RAF to Army or PMRAFNS to QARANC - Lauren Griffiths

I joined the PMs in 1985 having been advised very strongly by my brother, a WOI, NOT to join the QAs – ‘I’m not having a sister of mine joining that mob!’ Moving on to 1991. I had just completed teacher training at Cardiff University. I’m just getting ready to be posted to RAF (H) Wegberg as the Inservice Training Officer. I’d started packing, ordered my new duty-free car and then STOP! Matron in Chief is on the blower, ‘I need you to go to the Army as they are short of nurse tutors.’ Damn! So, I continued packing, cancelled the car and wrote my posting letter to Col Numbers at CMH Aldershot.

First challenge. I arrived at the CMH Officers Mess late on a Sunday afternoon; couldn’t get in – all entrances locked and no one in the office. Eventually, after circling the building, I managed to catch the attention of one of the nursing officers – I’m in! I was then met by Marion Hart who had been tasked to show me the ropes. As you can imagine I was a fish out of water – an apparition in white in a sea of grey and red! Nowhere to hide – something to be gawped at!

I joined the School of Nursing as a junior nurse teacher and the only non-QA member of staff. My role covered teaching pre-reg on two sites, CMH and QEMH. Fairly early on in my posting I caused a bit of a stir at QEMH when I was summoned to Matron’s office! She wanted to know who this Australian Officer was who was wandering around the Hospital in a white ward dress. Probably not the best start at QEMH!

Back at Aldershot I soon integrated with my Army colleagues, however, there was a line that I had to draw. I’m Airforce and we don’t do running. we don’t do circuits and we don’t do guns! Wrong! I’m with the Army now.

My nemesis – Cpl Holmes, Army Physical Training Corp, yep, Kelly Holmes of Olympic fame. Our new CO decided that we were all to do physical training weekly, no excuses. So, off I went, with Marion Hart, Lynn Adam and some of the students for our weekly session. A beasting doesn’t even cover it. The next day I couldn’t put my long hair up into a bun – Lynn had to do that for me – I thought I would never regain the use of my arms again. On the plus side my fitness improved and I did manage to evade annual fitness tests for my complete tour, although Merrill cottoned on to this – she was going out with an RAF Officer who told her that we did do running and we did do circuits. Thankfully she only found that out at the end of my tour.

I shared an office at CMH with Gary Searle. One sunny afternoon we were in the office and unbeknown to me the RMP were training their dogs to disarm someone with a gun – this was happening just outside our window. I heard a shot and I hit the deck. Gary looked quite amused as he watched me disappear under my desk. Obviously, a new experience in this Army environment.

My role evolved and I became engaged in the wider pre-registration and conversion training. This took me to more Army and some RAF sites. It was good to be engaged across the two services and to use my skills to enable nurses to develop and qualify. I found myself drawn closer to the Army and identified more and more with the Corps. However, Col Numbers’ efforts to draw me even deeper and transfer to the QARANC failed despite various offers to tempt me. My brothers warning still rang clearly in my brain!

I thoroughly enjoyed my two years at CMH and was rather sad to leave the School, colleagues and newly found friends to return to RAF (H) Wroughton. I found it hard going back to the PMs and never really settled. Two years later we all ended up working at the Royal Defence Medical College at HMS Dolphin, later Fort Blockhouse – reunited once more with my Army colleagues and friends. A new chapter in Defence Medical training had begun.

 

From Dream to Major by Sara Russell

From as early as I can remember I used to listen to stories from my father of his experiences in the military; his postings, training, operations, the decorations he was awarded and all the adventures that had bought him such pride and happiness during his time in uniform. He would fill me with admiration and curiosity hearing about the opportunities he had been given and I quickly realised I wanted to follow his footsteps. The older I got the more adamant I became to pursue this dream and whilst many thought this would be a passing phase, upon leaving school I presented at the careers office to start the enlistment process. After meeting with the recruitment staff and discussing my career choices I had concretely decided I wanted to join the QARANC as a nurse. Much effort went into trying to persuade me to join another Regiment/Corps however after my long-standing stubbornness I was advised to go to college and come back when I was 17.5 years old when I would be old enough to start nurse training. By this time sadly the Army were no longer training nurses so with a heavy heart I had to start thinking about what other career options were available to me. However, just five months later, and at the time I was finishing my last year of college as if by fate the Army had recommenced nurse training. Following several months of tests and interviews I finally swore my Oath of Allegiance and was given date to a parade for my first day in uniform. My dream had finally come true.

