大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Sue Sutton on behalf of Gertrude Crutchfield, the author and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understnads the site's terms and conditions.

I was working at The Salvation Army Mothers Hospital Clapton E5 when war was declared. I joined Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve and I was called up to No1 General Hospital, Heartly Plymouth on december 10th 1940 - this was a holding unit where we were prepared for service abroad. Topers had to be purchased - only indication of where we may be heading. We left Military Station on March 18th but due to many unforseen situations we finally sailed from Gourack Scotland in May 1941. I can not recall its exact date but six weeks later we disembarked at Port Suez in July after a long dirty journey left its train at Kantara East and by army trucks we were deposited about 4 miles along the road to our Tented Hospital and slept on our camp beds in tents for four nurses. The hospital was soon ready to receive patients many having been five days on a hospital train. This was befor the El Alamin battles and news was pretty grim retreating more than advancing. However gradual improvement and after 21/2 years the war having moved through Egypt to Italty I was posted to HMHS Tairea, suden luxury after the desert. From Barcelona SPain for repatriation of prisoners of war to Durban South Africa, India - Basna Naples and Anzio. So many memories - happy and sad - so many good friends and thanks for safe delivery from war.

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