In 1915, urologist and 1936 AUA President George Gilbert Smith (or GG, as he was called) left his home in New England and his job at Massachusetts General Hospital to drive with his wife Ruth to New York. There he boarded a ship for France, where he was to serve for several months as a general surgeon in a clinic close to the World War I battlefront. The following diary entries and photographs from his time in France came from Dr. Smith’s grandson, Ken Rush.

We jogged along at about 20 miles an hour through beautiful, hilly country, and about 9:30 pm reached Springfield.

We had a very good dinner – steak, asparagus, etc. and spent the night at the Hotel Kimball. Excellent room for $5.

We slept only too well.

I felt the greatest grief as we dropped out into the river and I could see Ruth, Mother, Mrs. Davey and Hester, all in black, waving handkerchiefs. For a moment I could hardly control myself. Then we started down the river and their faces became indistinguishable among the crowd.

I would like news of Ruth and the children but must simply believe they are all right. I wish I had asked her to cable me. (GG Smith with daughters Huldah and Margaret)

By our daily bulletin I see that the Germans dropped a few shells into Compiégne, the town near which I am going.

At 6 p.m. we weighed anchor and started up the river Gironne…Madame Maës began to cry softly, and said, “See – la belle France is all black – the poor boys who die.” The ladies of our table said goodbye and begged me to do my best for the French soldiers.

At about 11 p.m. we reached the wharves at Bordeaux.

Miss Turner then took me to the War Office. We talked with M. de Piessac, who said how nice of me to come over and nurse their wounded, but (in diplomatic language) who the devil was I and what right had I to claim to be a surgeon? He said it would take at least 2 days for him to find out these things, so here I am, stuck for 2 days more.

This morning I took a taxi for the American Ambulance Hosp at Neuilly…I met Drs. Hutchinson, Keating and others of Phila. and made the visit with them. Dr. Hutchinson has 195 beds. Most of the cases are bone injuries – great gaping comminuted fractures from shrapnel, or through and through perforations. I learned a lot about their method of treatment. The cases come to them often after they have been in several other hospitals, and never with fresh injuries. The hospital is very well equipped, and quite attractive.

Had my pictures taken at M. Felix, 6 Boul. des Italiens. 4 exposures; he will send me 3 proofs. I get 2 finished pictures for 35 fr. Others cost 5 fr. apiece. A good deal to spend on my likeness, but it will please the people at home, I hope.

They say the reason for this delay is that there have been spies among the American doctors, and one was shot at Verdun. Cheerful thought!...Germans have taken Warsaw.

Compiégne (which was bombarded a few days ago) is split by the River Oise. Our road runs along the left bank of the river. Beyond a stretch of flat country, rather heavily wooded, lying across the river, is a range of hills, perhaps 4 miles away. These are held by the Germans.

…It seems so beautiful here that one can’t believe the front is only a few miles distant, although occasionally one hears a distant gun.

This morning I did dressings in the wards. It is true that all the wounds go septic to some extent, but the inflammation does not as a rule involve the surrounding tissues. The keynote seems to be to disinfect with strong solutions (Carrel’s #30 = hyposulphite of soda, boric acid, & other ingredients which I don’t know) and to drain, but not much by counter openings or free incisions; chiefly through the wounds themselves.

We crossed the Oise over a pontoon bridge built to replace the stone bridge blown up by the English in their retreat. We saw a house which had been struck by one of the heavy German shells – it was merely a heap of debris.

Beautiful day. Dressings in a.m. as usual. After lunch walked over the hill with Mrs. Depew and Miss. Turner. We saw the embrasures or observation posts dug out of the hillside. They would have made great caves for boys to play in.

About 10:30 an aeroplane buzzed over. It was a fine moonlit night, but he was invisible. Another came, and another, or perhaps the first returned. At any rate they kept going over the chateau until 2:30 a.m. Everyone got up about 1 a.m. An explosion sounded, almost as if it were on the lawn. We were sure the aviator was trying to get us. It was an uncomfortable feeling to be in the house with no method of retaliation. We could hear the aeroplane approaching – buzz –z –z like a big mosquito. We waited for a crash as he flew over. But nothing happened and we think this last one was French, as some of the men thought they could see his two propellers.

