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I was a nurse in South Wales when the war broke out.
The hospital (Glenealey TB Hospital Cardiff) was evacuated.
I then transferred to Leamington Spa for training and was there when Coventry was bombed, staying in a cottage with my sister and her baby.
A stray bomb was dropped and landed on the adjoining house.
However we managed to escape injury.

Later we left and moved to Stoke on Trent Infirmary.
I spent the remainder of the war there.
I did my general training and plastic surgery on victims from Japanese occupations.
Patients were sent home when fit and I travelled with one to his home in Brighton. He died later in Brighton Hospital.

After Stoke on Trent I came with my future husband to Leicester — he to commence his training and I did my Queens District Nursing. We lived in Leicester and did over 25 years of nursing together before retiring. During the 25 years we had 4 children who followed us into the profession.
I also did Residential Nursing for Deprived Children.

I received the Service Medal from the Queen District Nursing at Mansion House (Guidhall) in London and had an official inspection at Buckingham Palace.

‘This story was told to Pamela McGowan and submitted to the People’s War website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Doris Merritt and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.’

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