Page 15 - QARANC Vol 14 No 13 2016

Defence Medical Group (South) – QARANC Corps Day 2016
This year we celebrated QA Corps day on Sunday 3 March, at Christ Church Portsdown in Portsmouth. In attendance were the QA Colonel Commandant, Col Bush, and DMG(S) DOCN, Maj Ritsperis, accompanied by members of the QA Association and serving personal from DMG(S), 33 Fd Hosp and Portsmouth Detachment 243 Fd Hosp.
Revd Andy Wilson conducted the Service, with Ptes Rai, Fitch and Kariuki delivering meaningful readings which, along with the hymns, had been chosen for the event to denote courage and moral values.
Once the service inside the church was completed, we moved outside to the grave of Staff Nurse Bridget Donovan, in order to pay our respects on the 100 year anniversary of her death. All in attendance gathered around the headstone for a moment’s silence, and to witness the wreath being laid by Sgt Owen.
Bridget enlisted into Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve on 12 November 1915. She was posted to Alexandra Military Hospital at Cosham, which was
under extreme pressure at that time, dealing not only with casualties from the front line, but also those affected by an outbreak of Cerebral-Spinal Fever. It is sad to note that she only served at that hospital for a few short months before she died on 3 April 1916 after contracting the fever; she had lost her life doing her patriotic duty.
After paying our respects in the military cemetery, the congregation moved into the church hall where refreshments were served. This gave the local parishioners the opportunity to regale some of their past military experiences. Following this, service personnel and some QA Association members then transferred to HMS Nelson, where we were served a buffet in the Senior Ranks’ Mess. Here Association members had a chance to catch up and mingle with each other and serving members. The funding for this was kindly provided by the QA Association fund.
Pte Tolfrey HCA, DMGS
THE GAZETTE QARANC 13
QARANC History Update
In the Company of Nurses –
The History of the British Army Nursing Service in the Great War
In the spring edition of The Gazette 2015 (Volume 14 Number 10) the book ‘In the Company of Nurses – The History of the British Army Nursing Service in the Great War’ by Dr Yvonne McEwan was reviewed. Due to the success of this book, work on the second edition is being undertaken by Yvonne which is anticipated to be published by Edinburgh University Press in 2017.
Yvonne has been a supporter of the QARANC over recent years and has been keen to promote our story and history wherever able. She attended last years Symposium where you may recall she delivered an interesting and thought- provoking presentation with Cpl Pounder QARANC.
Due to other commitments Yvonne has expressed a wish not to continue her work with our Corps but recorded that the members and their history will always have a very, very special place in her heart and thoughts and she wished the Corps well.
Our thanks are warmly extended to Dr Yvonne McEwan for her work in support of the Corps and Association and we wish her well in the future.
Copies of the First Edition (ISBN 978-0-7486-7911-9) are available to Association Members from the QARANC Regimental Secretary at a cost of £15.00 plus £5.00 post and packing.