Page 35 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

The Gazette QARANC Association 35
provide nursing care in Port Stanley at the King Edward VII hospital. However, when they first arrived a lack of accommodation in Port Stanley meant the nurses spent the first two months on board the ships they arrived on. The 14 QAs were led by their Matron, Major Margaret Nesbitt.
Throughout this period the QARANC Association continued to provide Benevolence support to retired nurses, and worked with the Red Cross, Royal British Legion, SSAFA, the Forces Help Society and the Army Benevolent Fund.
During the 1990s, the UK found itself providing nursing aid in other global conflicts, notably the Gulf War, where a considerable number of personnel were deployed to an active war zone. Although the conflict was brief, it concluded with military hospitals in Saudi Arabia having treated thousands of patients. The initial deployment saw two Corps officers, moving to Saudi Arabia as part of a tri-service team aimed at reinforcing the nursing staff at the Saudi Arabian Military Hospital in Dharan. In September, 22 Field Hospital followed suit. In October 1990, the personnel from the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot were activated, forming 33 Field Hospital, and stationed at Al Jubayal. Simultaneously, BMH Hannover mobilized 33 Field Hospital, and the UK hospital deployment concluded with the involvement of 205 (Scottish) General Hospital, a TA unit.
And the Cambridge Military Hospital which had opened in 1879 and found its fame as a centre for plastic surgery under the work of Harold Gillies finally closing its doors in 1996. The hospital had a long- established history of serving personnel and the local population.
Male Nurses in the QARANC
The charter for the QAIMNS stated that “suitably qualified soldier nurses could be admitted to this new service.” This meant that male nurses had to complete a three-year training programme and pass the final examination for the Army Trained Nurse Certificate (AFC 344). They had also to be recommended by their Primary Medical Officer, Commanding Officer and by the Matron. Once accepted, the nurse was entitled to wear the cape badge of the QAIMNS (in bronze rather than silver as given to women) on his right chest, though he was still officially badged RAMC.
With the change from Nursing Service to Corps in 1949, the QARANC was given its own identity and rank structure
Ex Nightingale
While male nursing orderlies were able to join the QAIMNS, the men were not able to progress far in their careers. Once he attained the rank of sergeant, the male nurse had to relinquish the badge, an allowance of 6d per day, and membership of the QAIMNS.
With the change from Nursing Service to Corps in 1949, the QARANC was given its own identity and rank structure. Male nurses remained as non- commissioned officers while their female colleagues were granted officer status, with enhanced pay and pension rights.
While some efforts were made to improve this situation in the early 1970s, it was not until the end of the Cold War, with defence cuts and rationalisation, that it was recognised that there was a duplication of effort and cost in having identical ‘trades’ spread across various military bodies. Out of this came the decision to transfer non-nursing officers and clerical staff from the QARANC to the RAMC, and in return male nurses were rebadged from the RAMC to the QARANC. This transfer took effect in 1992.
The rearrangement secured identical terms of service for men and women, and it meant that the QARANC became a fully integrated nursing Corps.
Falklands 1985
QARANC training 1980s