- Contributed byÌý
- Genevieve
- People in story:Ìý
- Mrs. Gwyneth Jones
- Location of story:Ìý
- India, Britain
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A7303862
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 26 November 2005
War-time memories of my time in India as a Nursing Sister in the Queen Alexandria’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve.
April 1943 to June 1946
The Return Journey
Our next destination was Calcutta- this meant a train journey lasting three days. We then boarded the ‘Georgic’, a large ship, recently repaired after war damage. The return journey took two weeks as we took the short cut through the Suez Canal. Incidentally no liquor was allowed on this journey, as apposed to the outward journey when there was no limit.
We landed in Liverpool and after normal procedure, travelled to a military hospital in Southhampton. From there we were sent to a hospital in Chester, where I nursed Italian patients (prisoners of war). After approximately one month we were sent to Ashton under Lyme, where we were finally demobbed.
The three years I spent in India were an important part of my life, one that I shall never forget. With increasing age memory often fails me so there are many incidents that are forgotten.
You may wonder if I was conscious of the political changes which were taking place at that time. I was absorbed in my work and I had to contend with strange conditions, including the extreme heat which was almost unbearable sometimes that I could not get involved. Of course I was interested in hearing about Gandhi and the presence of Lord Louis Mountbatten. I remember being conscious of the change in the attitude of some of the Indians towards the British and Americans- their respect seemed to be changing to dislike. I must admit I had no personal experience of this.
Perhaps I would have shown greater interest had I known of the momentous change that was taking place then and afterwards.
This story was submitted to the People's War site by Sian Roberts of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Mrs. Gwyneth Jones and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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