大象传媒

This story has been written to the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Mrs M L Beards. The story has been added to the site with her permission and Mrs Beards fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

It was Remembrance Day in 1937, and I was in church with my Father for the service. Only yards away was a young Coldstream Guard (from the local barracks) standing in the Lady Chapel to sound his bugle at the right time. All went well but I NEVER forgot. Thirteen months later, I left home to start my career in Nursing on the coast of East Anglia. In less than a year WWII was with us, and being a 鈥渞estricted鈥� area we had plenty of 鈥渨ar鈥� casualties - all the services.

In 1943, now trained, I entered the Ministry of Pensions Nursing Service at Roehampton, where 1st and 2nd World War casualties were cared for. Before D-Day in 1944, wards were built into the White Cliffs of Dover for the expected casualties and the air-vents are visible. On D-Day + 5 an order was issued 鈥淎ll amputations now to be sent direct to Wards K and M at Queen Mary鈥檚 Hospital, Roehampton鈥� (with the famous Limb Factories next to them).

I knew because by D-Day I was Charge Sister on Wards K and M - 80 beds with all young men, mostly around 19 years, all patients having lost limbs. Most of our staff had also been sent to the coastal area (and I knew of those IN the wards in the cliffs) so I had 5 陆 months NON-STOP hard work being the only person knowing how to care for these young men. After 5 days those able to travel 鈥渘earer home鈥� were moved, so my wards took more fresh young men. Here I must mention one, 鈥淏鈥�, who came in D-Day + 10, very ill 鈥� 鈥渃an鈥檛 live the night鈥� I was told. We pulled him through and now 60 years on I am STILL in touch 鈥� a lovely story!

While I was at Roehampton, I was involved when Mr (now Sir) Archibald McKindoe really started with the 鈥楪uinea Pigs鈥�, before he knew that 鈥榚xtra鈥� was needed, so he was able to move to East Grinstead. My friend worked on his ward, and I vividly remember her taking three 鈥榖oys鈥� out on the bus to the pictures in Hammersmith, then for a cup of tea in a caf茅, and then back on the bus. So many memories - those 鈥榩edicles鈥� (to grow new tissue with which to build new features) and the 鈥榮aline baths鈥� used as treatment. I was at school in Surrey, only a few miles away from East Grinstead, a lovely quiet 鈥榗ountry鈥� town, so, of course, the 鈥榥eighbours鈥� were made welcome.

Later, at Stoke Mandeville, I had the 3rd ward opened for paraplegics; at Newquay three hotels as 鈥榗onvalescent鈥� homes, and then the Musgrove Park at Taunton, a hotted hospital for the U.S. servicemen. Of course, I 鈥榣ost鈥� many and so Remembrance and the Bugle calls have been all part of my life. I also married a paraplegic patient, who died in 1971, when I became a 1st year member of the War Widows Association, and each year I go to London for Remembrance week and 鈥榦ur鈥� two Special Services.

Of course, I listened to many 鈥渓ast words鈥� from those we could not save, but although I know, I NEVER will tell of their horrors. I also learned from others who pulled through, but as I was doing 鈥榙ressings鈥� I would say 鈥淔orget what I am doing 鈥� just get something off your chest; I will never repeat what you say鈥�. Now I know, that is the best way to avoid 鈥楥ombat Stress鈥� 鈥� the new way of saying 鈥榤ental problems鈥� - for those in 鈥榟orror鈥� conditions!

When 4 years ago, I went on the Channel Ferry and I watched those 鈥榳hite cliffs鈥� all the time, I noticed they looked greenish 鈥� the storms and weather had gone down the 鈥渧ent鈥� holes, and so being, chalk organisms had grown! I was there, but I also know that even the top officers in today鈥檚 service (RAF and Light Infantry I spoke to) had NO idea of this.

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