I started my career at ATR Lichfield in 1999 where I completed Basic Training. I still remember the feelings of anxiety and fear as I entered the camp, but I was confident I had still made the right choice and could not wait to get started. Basic training was extremely challenging both physically and mentally but the skills I learnt, qualities I developed and friends I made, made every day worth it. No aspect of the training came easy to me so my pride as I passed out of Basic Training 14 weeks later before moving to the South to read Nursing at Portsmouth University was more than I could have ever imagined. I felt alive and as if I had conquered the world.

It was then onto the next chapter which presented with its own set of challenges and were very different from those I had just endured. The preconceived challenges of University and the academic demands were very real and posed some difficulties for me however the placements balanced this as I found these really valuable and were where I truly learnt about the job and affirmed this was the right profession for me. What I had not considered was how difficult it would be being so far from home for such long periods. At times I did find this difficult despite having dreamt of this for so many years but with routine, familiarity. and support from new friends I soon started to settle, my enthusiasm for my chosen future realigned and life was becoming very fruitful. During these first few years little did I know I had already met my best friend, future husband and my children’s Godparents.

Not many months after qualifying as a nurse I was detached to 34 field hospital and deployed to Iraq on OP Telic 1. Whilst there were some emotional times out there, I once again felt fulfilled and alive being employed in an operational environment which I believed was definition of Army nursing. I was home no more that 6 weeks before returning to Iraq on OP Telic 2 with 33 field hospital for a further 3 months. This tour allowed me to consolidate my nursing and operational experience and fully immerse myself into my work and start proving my management and leadership skills. During this tour I quickly realised my interests to Commission and began casually enquiring about my potential and the process. Upon my return to the UK in late 2003 the wheels were set in motion and work towards improving my profile to Commission started. This process took several years and before I went through Officer selection, I volunteered for a tour of Bosnia to give me more operational experience but also to provide me with the time and support from skilled staff in to prepare me for board.

The commissioning process was intense but well worth it when I was informed of my success and given a date to attend Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. I learnt so much during this phase of my career and feel this was the real start to my opportunities widening. After I commissioned, I had a short spell in Catterick before another tour of Iraq on Op Telic 9A where I again I was able to consolidate the skills I had learnt on my Commissioning course whilst continuing to enhance the qualities required to be an effective leader.

I remember not long after my return from this tour reflecting and thinking just how amazing my career had been thus far but also wondering what else there was left for me other than promotion and postings. I felt I had flown so quickly down my chosen career path but worried I might have reached a lull. But again, as if it was fate, I heard that my application to start my Degree in Mental Health Nursing had been approved. This was when I left the world of General Nursing.

In 2007-2008 I completed my conversion course at University of Hull and was quickly posted to the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) in Aldershot. I later saw postings to DCMH Donnington, DCMH Colchester and DCMH Cranwell. My time as RN (MH) was probably the most fulfilling. It took me outside of my comfort zone, developing my management and leadership skills with a steep learning curve but along the way and true to the military I met some amazing people and have many fond memories.

I finished my career in 2017 having served 18 years to the day. I started as a Private soldier and retired as a Major and earned a Dip (HE) Nursing (Adult) and BSc (hons) Nursing (Mental Health) and whilst non certificated a depth of experience in management and leadership. The military gave me opportunities and experiences many only read about in a book and ones I know I would never have experienced if I had ventured down other avenues of employment. If I said I enjoyed every minute of my service life I would not be being honest but those times were greatly outweighed by all the good times and I will always look back with pride and fondness having served in the British Army…..and to add to the fairy tale, along the way I married my husband (a fellow QARANC) and now have two amazing children (now aged 10 and 5 years old)

I can safely say that I know of at least one little girl who got her dreams.

17th January 1991 Start of Gulf War 1 - Letter by Jan Westbury

Thirty years ago whilst serving in the Gulf, I sent the letter below to my husband, reflecting on the first day of the war. I was a nursing officer in charge of a tented 108 bedded low dependency ward. It was a hurriedly scribbled letter and below the letter is the transcription, for ease of reading.

Dear Terry
It is 1730 on the day war was declared. It was stated that we are on active service from 0300 local time, 0100 German time. Incredible really. We were woken at 0330 with an air raid red and then various states of NBC. The B shift were called in at 0400, the A shift had breakfast at 0500 and then went into work.

