Page 50 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

48 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Mrs Eileen Murdock
Mrs Eileen Murdock (Clare, nee Willis) passed away on 13 December 2017 at Portavogie, Co. Down. Eileen hailed from Belfast but before joining the QARANC worked at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Whilst in the QARANC she served in Hong Kong as an SEN and her photograph appeared in an Army Calendar and in recruiting photographs.
We originally met when she joined
the Belfast Recruiting Office in 1969 and served at the height of the troubles. There were at times four bomb scares a week which meant vacating the office which was bombed three times before eventually being moved into Palace Barracks, Holywood
Eileen left the QARANC in the late seventies with the rank of Sergeant having completed 12 years. Before retirement she nursed at the Marie Curie
Hospice in Belfast. She is survived by her son David and his family who live in England, her husband being deceased previously. Donations were to the Portaferry Life Boat Association or the Salvation Army. Eileen was a much- respected nurse and a loyal friend who helped the underdog.
Carol Edwards, ex WRAC
Major (Retd) Betty Terry BEM 1925 – 2018
It is with sadness that Scottish Branch announce the death of Betty Terry. Betty died peacefully at her care home in Dalgety Bay on 27 August 2018 at the age of 92 years.
For many years she was a stalwart member of the Branch. With her friend, the late Colonel May Litherland in the Chair, Betty was Branch Secretary for 31 years and ran the Branch with great efficiency and enthusiasm. After her retirement from the committee she continued to support the Branch for as long as she was fit enough to travel by car from her home in Dunfermline.
Betty was not Scottish by birth but moved north when she was eight years old with her parents and younger sister at the time when her father took up employment at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Rosyth. In 1944 she joined the Auxillary Territorial Service (ATS) and drove an ambulance until the end of the war. After returning to civilian life, she later enlisted in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps to commence student nurse training.
Betty was always proud of her service in the QAs. In 1953
she received the Coronation medal and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) later that year. In 1955 she was commissioned and served worldwide as a Nursing Officer mainly in the operating theatre. She was promoted to Major in 1967 and later was posted to Edinburgh as Matron of the Medical Reception Station.
When her elderly father was in frail health, she had to make the decision to retire from the Corps and return home to Dunfermline although she took up employment as an Army Careers Officer (ACO2) in Rutland Square, Edinburgh. When I was posted to Scotland as Women’s’ Services Liaison Officer, it was here that I first met Betty and got my introduction to Scottish Branch.
Following her final retirement in 1986 she still kept busy. As well as the QA Association she supported other service charities and her church in Rosyth. A large gathering of friends attended her funeral in St. Margaret’s Church Rosyth and the Branch was well represented.
Laura Murray
Last Post
Maria BELL died June 2018. Served in Malaya, Hong Kong, Rinteln and Northern Ireland.
Miss Marjorie BRADLEY died 6 September 2018, aged 98 years.
Mrs Mary Elena GARDNER (nee Lowney), born 1920, died 2018.
Margaret E GIFFORD Ex-QAIMNS born 13 August 1918 died 29 April 2018.
Irene Caroline GOMERSAL (neé Joyce) 21 October 2018, aged 98.
Jennifer JONES (nee Beer) QARANC 1968-1974 died 3 November 2018.
Eileen MURDOCK (nee Willis) died 13 December 2017.
Isobel (McAlpine) STEWART Ex Captain QARANC 1957-1961 died 2 November 2018.
Major (Retd) Betty TERRY died 27 August 2018. Secretary of the Scottish Branch for 30 years.