Page 31 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

THE GAZETTE QARANC 29
16 Medical Regiment QARANC Association Corps Day 6th April 2014
On Sunday 6th April 2014, members of the QARANC from 16 Medical Regiment travelled to London for the Corps Day Church Service in the Chapel of The Royal Hospital Chelsea followed by the Milbank Branch AGM and lunch at the Reserve Centre 256 Field Hospital London.
The journey started early as we were travelling from Colchester (16 Medical Regiment) to the heart of London. On arrival at the Chapel, we were welcomed with pleasant smiles by the members from the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Milbank branch. To our very surprise it was also a pleasure to see a very familiar figure Col Bates, the Director of Army Nursing Service (DANS) in the midst who was even more pleased to see Regular members from 16 Medical Regiment in attendance for the Corps Day Service in support of our ex- service personnel.
However, it did not take long before the RSM of the Royal Hospital Chelsea approached Capt Jones and kindly requested for us to take part in a parade inspection together with the members of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It was an offer we could not refuse even though we were not pre- warned that we were to take part within such a short notice. We had to prove ourselves that we are ever ready as part of the Regular Army. With that we were briefed about the order of March and we took our positions as ordered. It was a proud moment especially for me and a privilege to be part of this event that enabled dialogue between Regular Service personnel and those who served in the past to mark such an event which only happens once a year.
The parade was followed by a church service which started by the harmonious singing from the church choir and the echoes from the singing made the atmosphere more lively for those who attendant. It was a very special occasion that was attended by Veterans, Regular and Reserve members of the QARANC and friends and families who mark this day as a very important one for the contribution of the members of
the military to our modern society as reported by one of the visiting relative I spoke to who said she attempts to attend the Corps Day every year.
At the end of the church service, we dispersed for lunch and those who could attend made their way to the 256 Field Hospital Reserve centre were we had lunch and drinks. I had an opportunity to chat to a few members of the QARANC Association Milbank branch veterans about their nursing experience during the time they served. I got varying answers. Some said there had been developments in the nursing profession in terms of the science, interactions with other caring professions leading to the modern day combat nurses whose role is equipped with a vast knowledge and better equipment that has enhanced their role by enabling them to be closer to the forefront to give life serving treatment to some horrific injuries.
Even though they said nursing was now different from the time they served I was intrigued by their commitment to care and concern for each other after retirement from the service. I discovered that it was in their nature to care even though they spent most of their time caring for frontline soldiers it was now their time to care for each other. As part of caring these members of the QARANC Association spent time helping those members of the profession who are isolated from relatives and friends following retirement age and also due to illness.
Points to take from here are that it is important to attend the Corps Day in a branch near your unit there is a great wealth of knowledge out there that you can get from just meeting people and through sharing knowledge you can see how much you can get from the world of military nursing. More importantly you can make a difference by just being in company of someone who shares a common interest in what you do in the nursing profession.
Cpl Regis Nhara, 23 Sqn, 16 Medical Regiment