Page 19 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

THE GAZETTE QARANC 17
Lancers and George Price of the Canadian Infantry. Ellison and Price were killed on 11 November 1918, and are believed to be the last Commonwealth combat casualties of the war in Europe. There are 229 Commonwealth and 284 German servicemen buried or commemorated at St Symphorien, of whom 105 remain unidentified. It is surrounded by countryside peace and quiet, a most fitting resting place for those who had endured the fierce fighting that had occurred at the Battle of Mons.
At the end of our day we went to the Tir National Shooting Range the place where Edith was executed along with Phillip Baucq an architect who worked with Edith to smuggle out British and French soldiers, Both were executed at the same time. At the memorial stone with all 35 names of those executed a wreath was placed by Sue Roberts and Terri Pitts read out Edith Cavell’s words
“I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone”.
Allison Johnson, Millbank Secretary
Edith Cavell’s original Headstone Belgium
Ebola nurses and paramedic receive national award
Nurses and a Paramedic, who were in the frontline in the fight against Ebola have been honoured for their outstanding and dangerous work in treating victims of the disease.
The Defence Medical Services Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Cadre have been awarded ‘Team of the Year’ by the Infection Prevention Society in recognition of their role on Operation GRITROCK, the operation to fight the Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone.
The award was received by, Major Helen Towler, of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, on behalf of the cadre in a ceremony held in Liverpool.
She said “I am extremely proud of the cadre’s achievements over the years, but in particular this award recognises their role in the international response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Their professionalism and commitment has received overwhelming praise from UK experts and international bodies.”
The cadre, made up of nurses and a paramedic, both regular and reserves, from across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, are experts in their field and worked closely with other military medical and non-medical specialists, Non-Governmental Organisations, and Other Government Departments to develop and deliver ground- breaking training and education, instigate novel policies and procedures, and provide governance and assurance of the highest standards. They continuously facilitated and delivered high standards of clinical care, much of which had previously only been available in specialist medical units, such as the Royal Free Hospital in London. Group Captain Andy Green, Defence Consultant Advisor for Communicable Disease Control said: “Ebola is a disease that carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality to patients and medical personnel, and generates enormous fear.”
heat, austere working conditions, stress and trepidation, assignment to the Ebola Virus Disease Treatment Unit (EVDTU) was limited to a maximum of 60 days for clinical personnel. The temperature each day was in the mid 30’s with humidity above 80 per cent and at times the temperature inside the EVDTU rose to the 40’s.
Major Theresa Lewis of 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment, based in York, who is the Lead IPC Nurse for Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “I’m glad I had the opportunity to volunteer for deployment; my NHS employer, team and family were very supportive. Working in close contact with such a formidable disease was an experience I won’t ever forget. When a patient survives, and many did, it makes our job feel so worthwhile”.
Whilst neighbouring Guinea continues to report sporadic cases of Ebola, Sierra Leone has not recorded any new cases since September and is on course to be declared ‘Ebola free’ in November. The work the cadre did was significant in stemming the tide of the disease, although the fight was not without its downside. One of the military nurses working in the treatment unit contracted Ebola, but was successfully treated at the Royal Free Hospital.
On Defence’s contribution to the Ebola fight, Major Towler went on to say: “Op GRITROCK is an excellent demonstration of how the cadre work together as one team, irrespective of the colour of cloth, or location. It has been an outstanding joint effort with contributions from every single member; Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, Regular and Reserve.” She went on to say: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Pauline Cafferkey and her family” Ms Cafferkey, a volunteer NHS nurse, is currently being treated for complications of Ebola at the Royal Free Hospital.
Maj Helen Towler IPCNO DMS Whittington
Due to a combination of the degrading effects of extreme