´óÏó´«Ã½

Extract from Script of Broadcast "What War means to Me" on ´óÏó´«Ã½ North American Service 25th/26th April 1944.

Kent Stevenson interviewing Nursing Sister Michelle Carey (who did not wish to her name to be given for reaons which become clear in the script)

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M……..: First, after the evacuation of Dunkirk we were sent to one port — then another - - -
KENT: English ports, of course.
M……..: Yes. We had to move out of one because the hospital ship made it so clear where the bay was. We weren’t the target, but we made the bay one.
KENT: Oh, yes, I see. The clear markings of your hospital ship indicated where the harbour was.
M……..: Yes, so we had to move again. Finally, we settled down in a little west of England port. It was the first rest we’d had. But before then, something rather important had happened.
KENT: What was that?
M……..: It was in one of these ports where we’d been sent. I was on shore near the docks one day, when I saw a lot of children coming off a ship - - and I recognised their school uniforms. They were from Guernsey.
KENT: Your channel Island home?
M……..: That was the first notice I got of the evacuation of the Channel islands.
KENT: And your family were still there.
M……..: yes. I’d heard from them uninterruptedly until the Fall of France, and after that I’d been very worried. And this was a shock……
KENT: It must have been.
M……..: ------Seeing all these ships in the bay. Anyway, once again I had so much to do because the ship’s personnel asked for help in the evacuation. All the children had to be medically examined before they were admitted to England.
KENT: Did you know any of them?
M……..: I knew partically every second person who came along.
KENT: Did you get news of your own people.
M……..: I wangled a trip over to see them. The port authorities did that for me. They got me on a cargo ship. They arranged for me to be away from the hospital ship, too.
KENT: And were you able to be with your family.
M……..: For 12 hours. My father felt he couldn’t leave. He felt it was expected of him to say and mother wouldn’t leave him. So I came back — by cargo ship. And that’s why I don’t want my name mentioned - - because my parents are still in Guernsey — in enemy hands now.
KENT: Well, we respect your wishes, Do you hear from your parents?
M……..: I get letters through the British Red Cross. There’s no regularity at all. They take about 5 months to come across.
KENT: So you have that worry on top of anything else that may happen?
M……..: Yes.

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