This Nursing Sister was my mother, Alice Irene Parkinson, the daughter of a tenant farmer and the village wheelwright living in Bitchfield near Grantham. She left school at twelve years of age, due to family poverty and the death of her father, which precluded any further ongoing education. However, she read enthusiastically to ‘broaden’ her education, in between assisting with the farm, until she was age 21 years, the legal age to start nurse training. She completed her Nurse training at The Radcliffe Infirmary in 1938, and her Midwifery Training at the Simpson Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh.
The voyage took them around Northern Ireland then down the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar, where they were allowed to disembark for a day, enjoying a quick tour of ‘The Rock’, then onwards down the Bay of Biscay. During the voyage Mother recalled a Luftwaffe plane circling low around the ship, whilst she was sitting on deck. No action was directed at the ship and the pilot must have seen the crosses on the sides and funnel, and also women in nursing uniform on deck confirming the status of the ship.
Still no clue was given to their destination, but it was assumed that if the course from Gibraltar was down the South Atlantic, they were likely heading for the Middle or Far East. However, they turned into the Mediterranean, and knew then it would be to North Africa for them! The ship docked in Oran, French Algeria.
Their next move in 1943 from Oran was to a place called Chateaudun in French Algeria. Here was where the tented hospital was erected. All tentage was of the ‘bell tent’ type, with all staff assisting in the construction, as can be seen in these photos taken in Algeria. Tents and nursing dress were not very practical in comparison to modern Field Hospitals!
Mother and her colleague were assigned to the POW prison wards, these prisoners having already been segregated into German and Italian prisoners, due to the animosity by the Germans towards the Italians who felt the Italians ‘gave up’ the fight too quickly!
One recollection from this time was of a German prisoner being ‘cheeky’, and asking mother if she was going ‘dancing tonight’, then telling her confidently he would teach her how to dance when they got to London! On another occasion her colleague was attending to an older German soldier festooned with medal ribbons. Asking him jokingly ‘are you Herman Goring?’ The whole ward of Germans erupted with uncontrollable laughter. A pleasant memory was that every evening the Germans would all sing beautifully before sleeping.
The battle then moved across to Italy in 1944. Landing at Salerno, once the port was cleared, the 103 GH was moved to a small village named Nochera Inferiore. Mother said it certainly was an apt name for a ‘mucky’ area. Mussolini’s Barracks were commandeered as the hospital, with the nurses ‘housed’ in tents.
Although Mussolini had cleared the Pontine Marshes of Malarial mosquitos, there was still a risk from insect bites. Hence, slacks and blouses, being issued and worn specifically in the evenings and night time. This was a regulation.
By 1944 the allies were on the offensive moving up through Italy. Already casualties from Monte Cassino were being nursed. A sad reflection witnessed by Mother was that so many captured Germans were only young, and often teenagers, being terrified if an orderly went to help them shave or wash. Such was Nazi propaganda instilled by their regime as to encourage ‘fighting to the death’ rather than surrender,
Her other recollections of Italy outside the hospital were that of abject poverty and near starvation, especially in the Naples area. Armed guards had to put on the lorry convoys to stop supplies being stolen. She well understood the dreadful predicament these people has endured. Another topic not widely discussed in Italy during the war was ‘holding’ the VD patients for treatment in the hospital. This could be difficult for the guards and orderlies as on occasions they had to pursue patients attempting escape from treatments.
On a lighter note, Mother recalled a trip to Capri by Motor Torpedo Boat, where they visited Gracie Fields Villa, now designated for visits by the allies, and a large group audience with Pope Pious X11, in Rome.
The battle then moved north, the hospital closed and staff were redeployed to other Field Hospitals following the battle north. Mother, with others was then returned to England for demob. She later married my father an RAMC Staff Sergeant.
Maggie Lane (Rtd)
Her direct accounts and reflections, passed on to me over her lifetime, remain firmly in my memory. Since her death in 1994 I always regret not asking her to expand more on her experiences. Many of her related ‘snippets’ were of course sad, but her clarity in the telling of events was very clear, and elicited several periods of humour during nursing in Algeria and Italy during World War II.
‘Parky’ as she was generally known, had just completed her Midwifery Training in Edinburgh, and joined the Civil Nursing Reserve, prior to enlistment into the QAIMNS(R) at Maidstone Barracks in Kent. Following enlistment and kitting out, a tailor fitted her with an outdoor suit and working dresses. After that it was off to the Queen Victoria Hospital at Netley, Southampton. She told me she didn't do much in the hospital, except attend compulsory security lectures, and often enjoyed tea in the YMCA canteen, which still exists in Victoria Country Park today.
‘Parky’ as she was generally known, had just completed her Midwifery Training in Edinburgh, and joined the Civil Nursing Reserve, prior to enlistment into the QAIMNS(R) at Maidstone Barracks in Kent. Following enlistment and kitting out, a tailor fitted her with an outdoor suit and working dresses. After that it was off to the Queen Victoria Hospital at Netley, Southampton. She told me she didn't do much in the hospital, except attend compulsory security lectures, and often enjoyed tea in the YMCA canteen, which still exists in Victoria Country Park today.
