My First Cenotaph Parade 2022 by Eileen Nolan

 

I don’t know if any of my relatives ever paid the ultimate price for their country as it was not something ever talked about in our family and now there is no-one left to ask. I know my husband’s uncle was a Japanese POW and suffered dreadfully in what he saw and what he experienced. Thankfully he came home and eventually became a Chelsea Pensioner. We had the privilege of visiting him at the Royal Hospital in the 1980s and meeting other veterans.

What I also know is that two of my brothers and three nephews spent careers in the army and all have seen action in conflict zones including Northern Ireland, the Gulf wars and Afghanistan. Thank God they have all come home but again, it is not something they talk about. Personally, I never went to any conflict zones but I did nurse soldiers who were “casevaced” back to the UK following some dreadful injuries sustained whilst serving their country.

I always watched the Remembrance Sunday Parade with respect for those who did pay the ultimate price and for those taking part. It never crossed my mind however, that I might take part myself until four years ago when my brother told me that he had been accepted to take part in the parade. My heart burst with pride for him and I looked forward to trying to find him as he marched past the Cenotaph. Unfortunately, he was very unwell on the day and was not able to take part and he doesn’t believe he will be fit enough now to ever do it.

From then on, I felt I needed to take part for him and on behalf of my wider family. Things got a bit delayed with Covid but I decided 2022 was going to be my year!

The application process was easy enough but then it’s a waiting game. Numbers have been greatly reduced since Covid and I knew there was no guarantee I would get a place. When the email came through confirming I had been accepted, I was so excited.

In preparation, I took advice from other members of the QA Association who had marched in the past. I was advised to wrap up warm and wear good shoes as I would be standing about for hours. I also realised that I needed to get a beret and a Corps scarf. When my beret arrived, I tried it on….lets face it, I never suited my beret when I was 18 and trust me, I still don’t suit it now at 66! But then again, they are not designed to be a fashion accessory.

The big day eventually arrived and I made my way to Charing Cross station. I had an idea of where I was going but if I had any doubt, I realised I just needed to follow the other berets! I joined the queue at Admiralty Arch at 08.10 and the place was buzzing. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know anyone in the queue as everybody was talking to everybody. Old friends were meeting up and new friends being made.

Once the gates opened, I quickly found B39 where 2 other QA veterans were already waiting. Soon we were 28 and for most of us, it was our first time taking part. Although I didn’t meet anyone I knew, it didn’t matter as everyone was chatting and reminiscing about their time with the QAs. The sense of camaraderie and belonging was palpable.

Yes, we were standing around but time did fly by. The next time I looked up, Horse Guards Parade was packed with thousands of veterans. Everyone was very respectful and it was moving to see the Chelsea Pensioners arrive and the applause which greeted them.

We had to ensure we were in our columns and ready to march out of the parade ground at 10.00. For some reason, I thought we would get more instruction than we did but after we were asked for volunteers to be drill leader and wreath bearer, we were simply told rows of 5. Column B led the parade this year so we were the first into Whitehall. I was shocked at the number of members of the public just outside the parade ground and the amount of clapping and cheering that went up for every contingent as they emerged into Whitehall.

Again, we waited in Whitehall for ages just chatting amongst ourselves and with members of the public. At this stage, I had the honour of meeting Brenda. She had joined the QAs as a trained nurse in 1952 and at the age of 93, decided she would like to take part in the March Past. It was wonderful to listen to her story of her life in the QAs back then.

While we waited, we couldn’t see the Cenotaph and there were 38 contingents in front of us so we didn’t really know how far away we were. We did have a large TV screen beside us so we could see what was going on up ahead and were able to see King Charles III place his wreath.

While we were waiting and watching the screen, there was a bit of a commotion right beside us and when we turned to see what was going on, an urban fox appeared from behind the railings. It sauntered up and down beside us as if inspecting the ranks and virtually posed for photographs! It probably wondered what on earth was disturbing his Sunday morning. It stayed with us for several minutes before disappearing again.

When all the dignitaries had laid their wreaths, we could see the March Past begin on the TV screen and then suddenly we were off!

I have to say that our marching left a lot to be desired at first! Afterall, it had been many years since most of us had marched anywhere…48 years in my case! What didn’t help was that although our drill leader was calling instruction, we were a small contingent and we could hear clearly all the other instructions being given by all the other drill leaders who were often on a different foot from us! After a couple of minutes, our drill instructor changed and left us in no doubt which foot we should be on! Things improved after that…she had clearly done this before!

