Page 39 - QARANC Vol 19 No 1 2021

The Gazette QARANC Association 37
know what) to happen, until the all- clear was announced. These attacks became part of the nightly routine. SCUD missiles would be launched by Hussain’s regime and they would be taken out by the coalition forces. This became the normal, until one night the missiles headed our way, but fortunately one fell short into the sea and the other was destroyed before it reached the port, too close for comfort!
One morning after night duty, while sitting in the cookhouse having breakfast, I was reading a letter from my Nan describing her time in the Blitz. As I read, the air raid siren sounded; we exchanged knives and forks for respirators and NBC suits, and we put on our respirators and NBC suits and sat waiting for the all clear. I thought to myself then how used to this we have all become, just like my Nan in the Blitz.
We were starting to receive casualties from the conflict. Some of the most interesting patients we had were three Iraqi soldiers who had been injured and were POWs under our care. The orthopedic surgeon took these soldiers to theatre and repaired their injuries. I was called into these operations, not to assist but to delouse them. These men were lovely even though they could not speak English they were so grateful for all the care that they received from us. One, a farmer with a wife and six children, had been taken by Hussein’s Republican Army and had been in a trench since August. Below is the letter he wrote to us in gratitude (translated from Kurdish to English). Whilst we were nursing them, our next patient was a Republican Guard soldier. He was well nourished and we had to nurse him separately as other patients were very
frightened and angry with him.
Our time out in the Gulf was full of laughter and tears. Overall, 33 Field Hospital was a great place to be. Nothing beats the camaraderie of soldiers and the QAs, working as part of a team, from building our hospital, creating DIY equipment, to treating the
wounded.
As student nurses we felt scared
and untrained for this environment. We were sometimes treated as silly young girls by those who felt themselves ‘real soldiers; veterans of field hospitals’. We all did our bit, fulfilling what was asked of us, carrying out nursing duties beyond normal limits for student nurses. We
In makeshift air raid shelters
Birthday celebration in the Gulf
weren’t treated as students. I guess we forgot that we were. We experienced situations, events, sights and sounds that will live with us forever and most likely has paved the way to whom we have become today.
It is now 30 years ago since the Gulf conflict. Unbelievable! When I signed on the dotted line and received my £10, I never thought for one minute that my training would be suspended and I would go to war . I have so many memories of my time with 33 Field Hospital and I am very proud to have served with everyone out there.
Lance Corporal
Alexandra Waltham
Served in the QARANC 1988-1996 and as Private Alexandra Procter was a member of Student Nurse Group 3/88 (October 1988 – June 1992)
With grateful thanks to Colonel (Retd) Lorna Numbers and Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Merrill Bate for their advice and help.
Grateful letter of thanks from a soldier serving with the Iraq Army. Translated from Kurdish to English.