Page 49 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

The Gazette QARANC Association 49
‘Cheered on by
Dutch version of The
Proclaimers 500 Miles’
Cpl Ryan Latto gives his account of the Nijmegen Marches.
Raising money for Hounds for Heroes, our team of 12 medical personnel from Joint Hospital Group (South) in Portsmouth; including Army QARANC, Navy QARNNS, Air Force PMRAFNS nurses, and an Army biomedical scientist, attempted the famous four-day march.
With help from the QARANC Association, our Portsmouth team, laden with zinc-oxide tape, compeed, dual-skin socks, and a hefty dose of grit and determination, began their training in early 2024.
It started with short walks around the base at HMS Excellent, stretching out to full 40km marches in the surrounding area of Portsea Island, culminating in the trial marches at RAF Cosford in April. Each step was felt beneath weighted daysacks, with male participants carrying the expected 10kg plus water and provisions, and female marchers carrying all their necessities. With sore backs, buckled knees, and spirits high, the team from JHG(S) powered on.
The lights beamed on at 0300 in Austria, accompanied by a Eurovision-style song that blared throughout the camp. The opening words “Wake up, let’s get started. Keep on walking and we’ll never stop” were a humorous annoyance. As the sun rose over Nijmegen, the marches took us out over the Waalburg Bridge, famous for the Allied invasion during Operation Market Garden, we set off into the outskirts of the city and through the country towns and villages.
Almost every household enroute had a party erupting on their front lawns. Families and friends gathered, beer and wine in hand, blasting their favourite Dutch techno from loud speakers. There were remixes of Let it Be, Sweet Caroline, and my personal favourite, the Dutch language version of The Proclaimers 500 Miles.
This was the routine over the next four days. Early start, march out of the bustling city, greeted by thousands of early-rising Dutch cheering us on our way. One step after another, and over the ensuing days we finally found ourselves at the last 5km from the centre of Nijmegen.
Although we felt every one of the 173 kilometres we had trudged, the last stretch was one to remember. Thousands poured onto the streets, high-fiving, hugging, kissing, and applauding us. They handed us out gladioli flowers, beautiful long-stemmed plants with upright-fans of orange and yellow. A national symbol of victory since Roman times, and closely associated with the allied takeover of Nijmegen in September 1944.
We carried with us a sense of pride for what we had achieved and, overcoming mind, body and spirit to make those last few kilometres and finally complete the 104th Nijmegen Marches.
Almost every household enroute
had a party erupting on their front lawns
After three years’ study, a chance to let their hair down
Members of the Department of Allied Healthcare Professionals and Nursing Education (DANE) cohort celebrated receiving their Nursing degrees after three years of hard work at Birmingham City University.
The 09/21 cohort organised and hosted the evening at The High Field Studio, Edgbaston to commemorate their achievements and farewell and good luck to friends made over the course of their studies. They will start new units in September and begin their careers as Qualified Military Nurses.
The cohort includes a mix of adult nursing and mental health nurses from the three
services. Funding was
provided by the QARANC
Association to help the nurses celebrate.
Cpl Hannah Perkin