Page 11 - QARANC Vol 16 No 2 2018

Corporal Sophie Mayers at a memorial on Omaha beach
Finally, we concluded the Battlefield Study with visits to Pointe du Hoc and the Merville Gun Battery; again, both were significant to the success of Operation Overlord. Pointe du Hoc was attacked and captured by American Rangers. This was important as the Germans had sited anti-aircraft guns there overlooking the English Channel. Furthermore, the Merville Gun Battery was taken for similar reasons as it had heavy calibre guns that were a threat to second and third wave landings on Sword Beach
The Battlefield Study was both educational and thought- provoking. For Lance Corporal Hindley it produced many highlights. Her highlight was sitting on top of a casement at Point du Hoc overlooking the English Channel. She sat there in silence for nearly 40 minutes accompanied by Corporal Alex Riley and Corporal John Mullen, two of her closest friends. Here they contemplated the scale of the D-Day Landings and they were free to think about all they had learnt during the week.
Feelings of a heavy heart were present when the group visited both Ranville and the American memorial cemetery and goose bumps arose when the US military bugle call TAPs rang out as the US flag was lowered at the end of the day.
*unusually modified tanks
Major Alistair Bond
Unit Press Officer
208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital
Please note this article has been edited – Ed.
Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service
On 9 May 2018 the annual Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service was held in Westminster Abbey. It is held on or as near as possible to her birthday, 12 May, and also celebrates all that is good about nursing on International Nurses’ Day.
Major Jenkins, Major Hodge,
Sergeant Willis, Sergeant Pepper
and Corporal Dodd from the
QARANC at 4 Armoured Medical
Regiment travelled up to London
to meet John Lamont, MP, in the
Houses of Parliament for a tour
prior to the service. We sat in the
House of Commons and listened to
a couple of debates, before taking
in all the splendour of the palace, and then went down to Westminster Hall and into the ‘hidden’ chapel. The décor was breathtaking, with lots of hidden secrets. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside, so a guided tour is the only way to appreciate the art first-hand. To finish the experience, we had an ice cream in the MPs’ private balcony looking over the River Thames and the London Eye.
After the fabulous guided tour, we had a quick change- parade into our number 2s, and walked over to Westminster Abbey, for the ceremony. On our short walk to the Abbey it was apparent just how important this day was to so many people. Nurses turned up incredibly proud in their different uniforms, whether they had finished their career 20 years ago or were still going through university.
The service commenced; hymns were sung in between readings from a selection of nurses, university lecturers and Chelsea Pensioners. This was followed by the procession of the lamp. Every person in the Abbey came to remember all those who nursed before us, and we believe we want to continue to make a difference for those in need. The service will continue to bring nurses and healthcare assistants together for years to come.
Corporal Dodd QARANC
THE GAZETTE QARANC 9
Peter Carter (previous General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing) asked Major Hodge to pin on his OBE (also note the QARANC tie!)
The team with John Lamont MP (Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) who also happens to be Major Hodge’s cousin!
Donations to the QARANC Association
The Association is very grateful to those members, relatives and friends who have made donations to its funds in the period January to June 2018. These include legacies, funeral service donations and donations made by individuals in memory of deceased members. Details can be obtained from the General Secretary at RHQ.