It was an incredible experience going past the Cenotaph with all the poppy wreaths on one side and then the Salute being taken by Prince Edward on the other side. As we marched, members of the public cheered and clapped and I do believe the cheering got louder when the QAs went past!

As we arrived back into Horse Guards Parade, there was what seemed like a guard of honour with serving soldiers and volunteers clapping and cheering the veterans as they arrived back onto the parade ground. It was a very moving experience.

After the parade, photographs were taken, new friends shared contact details and we prepared to make our way home.

I believe that remembrance is a very personal thing. It is right that the nation formally remembers those who have paid the ultimate price but I also think about those who have served and seen action in conflict many of whom continue to live with their experiences every day and may never be the same.

On reflection of taking part in the Cenotaph Parade, I take away how moving the whole experience was and the respect in which I believe our Armed Services are held. I am proud to have taken part and I will remember the day always.

May the annual parade always continue……….Lest We Forget.


Eileen Nolan – CMH 74-75
BMH Rinteln 1975-1977
Royal Herbert/QEMH 1977-1978

My Time in the Army Reserves by Vivian Maiden

When leaving school, I thought about either nursing or joining the Army. The Army recruitment advised "complete your nurse training then you can apply for a commission", which I did. During my nurse training I heard about the Territorial Army (TA), thought that sounded a good idea, and I could decide later if I really wanted to join the regulars.

My first annual camp

I Commissioned in Sept 1985, Lt Maiden. I was offered a post with a General Hospital, or the Ambulance train and I chose hospital, as I get travel sickness! I was posted to 304 City of Glasgow General Hospital (V), an 800 bedded hospital. In May 1986 I attended the Junior Officer course at the QATC, Royal Pavilion, under the care of Major Marsh. A couple of months later I was in Germany on my first annual camp with 304 General Hospital (V).

I looked in to joining the regulars a couple of times, the first was after I was promoted to Captain. I was told at the recruitment office I would have another year before I could be a Captain in the regulars, so decided I would give myself one year to get promoted in the NHS, which I did, becoming Deputy Ward Sister. The second time was after working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for two weeks in 1988, then the following year they came out to do a Hospex with us in Germany.  When I asked how often they did this, many said this was their first time. We completed Hospex every three years. It was then I decided I had the best of both worlds being in the TA.

In 1993, 304 Gen Hospital, 308 Evacuation Hospital, mental health and some other specialist teams merged to become 306 Field Hospital (V) a 200 bedded hospital.

In 2001, it was the year of the USA 9/11 terrorist event.  I had been selected to go on Exercise Saif Sareer 2 with 22 Field Hospital in the October. We reported to 22 Field Hospital HQ and when we were driven out of the camp, a single piper piped us out, I seriously wondered if we were going to Oman or somewhere else! Rest assured we did go on Exercise Saif Sereer, working in the hospital.

In 2002, 306 Field Hospital was involved in another large national exercise, Exercise Log Viper.  A small team and I amalgamated with 22 Field Hospital and for a week I became Matron of 22.

In January 2003 I received my call up papers asking me to report to Chilwell. By the time I received the papers, I had two weeks to sort my life and house out as I did not know when I would be returning. I had been called up to deploy with 33 Field Hospital on OP TELIC 1 as a ward team leader. We started in Camp Coyote in Kuwait where we built the tented hospital. Many TA members were then transferred to Iraq to join 34 Field Hospital who were running the hospital at Basara.

My space at Camp Coyote

I also deployed on OP HERRICK 12B in 2010 as Paediatric lead and Health Care Governance Officer for 34 Field Hospital. It was an interesting post which I loved. It was a total contrast to being deployed on OP TELIC 1 from the accommodation, hospital, and types of patients we received.

In 2008 I was promoted to Lt Col as OC of the Allied Health Professionals Sqn and then subsequent OC posts. In Feb 2017 I became 2IC for the Regiment followed in April 2017 acting CO for the Unit until the new CO took over in Dec 2017. It was a great experience, thanks to an excellent Command team supporting me.

I have now come to the end of my career and after 36yrs and 344 days, I hung up my boots and retired from the Army in August 2022. Throughout my career the key thing that kept me in was friendship. I have friends scattered throughout the UK.  A small group of us became friends on OP TELIC 1, we have met up for a weekend every year since, (except for 2020 due to the Covid pandemic). Next year will be our 20th anniversary.

Lt Col (Rtd) Vivien Maiden