大象传媒

鈥淭his story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Bob Davis from the Burgess Hill Adult Education Centre and has been added to the website on behalf of Elsie Innes with her permission and she fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions鈥�

In 1940 I decided to join up, so I volunteered to join the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, as then I would be able to drive ambulances, which I would prefer.

We were stationed at various military camps in the southern command, doing the normal ambulance duties. I was stationed at Barton Stacey Camp (which was then full of Americans), asking for volunteers to go abroad if necessary. I volunteered, and was accepted.

Eventually about twenty ambulances and drivers were sent to Dover. We learned the layout of the docks, and routes to the various hospitals.
This was in preparation for ships being hit in the channel - Dover was being shelled at this time. We were billeted in Hythe, and saw the first Doodle bugs going over. We thought they were on fire! - but soon learned otherwise.

After D-Day, we were called to Swindon. The wounded were being flown over from France. We took the wounded from the plane to a clearing station for treatment. They were then taken to various hospitals, or to the Rail Head, to be sent round the country.

The next move was down to the New Forest - under canvas - until we were off to France. We sailed from Gosport on a Landing Craft. The sea was rough, and a lot of us were sick, or downstairs flat out. I stayed on top, and was fine until a soldier walked past with a billycan full of herrings in tomato sauce!

We were amazed when a Mulberry Harbour came in sight - it was so big!

Under canvas in Bayeux, as were a number of hospitals, we met the trains coming in at night. They were taking "stretchers" and "sitters" British and German - to hospitals, as detailed, for treatment.
Our duties during the day were to provide transport to the hospital ships on Mulberry. Bad cases were taken to an airstrip, to be flown home. Sometimes the ambulance became a hearse for burials. The cemetery is often seen on TV, and I would like to have gone back - not that I would have recognised any of the countryside - it was mostly flattened.

It was then on up to Amiens for a rest in a bombed out school, then finally on to Brussels, where we were billeted in a convent - Luxury!

Unfortunately, I was injured on the 19th January 1944. In hospital I was visited by my brothers, and by Montgomery, who was doing a tour.

I was flown home - the route I knew so well. Swindon to Newport in Wales by rail, and a milkfloat to Woolaston House - (an old Workhouse). The surgeon told my mother that I should never have been moved, and would have to lie on boards, not even sitting up for months. This was the end of my war!

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