- Contributed byÌý
- Jenni Waugh
- People in story:Ìý
- Nuns of the Convent of the Sacred Heart
- Location of story:Ìý
- London
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A6478149
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 28 October 2005
The image attached to this story cannot be viewed for moderation or technical reasons
SISTERS OF MERCY SHOW WOMEN OF BRITAIN HOW TO FIGHT ‘FIRE BOMB FRITZ’
Determined looking nuns shown here didn’t wait for the Women’s Fire Guard Conscription Order. Long before Herbert Morrison made Fire Guard duty compulsory for women between 20 and 45 these stalwart sisters of the Sacred Heart were getting out their buckets and stirrup pumps, putting tin hats on their headdresses and practicing fire-bomb fighting with most un-nun-like aggressiveness.
Their bomb-scarred convent buildings stand as a constant reminder that they were once caught unprepared. The experience has made them determined not to be caught out again.
Not only have they invited Fire Guard instructors to help them, they’ve summoned first-aid experts too. Not only have they learned when to use the spray and when the jet (Mother Superior finds the spray useful for the convent allotment), they’ve been taught also when to use the firemen’s lift and when to employ the two handed seat; when to suspect internal haemorrhage, how to locate a fracture.
All this, plus bandaging and artificial respiration, splint-setting and bomb snuffing, has been included in this special CD ‘toughening’ course at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. The nuns have proved themselves apt pupils. Their spirit and enthusiasm should be an inspiration to every woman in the country.
[Transcribed from an article in ‘The Leader’, 19 September 1942]
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo