Extract from case file JH/7s Bn/16

CraigLockhart Hospital Discharge Report

To Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Command Depot.

2nd Lt J Hartley, 7th (s) Bn. R. Mud. RIF.

Lt Hartley was admitted to this hospital on 13th August 1916, having received treatment at East Grinstead Royal Hospital for shrapnel wounds to the leg and a gunshot wound to the back. The medical staff at EGR hospital had observed that whilst Hartley was making a good physical recovery from his wounds, he was extremely withdrawn during the day and, at night, regularly appeared to suffer from recurring nightmares. Major P Johnson, MD, RAMC diagnosed that he considered Hartley was suffering from neurasthenia and arranged his transfer to this specialist facility.

I examined Lt Hartley when he arrived here and concur with Major Johnson’s view that he was showing classic symptoms of neurasthenia. He was withdrawn, uncommunicative and, when he was engaged in conversation, was overly self-effacing.

In the initial conversations I had with him, he refused to discuss his condition, saying only that he was still very tired from the physical wounds. He was reluctant to discuss his experiences in France and, in particular, would say nothing about the nightmares.

Over the following month, I spent many hours talking with Hartley, gradually introducing him to the concept that his feelings were completely normal. His thoughts, however, appeared to be on when the war would finish and he would regularly use the phrase “when everything is how it was”.

As is usual, Hartley has been isolated from other patients and is regularly sedated to assist in dealing with the nightmares.

In recent times, Hartley has appeared more relaxed and, at one point, indicated that he thought he might want to talk about the nightmares. This was a most encouraging sign and I have pressed the point with him. He is still reluctant to talk, in detail, but hints that he often has thoughts about death and the people he may have killed. I suggested to him that this is entirely normal – particularly for a young officer who has had to give orders that have resulted in the deaths of men for whom he was responsible. Hartley responded well to these suggestions and has been considerably more cheerful in the last few days. He tells me that he has been glad to finally “get it off his chest” and that he now feels ready to return to duty.

I consider that Hartley is almost fully recovered and can be discharged from this hospital. I recommend a short period of home leave followed by a few weeks duty at base, before returning to overseas service.

Capt. P. Guthrie

RAMC

The following page in the dossier indicated that Hartley had been given a two week period of leave with his return to unit dated as November, 18, 1916.

Well, at least I knew where I could catch up with him.

In the meantime, I had to get back home and make contact with Markinbelfast.