We were all remarkably calm really and also rather giggly. (We forgot to turn our room lights out). It was really well organised, we had good briefs, the radio gave us information and 0400 we listened to President Bush's speech.
My day on the ward wasn't too brilliant, some of the staff were so tired after a few hours sleep and I had to keep encouraging them to get the work done this morning and that everyone must rest this afternoon. I'm actually in the block at the moment as I have to go back to work tonight. Because of my lack of sleep I felt irritable with the odd few that sat like zombies. In all fairness, most of the staff were great. I now feel better after two hours sleep and more able to cope. The start of war certainly had an effect on me, I think I wavered momentarily. Too much thought of the poor boys.

This morning was spent going into various states of NBC dress and running to air raid shelters etc. One of my straps on my respirator fell apart and one of the patients helped me. They were great.

Well, it was wonderful to talk to you today. Sorry I woke you so early, but it was a real support to me.

Much Love

Jan x

My letters home have been boxed up for 30 years and not seen light of day until December 2020.  It was all due to the Covid 19 pandemic: time to empty out the loft; helping set up this blog and trying to capture our history; 30 year anniversary of the Gulf conflict; a virtual presentation to the student nurses with Merrill Bate and Kay Foster for remembrance in November 1990 and a forthcoming presentation for colleagues at one of our QARANC Jurassic Coast Branch Zoom meetings.

 
Capt (Rtd) Jan Westbury. Served at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia November 1990 - March 1991

BRITISH ARMY OF THE RHINE - MY PART IN DRAWDOWN by Judy Evans

In December 1991 I was at QEMH, Woolwich, getting to grips with my newish job as Assistant Deputy Matron, having been posted there in June after almost four years in Germany, preparing for and then moving, following closure of BMH Munster, to a refurbished BMH Iserlohn. There were, at that time, three other military hospitals in Germany - Rinteln, Hannover and Berlin as well as the RAF Hospital at Wegberg.

The phone rang and it was Brigadier Hilary Dixon-Nuttall, Director Army Nursing Services ‘asking’ me to go back to Germany in March or April 1992, only a few months hence. “I’ve only been back from Germany for six months after four years there”, I replied, “If I go, please could it be for just a year?”

Fortunately, she agreed.

She then went into detail about my role. BMH Hannover would close on 30 June 1992.

Closure meant that patients who would have been treated there would have to travel over an hour to BMH Rinteln. To ease this, it was decided that my role would be to set up a Forward Outpatients Department (FOPD) for certain specialities at Hohne, a large garrison north of Hannover whereby consultants would travel from Rinteln to hold outpatient clinics. Patients would also come from other garrisons nearby, such as Fallingbostel and Celle. In addition I was to be project officer for a new Medical Reception Station (MRS) and Medical Provisioning Point (MPP) there. Patients who needed admission would go to Rinteln or make more use of beds in the expanded MRS. The use of German hospitals was at an early stage of discussion.

Sometime in January 1992, I flew out for the day to Rheindahlen from RAF Hendon in a small plane, similar to those used by the Royal Family, for a series of briefings. No one really knew much about anything and it was clear that I’d be flying by my pants.

I was posted to Hohne on 1 April 1992, perhaps an auspicious date. The MRS included about 10 beds for the minor sick and a group practice manned by military and civilian doctors and civilian nurses and a physiotherapist.

Some of the groundwork had been done - well, identifying the temporary locations of the FOPD and MPP and the new location of the MRS.

The former would be in Glyn Hughes Barracks occupied by 1 Armoured Field Ambulance which was a short drive from the main garrison but at least it was a medical unit, the latter would be located in what was being used as an annex for the Station Officers Mess but which I was sure would be suitable.

So, my job began. Setting up the FOPD was relatively straightforward. The building in the barracks was more than adequate, currently only being used by the garrison physiotherapist. It would be staffed by a civilian nurse who was already in post in the MRS, assisted by QARANC healthcare assistants (HCAs) who would shortly be posted in. Minor works such as putting in telephone points were required. Documentation was ordered as well as equipment such as scales, sphygmomanometers and so on, chairs, couches and tables.

The MPP would be staffed by a RAMC medical supply technician who would be posted in nearer the time of opening but I had to ensure it was ready as far as its security was concerned.

Talks began with the firm who would be doing the job of refurbishing the building, which was to become the MRS, FOPD and MPP. Work would take approximately eight months but it became clear that it would not be starting for a while so somehow it was unlikely I would see the end result.

