大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Deena Campbell from WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Arthur Musson and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Musson fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

One Saturday evening in September 1941 I had been riding home from Mary鈥檚 and woke up on the Tuesday in the General Hospital. ( No crash helmets then.) I found out afterwards that I had collided with a man who was a known drunkard and had been walking in the middle of Fosbrooke Road after spending the day in the pub. I n the blackout and with masked headlights he would have almost been invisible. Mary鈥檚 (my girlfriend) sister Jean found me unconscious in the gutter . She fetched her father and got an ambulance which had taken me to the General. Although I do not remember much of my stay in the hospital as I was unconscious or semi conscious for most of my stay there. Hospital stays were very different in those days with a Sister and Matron who were strict disciplinarians. Bed clothes were expected to be in place and look smart at all times without creases and tucked into it was like being in a straight jacket, bottles and bed pans were normal, no going to the toilet.

I was told that did not take too kindly to this regime and upset some of the nurses. After this experience I dreaded having to go into hospital again, which fortunately was not for another 50 years when conditions had completely changed and are possibly too relaxed in some areas.

On the Tuesday we were evacuated to Hodnet Hall in Shropshire travelling in converted Midland red buses. The bus suspensions were poor compared with today and lying on stretchers we had a very bumpy journey; evacuated so that they could deal with serious cases and to get as many patients as possible to safer places. I had a very pleasant stay at Hodnet of ten to fourteen days helping staff when possible, walking around the grounds and in the many greenhouses. I then managed to get a lift home with someone who was visiting a patient and who live din the Birmingham area.

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