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| A group of happy QA’s and TANS(Territorial Army Nursing Service) at Netley Hospital awaiting deployment. |
Mother was fortunate and billeted in Netley Village, being very well looked after by a naval captain's widow. She never knew when she would leave, perhaps never to return, but every day she had to go to the hospital with all her kit ready to move. Suddenly one day, she had ‘a hunch’ that ‘today would be the day’ they would leave. Surely enough, it happened, and the 103(GH) was transported by train from Netley to Avonmouth Docks, no one knowing where they were sailing to, except, probably the captain. She left behind a new dressing gown to show appreciation to the widow for all her kindness and care. The ship that embarked them was the ‘Oranje’, having been used by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. She said it was quite luxurious! A few dockers waved them off.
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| The ‘Oranje’, a Dutch Ship converted to a hospital ship |
The voyage took them around Northern Ireland then down the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar, where they were allowed to disembark for a day, enjoying a quick tour of ‘The Rock’, then onwards down the Bay of Biscay. During the voyage Mother recalled a Luftwaffe plane circling low around the ship, whilst she was sitting on deck. No action was directed at the ship and the pilot must have seen the crosses on the sides and funnel, and also women in nursing uniform on deck confirming the status of the ship.
Still no clue was given to their destination, but it was assumed that if the course from Gibraltar was down the South Atlantic, they were likely heading for the Middle or Far East. However, they turned into the Mediterranean, and knew then it would be to North Africa for them! The ship docked in Oran, French Algeria.
Their next move in 1943 from Oran was to a place called Chateaudun in French Algeria. Here was where the tented hospital was erected. All tentage was of the ‘bell tent’ type, with all staff assisting in the construction, as can be seen in these photos taken in Algeria. Tents and nursing dress were not very practical in comparison to modern Field Hospitals!
The nursing included wounded allied service personnel, German and Italian prisoners. Her recollections were that many of the patients had severe burns to their backs whilst escaping from their burning tanks or vehicles. Sadly, on a very rare occasion an allied soldier would die suddenly from an undiagnosed cause. This upset mother and her colleagues. Perhaps death from shock or infection?
Mother and her colleague were assigned to the POW prison wards, these prisoners having already been segregated into German and Italian prisoners, due to the animosity by the Germans towards the Italians who felt the Italians ‘gave up’ the fight too quickly!
One recollection from this time was of a German prisoner being ‘cheeky’, and asking mother if she was going ‘dancing tonight’, then telling her confidently he would teach her how to dance when they got to London! On another occasion her colleague was attending to an older German soldier festooned with medal ribbons. Asking him jokingly ‘are you Herman Goring?’ The whole ward of Germans erupted with uncontrollable laughter. A pleasant memory was that every evening the Germans would all sing beautifully before sleeping.
The battle then moved across to Italy in 1944. Landing at Salerno, once the port was cleared, the 103 GH was moved to a small village named Nochera Inferiore. Mother said it certainly was an apt name for a ‘mucky’ area. Mussolini’s Barracks were commandeered as the hospital, with the nurses ‘housed’ in tents.
One morning her colleague looked out, and said ‘Good heavens, I think Vesuvius has erupted’. It certainly had, and piles of ash were ‘raining down’ all over the compound. The sisters were issued with wellington boots, and ash was swept into piles. Mother retained these boots for a couple of decades after the war.
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| Ash from Vesuvius piled high in the hospital compound. |
Although Mussolini had cleared the Pontine Marshes of Malarial mosquitos, there was still a risk from insect bites. Hence, slacks and blouses, being issued and worn specifically in the evenings and night time. This was a regulation.
By 1944 the allies were on the offensive moving up through Italy. Already casualties from Monte Cassino were being nursed. A sad reflection witnessed by Mother was that so many captured Germans were only young, and often teenagers, being terrified if an orderly went to help them shave or wash. Such was Nazi propaganda instilled by their regime as to encourage ‘fighting to the death’ rather than surrender,
Her other recollections of Italy outside the hospital were that of abject poverty and near starvation, especially in the Naples area. Armed guards had to put on the lorry convoys to stop supplies being stolen. She well understood the dreadful predicament these people has endured. Another topic not widely discussed in Italy during the war was ‘holding’ the VD patients for treatment in the hospital. This could be difficult for the guards and orderlies as on occasions they had to pursue patients attempting escape from treatments.
On a lighter note, Mother recalled a trip to Capri by Motor Torpedo Boat, where they visited Gracie Fields Villa, now designated for visits by the allies, and a large group audience with Pope Pious X11, in Rome.
The battle then moved north, the hospital closed and staff were redeployed to other Field Hospitals following the battle north. Mother, with others was then returned to England for demob. She later married my father an RAMC Staff Sergeant.
Maggie Lane (Rtd)
