Page 13 - QARANC Vol 14 No 11 2015

THE GAZETTE QARANC 11
the people of Sierra Leone, so I organised a half marathon and a marathon whilst out there to raise money for St Georges Foundation (A charity that runs an orphanage for the children who have lost their parents to Ebola). Due to my efforts I was awarded a Commanders Commendation. The Commander’s Commendation Award is given for outstanding duty performance where achievements and services are clearly and unmistakably exceptional when compared to similar achievements and service of members of like rank and responsibility.
I was also chosen by Lt Col McCourt to attend Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea with the HRH Countess of Wessex. This made me feel truly humbled and honoured; I was
thanked for my help during the mission and discussed some of the difficult issues that arrived. I also got a tour of the inside of the Palace’s state rooms, again another unforgettable experience. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life, and has already reshaped the way I see my future. I would without a second thought deploy if asked again by the Army Medical Services and would like to thank my Unit 207 Field Hospital for the support and help to get me through all the training and back to normality so that I can tell the tale of my exceptional experiences.
Cpl Rachel Falconer 207 Fd Hosp
QARANC Turning the Pages – National Memorial Arboretum – 3 June 2015
On Wednesday 3rd of June 2015, I, Pte Hagenbuch was very privileged to attend to the QARANC Turning of the Pages Ceremony held at the National Memorial Arboretum. With me were a couple of my fellow student nurses and members of staff from DSHE at Birmingham
City University.
Despite negotiating rather dicey traffic we arrived with plenty of time to spare before the service started, so, we all brushed down our uniforms, straightened our forage caps and headed off to the National Arboretum visitors centre to the QARANC assembling point. After gulping down a revitalizing cup of coffee and a quick chat with other members of the QARANC we were then beckoned by the Padre to start making our way down to the QARANC memorial. This short walk through the gardens to the memorial was in its self very evocative. The sun was shining, the lawns beautifully kept and we were able to see glimpses of the many memorials that are dotted throughout the ground. This all created an atmosphere of great serenity and calm which I found surprising given the history behind the memorials and I found myself feeling very proud to be there. Once we were all assembled and seated in front of the QARANC memorial the service began. There
was small gathering of around 50 QA’s past and present which gave the service an intimate and humbling feel which was befitting to the surroundings and the occasion. During the service two pages from the QARANC Memorial Book
were read out by Capt R Bond & WO2 P Clark from 203 (Welsh) Fld Hosp, a wreath was laid and the Corps Collect was said whilst unbroken sunshine shone over us.
After the service we were invited back to the National Arboretum centre where members of staff there had generously put on lunch for us one of the marquees in one of the gardens. The lunch was kindly paid for by the QARANC Association.
As one of the student nurses and new to the QARANC it was such a lovely opportunity to become better acquainted with other members of the Corps. After lunch I was able to able to have a wander round the Armed Forces Memorial. The memorial is a mesmerising piece of architecture comprising of a large stone structure listing many hundreds of names of those honoured there, you feel like you could stay there for hours reflecting, however............ ......we needed to be getting back to Birmingham.
Pte Hagenbuch Student Nurse