate this whole affaire.
The newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated 30 August referred to the British commission which arrived at Sydney to investigate what caused the horrible conditions on board of the transports Britannic and Drayton Grange. One officer stated before the commission that the deck was very filthy and the atmosphere between decks rotten. This was quite common on board of the British transports when leaving South Africa. Doctor Shields also referred to the filthy decks, the wet blankets with no possibility to dry these, just one chest of medicines which was immediately used, men were continuous drunk and officers selling liquid.
Note
1. The Second Boer War found place between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 and ended in a defeat of the Boers and regaining British sovereignty of the Orange Free State and South African Republic (Transvaal). In 1920 became the Union of South Africa part of the Commonwealth.
