Page 33 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

The Gazette QARANC Association 33
hospital routines were taught and visits were made to other units of interest; inoculations and medical inspections were given, personal documentation was completed, uniform was issued.
The regimental aspect of the training involved daily drill sessions and physical training three times a week of twenty minutes duration. As with the rest of the army ‘spit and polish,’ proper barrack room order with numerous inspections were all part of the daily routine. Nurse training took place at the Preliminary Training School of the Depot where anatomy, physiology elementary nursing, hygiene, and first aid were taught.
Following training the incumbent was posted to a military hospital where she underwent further instruction for Nursing Orderly Class III, II, and I, the last being the Army Trained Nurse Certificate (AFC 344). The object of all this instruction was to gain State Registration. The training of the nursing orderly was now standardised and synchronised with the student nurse in civilian teaching hospitals.
Specialised training and qualifications could also be taken in Radiography (Woolwich), Laboratory Technicians (Millbank), Physiotherapy (Netley),
POP at QATC Hindhead
Clinical Clerks (Church Crookham) and Technical Store (Ludgershall). Senior nurses could return for instruction in administration, both elementary and advanced, to equip them for future promotions and administration appointments.
First Gazette produced on typewriter loaned to Association
On 1 February 1949 the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) became the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC). The former Matron-in-Chief of the QAIMNS, Dame Louisa Wilkinson, was instrumental in setting up the QARANC Association and the Gazette we are reading now.
In the first edition of the ‘Gazette’ (Volume 1, Number 1, January 1950), she wrote about the setting up of the structures to enable its publication:
“On the 11 October 1948, precisely, this Head Office was opened. Files and correspondence were transferred from A.M.D.4 War Office and work for the Association began in its own two very pleasant rooms in 20 John Islip Street, London. The windows face Marsham Street and look over the tops of the buildings to the Spire of Westminster Cathedral.
“With the help of kind friends, we
20 John Islip Street, London
have accumulated furnishings which succeed, we hope, in giving the office a homely impression to our visitors. For some weeks we did not possess a kettle so with the help of an electric immerser the water was boiled in the teapot for our coffee. On this first morning the coffee had a strong flavour of straw and was by no means agreeable to the eye or pallet.”
Collecting all necessary office equipment did not take long. Our big headache was buying a typewriter and a “kind friend” of the new Association loaned them his portable until one could be purchased for £18.
20 John Islip Street was the home for the military nurses at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank. The building is still in use, albeit these days by the Tate Gallery. You can still see the number 20 on the door, and ‘Sub Cruce Candida’ high up above the top bay window.
In the same edition of the ‘Gazette’ Dame Louisa Wilkinson also wrote about the formation of the new Corps:
“For the fourth time, yet another war behind us, we are going through a period of reorganisation, once again the experience gained, the lessons learned, are being used to help reconstruct the Nursing Service of the future.”
A photograph of Dame Louisa Wilkinson from the QARANC Association Heritage Collection
In 1950 the first non-commissioned ranks were admitted to the Corps, and in 1954 the first nurses to undertake State Registered Nurse training within the Corps successfully passed their examinations. The shape and structures of the new Corps were influenced by the experienced nurses serving at that time. In the same way the Association was also shaped by the likes of Dame Louisa Wilkinson and a committee of regular, reserve and retired military nurses.
So, both the Corps and the Association got off to a strong start which has helped sustain the last 75 years of service.
Lt Col (Retd) Keiron Spires QVRM TD Curator QARANC Association Heritage Collection