Page 39 - QARANC Vol 18 No 1 2020

BMH
Munster
Reunion
Having wanted to go back to one of my favourite posting for years, in January 2019 I decided to put the wheels in motion and with the wonders of Facebook, I created a reunion page. In November 2019, 16 of us, by land sea and air descended on Munster, a place where I last served in 1968. I went by car from Dover to Dunkirk, picking up two fellow QAs en-route. We chose Dunkirk as we wanted to visit the War Memorial and pay our respects to the fallen. Wearing our berets and armed with poppy crosses supplied by Diane Boisson, we laid a cross at the headstones of members of the RAMC and said a payer for all those who gave their lives for our freedom.
It was then on to our destination of Munster where we had rented a house. Our host greeted us warmly. I wonder if someone had forewarned her! The fridge was full of beer and a bottle of Prosecco and wine. Evening sorted!
The next day we met up in town where old and new friends came together over lunch to reminisce over our time spent at the BMH. November/ December was also chosen because of the Christmas markets. We all enjoyed the markets and the glühwein, the schnitzels and the currywurst mit pommes. The taste and smells took us all back to our youth.
Sunday saw more people arrive and the long awaited visit to the grounds of BMH Munster. After a walk round the grounds reliving our days we proudly donned our berets for a group photo
Jan Foster and colleagues at the Dunkirk Memorial
Enjoying glühwein at Munster Christmas market
in front of the main entrance to the hospital. Most of the buildings remain the same but others like the male accommodation and the path lab have gone, replaced by modern architecture. We then walked into Gievenbeck along the BFT route, which brought back bad vibes for some.
The ice cream parlour was still there, though not used as that in the winter months. It is now run by the owner’s daughter who was happy to talk to us. Her father used to tell her stories of the ‘Army people’ who would visit.
A small group of us went to Oxford Barracks, and a couple of RAMC personnel including my husband had been posted there. The buildings are still there, but stand empty.
The group outside the front entrance to the old BMH
The visit to Munster was an emotional journey for some of us. We laughed and cried, met up with friends we hadn’t seen for over 30 years and made new ones. They say you should never look back, but when you have nothing but happy memories, why not? It just reinforced to me that you should live life to the full. Standing on those steps outside the BMH I wondered where the years had gone. It felt like it was just the beginning but I blinked and 40 years had flown by.
Make memories while you can, plan adventures. Don’t wait until tomorrow.
Jan Foster
The ice cream parlour in Gievenbeck – good memories for all!
The Gazette QARANC Association 37