In the morning we learned that the explosion we heard was indeed that of a bomb, dropped by the Germans at the foot of our lawn, perhaps ¼ mile away. Probably he was after the new trenches being built there. The soldiers on guard took a few shots at him with a rifle which we could hear.

…On the way back, I met the Chief of the civilians who are making trenches, and he showed me how well they were made, with wattled sides. The woods in places are netted with them.

While we were doing dressings this a.m. an officer came and told Stanley to evacuate everyone who could be removed with safety. So we cleared out, and made a list of 27 – all except 4. Evidently the French intend an attack. We have also heard that all men on leave are recalled, and Stanley who was going on Saturday for a vacation has been asked to wait.

Before lunch a man who was whittling a cartridge came in with end of thumb and forefinger blown off. Fixed him up after lunch.

Then 11 (!) new patients came in the ambulances – none very seriously wounded – and I was busy all p.m. and evening fixing them. A great day.

A.M. – did dressings, took X Rays and set a Colles fracture…After lunch, did a hernia with appendectomy, a large hydrocele, & took a piece of bomb out of a man’s hand. Quite a long day.

The cpd. fracture of thigh is running a temp and his thigh is a little reddened. After luncheon I opened it and found the vastus externus full of thin purulent fluid. Moral: cut whenever in doubt as to the presence of pus. Early & thorough drainage. His temp fell to normal after that.

A busy morning. Mrs. D wants me to stay another week, and as Stanley isn’t coming back until Saturday, I’ll have to. However, I’m over busy and the work is all mine.

About 4 p.m. a man shot in many places by shrapnel came in. His lumbar spinous processes were shot away, with possible involvement of the peritoneum. He was in much shock. I anesthetized him, cleaned him up quickly, put in Carrel’s drip. Four other minor cases came in. 45 patients tonight.

Called at 4 a.m. because of spine man. Thought he had peritonitis and was getting ready to operate when he died. Autopsy showed that one ball had passed through right kidney, tearing away pelvis. Not much hemorrhage. No peritonitis.

Was wakened at about 5 a.m. by night nurse who said that the fract. femur man had a slight hemorrhage. Got up and saw him, and thought amputation the only sure way. Called Stanley; did a transfusion (Vincent’s Tubes) putting about 1300 cc blood into him.

It worked like a charm.

Then I gave him spinal, and Stanley amputated at mid thigh. He did very well. Many of the men wanted to be donors – quite different from in a civil hospital.

I left about 5:20. It was dusk, and as I stepped out into the courtyard to get into the car, I saw a regular army lined up in front of the fountain.

The center was composed of nurses, led by Mrs. Depew; the right wing, of convalescents, the left, of orderlies. They were clapping and cheering feebly. Mrs. Depew cried, “Speech.” I went to them and said “What can I say except that I hate to leave you?”

At 4 p.m. I presented Mrs. Depew’s card to Prof. Pozzi, 47 Ave. d’Jena. He was in a uniform of dark blue, most becoming, and was delightful. We talked for a few minutes, chiefly about Dr. Dunn, and he invited me to meet him tomorrow at this hospital.

Went to the hospital at the Parthenon (or near it) to see Dr. Pozzi. It is a hosp. of 1000 beds, pretty crude in its appearance. The nurses wear funny black bonnets with little tricolor cockades. Prof. Pozzi was very nice, & showed me cases, among them a German officer shot thru the shoulder. He then took me to the Hosp Broca where he had military & some gyn. cases.

He ligated an aneurysm of the femoral artery.

He is very genial and has a rather attractive, familiar way. He gave me his picture, and was altogether very kind.

Took the 8:40 a.m. Express – Paris to Bordeaux.

The Lafayette is a very fine boat. This is her maiden trip.

Sighted Nantucket light ship at 10 a.m. & Fire Island at 5:30

Beautiful calm sunset.