Page 32 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

32 The Gazette QARANC Association
THE QARANC AT 75
History in
the making
The Gazette has teamed up with the Museum of Military Medicine in Aldershot to chart the history of our Corps and Association, from 1949 to the present day.
Given the significant role of the Women’s Services during the Second World War, there was government support in the aftermath of the conflict to “raise and maintain forces consisting of or including women” and that they “may be granted and may hold commissions to serve as officers therein.”
With the passing of the Army and Air Force (Women’s Services) Act in 1948, changes to two women’s Services were announced by the War Office on 17 January 1949 to the effect that they were to be constituted into Corps. The ATS became the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) in the Regular and Territorial Armies, and the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service became the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) from 1 February 1949.
The new Corps carried over the motto “Sub Cruce Candida” and the cross of the Order of Dannebrog from its Service days. Short service commissions of two, three, or four years were granted as an interim measure pending the build-up of the Corps to its peacetime establishment. Candidates were required to be British subjects with British parentage, and on the general register of the General Nursing Council. The new walking out uniforms were like the new WRAC design but carried out in grey and scarlet. It took nearly two months to find suitable uniforms due to some of the earlier designs by leading dress designers being rejected on the grounds that they were “too glamorous”!
Look, this what we’re here to do, to save lives, you’ve been trained to do it, so just focus on doing that
General Eisenhower 1944
In July 1950 the first non-commissioned ranks were admitted to the Corps, with Pte A Catherall becoming No. 0/100001. In October 1951 the first QARANC Other Ranks were drafted outside of the UK, at BMH Iserlohn.
The first Director Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief (Army) for the new Corps was Brigadier Dame Anne Thomson DBE, RRC, KHNS, from 1949 to 1952, while Queen Mary was the first Colonel-in-Chief and Patron of the Association.
Training at Hindhead
The Depot and Training Centre was created in 1944 and was sited at the Army School of Health at Mytchett immediately prior to its move to Ontario Camp, Hindhead, in February 1950. The official opening was on 13 September 1950. Its function expanded to include four sections: basic and administration training, holding and drafting, nurse training, and Head Quarters Staff.
The training programme lasted three months. The recruit was taught a basic course on how to fit into the army structure and to approach military nursing with an assured understanding of the background of her patient in her particular role as of officer and nurse; every aspect of army life, methods, regulations, organisations and administration was explained;
Cyprus
Millbank 1954-60