大象传媒

This follows on after "A Few Memories" A 2301427

When all the patients had been rounded up after their VJ day partying,things got back to normal.The War might be over ,but the sick and wounded would continue to arrive from all parts of the world for some time to come.My Mother was to stay at Stoke Mandeville ,a long stay military hospital,for more than two years.I shall mention some of the sorts of people that came through my mothers ward.
People who had been prisoners of the Japanese.These were usually in a terrible state.Especially their finger nails.In later life my mother would actually faint at the sight of a torn finger nail-it brought it all back instantly.
My mother didn't have Concentration camp survivors as a rule,but she did have about 10 members of the Auschwitz Orchestra.Although civilians they were sent to a military hospital and placed in a side ward under armed guard.No unauthorised people in or out.A very difficult assignment.My mother never new why this was.
Then there was the French Lieutenent.de Ville.He was in the French army.He had been in Paris during the occupation doing something clandestine.He had had a very rough time.He stayed on my mothers ward for quite some time,and his wife was allowed to stay at the hospital with him.A very popular and ammusing man.Despite every effort he slowly faded away and died,to everyones sadness. I still have the expensive french hand bag his wife gave my mother as a remembrance.
A group of Morroccan Commandoes stayed for a while.One of them was a royal prince. He insisted on working in the kitchens doing various jobs including a lot of washing up. " This is wonderfull" he used to say " At home they won't let me do anything ".The Queen visited several times to see this man.When she asked about one of the other commandoes who had both his hands blown off " What will he be able to do when he gets home to Morrocco?" there was a shrug of the shoulders. The Queen looked upset.
Christmas 1946 and the patients on my mothers ward club together and get her a book for a present. They all sign it.To show what a mixed bunch they were I shall list their names:-
Lt de Velle RIP French Army
Lt Col Price RIP
Harry Howe Household Cavalry
Lt Russell
Cpt Oates (Chindits)
John Dearden
Lt Niel Hogg RN.
Major Alexander
Major W Ashby
D Gaskell
Donald Mac Donald
Lt Edward Massing
Capt Thomas
Commander Morley
Lt Shackleton
Sub Lt Kenneth Menzies RN
Flight Officer Peter Hyde
Bishop Ball
Capt Claste and Lewis
And the book they gave her was "Human Heredity" by Bauer Fischer und Lenz, first published by JF Lehmans in Munich in 1927.The very book the nazis used to develop their ideas of racial purity.What a memento. I only realised this last week when I was checking the names-I had always seen the book on the bookshelf ,but never looked at the title!!