HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee 1977 Memories by Marjorie Bandy, Dot Ritchie & Jan Westbury

In 1977 I, like so many QA’s was serving in Germany with, to use its correct title the British Army of the Rhine or BAOR. At that time there were 5 military hospitals in BAOR and I was working as a midwife in BMH Munster. The Armed Forces had considerably more personnel than today and each of the three services was to have a separate Jubilee Event. For the Army this was to be in Germany at the enormous training area at Sennalager on 7 July.

Logistically it was to a huge event and each Garrison had its own set of Mess tents to host personnel. I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the BMH reps along with my friend Maggie O’Sullivan [now Stephenson]. Not wanting to let the side down we had pressed our No 2s [the old grey job]and polished the shoes and lastly set the alarm for our very early start the next morning. The admin order was detailed and left us in no doubt that if we weren’t through the check point at Sennalager by 0900 hrs we wouldn’t be let in.

At that time, it was expected that any future conflict would be an armoured battle on the plains of Germany so most of the BAOR battalions were armoured or artillery. Seeing everyone in No2 dress, where many of these battalions were “vulgar fraction regiments,” [ for the uninitiated this means cavalry 15/19th 9/12th etc – you get the picture] some very fancy uniforms were on display. On this vast training area it was dry and dusty and our careful attention to uniforms was somewhat wasted. 

 With so many troops and armoured regiments the “parade ground” stretched back for a mile, and what an amazing sight it was. The parade RSM brought everyone both on and off the square to attention for the arrival of Her Majesty. It was an experience I will never forget. We took lots of photographs although at times it was difficult as officers needed to salute HM when she passed,  plus for artillery regiments the guns are their colours which also must be saluted along with the colours of the marching Regiments.

We were told that at the rehearsal it was realised that with such a deep parade, orders reached the troops at the back noticeably later than those at the front. Messy when it was for Her Majesty. The solution was a simple one, behind the centre stand for spectators was a windmill which everyone could see. A large black bin was hoisted to the top of its flagpole and the bin dropped every time the command salute was given, result everyone saluted at the same time.

That parade is something I will never forget, so many on parade, tanks dipping their gun barrel to salute The Queen, writing this I can still picture it in my mind.

By Lt Col (Rtd) Marjorie Bandy RRC

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I was stationed in BMH Dhekalia and was a Guide Guider. We had a camp in Episkopi for all the Armed Forces Guides in Cyprus over the Silver Jubilee period. In the top photo is Heather Dunscombe, who was the last Association secretary. Her mother was a Guider with me, she is far left, Heather is 3rd in on the left and I am far right. 

                 Major (Rtd) Dot Ritchie

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Not everyone in the Armed Forces was awarded a Silver Jubilee Medal, as this was allocated on a quota basis and not on eligibility criteria.  Only 9,000 medals were allocated to the Armed Forces, thought to be due to the economic crisis at the time.  Units of over 500 personnel received 6 medals and under 500 received only 2.  This meant that neither Marjorie or Dot received the award.  

When it came to the Golden Jubilee that changed and eligibility criteria were used.  All regular serving personnel with five years calendar service (1,826) and reserve service personnel who had completed five annual bounty earning training years (135 days) received the medal.  Dot very proudly had her photograph taken for her Father, wearing her Golden Jubilee medal.

By Capt (Rtd) Jan Westbury 

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Happy April Fool’s Day - You’re Now a QA! By Chris Buswell

I began my time in the QAs with a sense of disbelief and wryness. I was in Belize and the CO had told us we three male nurses were to transfer to the QARANC. Up to then I’d been happy in the RAMC for five years, first as a Combat Medical Technician, then starting RGN training (one of my tutors was Wendy who helps run this blog) and then working on a variety of wards and departments post registration. The date of transfer in 1992 was on the 1st of April and a sense that this was an April Fool’s prank was heightened when we received a photocopy of the QARANC cap badge during a parade. I continued my posting, marvelling at the beauty of the country and wildlife. I was awed in their caves at the spectacle of roosting bats and in Airport Camp I enjoyed seeing the iguanas that lounged around the hospital grass. The first sight of a vulture eating a carcass on a roadside during a return from working in the Field Surgical Team was spectacular, its wingspan seemed huge. During my gawping, the anaesthetist tied my boots to the back of the Land Rover. After that I didn’t take them off during the hour drive back to camp

Upon my return to the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot I was soon to discover from my wife, also a QA, that indeed I was now in the sisterhood of the Grey Mafia! I slunk to the Quartermaster and handed in my black beret for a grey one, with a shiny Cross with an A in the centre. So began a continuing interest in the history of the Corps and military hospitals. I worked in ITU, Paediatrics and the medical wards where I learnt about a certain Grey Lady, usually on night shift, when tales were spun and attempts to spook each other were performed. The day shifts ward sister’s cape and tippet placed on a drip stand and pulled along by string to the adjoining ward is legendary. I shall not reveal who did this in case Matron is reading! Little did I know that two decades later I would write a novel about this ghost and run the @QARANCHistory social media pages and the QARANC.co.uk website.

My student nurse training was at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, with stints at the CMH for midwifery and paediatric training.

I loved the camaraderie at both hospitals and met my wife, Karla (nee Partridge) at the QEMH. We later had a great three years at the Tri-Service The Princess Mary’s Hospital at Akrotiri in Cyprus. A highlight was a bed-push race in the airbase pushing a Thunderbird themed bed (we lost!). Our married quarter had a large garden where I kept an aviary filled with budgies. I swapped the resultant babies at a nearby pet shop in Limassol for an aquarium and soon the Children’s ward was filled with fish and enough food to last years.

In the army base at nearby Episkopi there was a British Army Rehoming Centre, and we adopted a handsome pointer dog called Bouncer from BARC. We all explored the gorgeous coastline in the base and around this stunning island and enjoyed swimming in the clear blue sea.

Both our children were born at the TPMH, delivered by QA midwives. Their care was first-rate - I never felt a thing!

My last year was served at the Navy hospital in Haslar, in a medical ward, which was hard, but, like all my service, immensely satisfying work.

I now live in a small fishing village in Scotland with my wife, where I write novels. I keep white doves now and have a Bravehound PTSD dog Lynne. An incident in Cyprus gives me recurring nightmares and she wakes me up by washing my face or poking her tongue in my mouth! We then have a cosy cuddle whilst Karla rolls her eyes, sighs, and goes back to sleep.

Sadly, I don’t have any photos of my time in the QAs as this was in era when there were no digital cameras nor mobile phones. I’ve plenty off-duty though and I enjoy looking at them and reminiscing. If anyone remembers me and has any, I’d love to see them. You can find me @CGBUSWELL on social media.

Chris Buswell - L/Cpl served from 1987 to 1997