I was also posted to Hohne as Matron of the MRS, which meant that I would support the civilian nursing staff who had previously felt a little neglected. We started in service training sessions and I became well known as the nurse phlebotomist as somehow they thought I had the knack of taking blood so I made sure that I was present for antenatal clinics! The HCAs settled in well and enjoyed working in a smaller unit than they were used to. We included them in some of the in service training which they appreciated. They worked in the group practice as well as the ward which had about 10 beds on both day and night duty.

I lived in the Station Officers Mess which was great fun. It had been mooted that I should have a flat which was available in the Field Ambulance barracks. I am so pleased I didn’t as I’d have felt very lonely. Of course Hohne is well known for being close to the former concentration camp of Bergen so it was a very poignant place to be. The countryside around was beautiful. Very flat, but great for walks and exploring.

The day the medical equipment arrived at the MPP for the first time, I was elsewhere but I received a phone call from the supply technician to say the unit’s fork lift truck was off the road and it was really required to off load all the kit which had arrived. What to do? How would a QA officer find a forklift truck? Luckily I’d made contact with the Station Staff Officer for a number of issues and he was a very helpful Retired Officer. Less than an hour later, a forklift truck trundled up the road to Glyn Hughes barracks from the main garrison. I got a good deal of satisfaction from that, in addition to the realisation that the spirit of goodwill and cooperation lived on.

I came home in March 1993 after a year in post. I enjoyed it enormously. A lot of people who I met had never had contact with QAs before, including the Brigade Commander, but I’d like to think that they were surprised that we can turn our hands to anything!

Judy Evans

I served in the QARANC from 1976-96, first as a Midwife, then a Theatre Sister. I also had postings as Instructor for the Student Officer Basic Course at the QATC from 1984-6, Theatre Sister and Matron in the Falkland Islands

Thoughts of past, present and future by Wendy H. Jones

When you are the first person to write a blog for the New Year it is simultaneously an honour, exciting and nerve-racking. The nerve-racking part is because you feel you ought to be writing something tremendous - earth shattering even. This is how I feel writing this. Where on earth do I start representing an organisation which counts so many amazing people amongst its family? It’s a tricky one but I decided to channel my inner Jacob Marley and introduce the ghosts of past present and future. 

Being Scottish, New Year is important to me and I nearly always managed to wangle the time off. Mainly by doing night duty over Christmas I might add. But, I know that all over the world, there were always plenty of parties happening in messes and NAAFIs.. The military never missed an excuse for a knees up and always wanted to see the New Year in in style. During my time serving, I did manage to usher in the bells in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Germany and Israel, with friends and colleagues I will never forget. And I want to pick up on that word - forget, it is so easy for us to forget the stories of the magical time we had while at we are or were serving and this blog is a way of addressing that. We all have stories to share, stories which are important, no matter how mundane we personally might think them. They are an important record of QA, and indeed Military, history. We want to capture the stories of our time in the services using this blog. If you would like to share a story, please contact me via email on wendy@wendyhjones.com. I would love to work with you to write a blog. We all want to hear of your experiences. 

So, our ghost of the past hands over to the Ghost of the present, who has the most difficult job I feel. The present is something no one will forget in a hurry. As the bells rang in the New Year 2021 the BBC were reporting that Military Medical Personnel were on standby to support the NHS against an overwhelming influx of COVID patients, and most of the country was, and still are, in Tier 4 lockdown. This is probably a New Year most of us would like to forget but won’t in a hurry. If you are in the military and working this year, know your retired colleagues are thinking of you. 

And so to the future. Much as I have enjoyed being Jacob Marley it’s impossible for me to predict the future as I have no ghost to help me. What I do have is the knowledge that a record number of QARANC personnel were awarded honours in the Queen's New Years Honours List. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them. What I can say with the utmost certainty is that the future of the QARANC is in, not only safe, but truly magical hands. 

Let's raise a glass of our favourite beverage - to all QAs, past, present, and future, I salute you. It is an honour to be counted in your midst

To continue with our literary vibe, I will misquote  Clement Clarke Moore and The Night Before Christmas - Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.

About the Author

Wendy H. Jones served as a Nursing Officer in the QARANC between 1987 and 2004 leaving with the rank of Major. She never went on an operational tour but undertook many exercises as well as serving in numerous units in both the UK and overseas. Hong Kong and Jerusalem had to be two of the highlights. Moving into nurse education, she was proud to have served as Tri-Service Head of Pre-Registration Nurse Education. This brought her full circle to where she started as a student nurse in the QARNNS. She is now an author and lives in Scotland.