大象传媒

The story of my War Service can be found at A5864358 "FROM MUCH WENLOCK TO INDIA" (My story as a Queen Alexandra Nurse 1942-1945 -SEAC).

My late husband's story "Capt. WH Fletcher's War with the 4th King's African Rifles" can be found at A6374351.

After the War on returning to Much Wenlock I received the following message from the Much Wenlock Victory Fund:

"We thank you for all you have risked
for us in the Great World War 1939-
1945 and we welcome your safe return.

Please accept the enclosed as a
token of esteem and respect from
the people of Much Wenlock."

We got married in December 1945 and have maintained our friendship with Geoff Elcoat and his wife Yvonne; Doctor Damms and Mary, and their families, who have been part of our lives ever since from when we met, to today. It was through Geoff that I met Horace.

Through the K.A.R. we were able to form an enduring African friendship. In 1963 when the newly independent East African countries sent officer cadets to Sandhurst; Sandhurst applied to the K.A.R. Club for help in accommodating them over the Christmas Holiday week. The cadet sent to us was an Acholi, Peter Oboma, we had some misgivings about welcoming an unknown African for the Christmas Holiday - we were living in London at the time and had a family of four children - but our fears were groundless. He settled into the family and festivities as though he had known us for years. Peter took part in the ousting of Ida Amin, but he was killed in the troubles which followed the return of Obote. He left a wife (Catherine who he met in Jinja) and three small children. We are still in contact with Catherine - we are still her Mama and Papa and she springs to our aid if we are in trouble.

Both my husband and myself have been members of the Burma Star Association since the beginning. Only when we moved to Shropshire in 1980 did we become members of the Shropshire Branch. Here, I am the only woman member of a very lively Branch; I was given a very warm welcome and I am proud to march with the men on parade.

In 1995 for the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day, I marched with the men at the Buckingham Palace March. It was a most memorable experience - and for me the more memorable as just after we had passed and saluted Her Majesty - and with the crowds shouting and cheering all around us, there was a sudden cry of "GRANDMA!" from the left. It was taken up immediately by the rest of the crowd; and of course the cry had come from two of my grandsons.

(Note: A photograph of this event can be seen at A5476782, Part 2 of Leslie James' war story "MY WAR WITH THE FORGOTTEN ARMY".)

We marched again for VJ Day in 1996, my husband and I, at Brecon Cathedral. Here I had the extraordinary good fortune to meet with another QA Sister from Dacca; and not only from Dacca but from the same ward of 62 I.G.H.

In 2000 my story as a QA Sister in India was printed in the local paper the "Shropshire Star" and in the Journal of the Burma Star Association. A cutting from the paper was sent to the Chairman of "The Chindits Old Comrades Association" by a Mr Tom Instone, as a result of which I was made an "HONORARY CHINDIT, the first lady Chindit. I was sent a lapel badge and a letter of thanks to confirm this.

To mark the 60th Anniversary of VJ Day, Much Wenlock Museum mounted a VJ Exhibition. My story "A Nurse amid the Hell of War" as printed in the Shropshire Star and Dekko, the Journal of the Burma Star Association was displayed together with what I have left of my Queen Alexandra Nurse's uniform.

POSTSCRIPT: Peggy Fletcher's memories of being a member of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service were included in a radio broadcast to commemorate the part played by women in WW2. The programme was broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 2 on the 12th November, 2005 at 9.48 pm. During this broadcast Betty Boothroyd paid tribute to the seven million women who contributed to the war effort during the Second World War.

Story: This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Muriel Palmer (volunteer) of Age Concern Sgropshire Telford & Wrekin on behalf of Marjorie FLETCHER (author) and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understand the site's terms and conditions.

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