Page 43 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

The Gazette QARANC Association 41
beach via the exit route used in 1944. This exercise started at 0430 hours in order to get her on the beach with the 250+ other WW2 vehicles, before the tide turned. It was very emotional driving her onto the beach and forming up with the mass of other vehicles. We were thinking about her role in 1944 as she picked up casualties and returned them via the Mulberry Harbour to transfer casualties onto hospital ships. She would then return to the battle along with a resupply of stretchers and medical equipment to pick up more casualties. She would also have carried our courageous soldiers who didn’t make it, to be buried in our well looked after Commonwealth War Grave Commission Cemeteries. We also reflected on two of our nurses who died as heroines, as they returned to their sinking hospital ship from their
life boat, to rescue non ambulatory patients from their sinking ship. After rescuing 75 souls they went back for more, but sadly went down with the ship. We found their names at Bayeux Cemetery.
We also had a secondary mission commemorating the 70th year of the formation of our Corps – and flew our flag, where ever we travelled.
Thanks to everyone for your interest, and helping to make it a memorable pilgrimage, and especially the generosity of those who contributed to some of the costs for this venture – especially the QARANC Association.
Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ MilitaryMedicalHistory/
Major (Retd) Alan Taberner Major (Retd) Linda Taberner
‘Joan’ centre with Alan in the foreground, joining over 250 vintage military vehicles to commemorate D-Day
The Museum of Military Medicine
In 2016 the Museum of Military Medicine (MMM) embarked upon an ambitious transformation programme as part of a longer-term project to relocate the museum from Keogh Barracks, near Aldershot, to Cardiff, in South Wales, by the end of 2022. In addition to designing a new museum facility in Cardiff, all aspects of the Museum’s operations and governance have been revisited with a view to transforming MMM from a supported regimental collection to a self-sustaining cultural and innovation enterprise.
Previously the museum was investigating a site on the junction of Hemingway Road with Lloyd George Avenue, but in April 2018 Cardiff Council suggested an alternative site on Britannia Quay, opposite the Norwegian Church on Harbour Drive. The new location has enabled the museum to reconsider the facility as a new paradigm in visitor attractions, offering a world class visitor experience and well as being a centre for research, innovation and leadership. While it will retain the museum’s unique collections and archives at its core, the new facility will engage audiences through immersive and interactive displays, and with academic partners will explore medical innovation and its
Jason Semmens Director of the Museum of Military Medicine
application as well as offer leadership and management programmes. In addition, MMM has established international partnerships in Linz and Copenhagen with the aim of bringing the Deep Space 8K facility to Cardiff and a biennial medical innovation festival.
Designed by international architects Scott Brownrigg, the building on Britannia Quay will enable MMM to refocus its offer, using the collections and digital technology to explore innovations in trauma medicine during
conflict and healthcare management in humanitarian relief and how these health benefits accrued from military medicine have contributed to the wellbeing and general health benefit of civilian populations globally.
MMM has agreed the site purchase with Cardiff Council and has submitted a planning application, both of which will have been completed by the end of 2019. Academic and business partnerships currently in development will bring new revenue streams online in 2020. To realise the sums required for the project, MMM is submitting an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in October 2019 and will be engaging with the Wellcome Trust during the autumn. In addition, MMM is currently exploring options for investment from a number of sources.
In the meantime, several travelling exhibitions are being planned for 2020 and 2021, which will promote the work of the AMS corps, including QARANC, and an active public engagement programme featuring serving personnel, academics, and medical practitioners, is being developed.
Jason Semmens
Director Museum of Military Medicine