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The Story of a British Nurse

Margaret Ledger

I left Lady Manners’ School in Bakewell, Derbyshire in 1939. Europe was beginning to fall under the control of Hitler. Germany had become very powerful, and it was becoming obvious that England would be at war against Germany. I was 18 years of age, so I knew I had to do something useful for the Country. I decided to become a nurse. I commenced my nurse training at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital on the 18th September 1939. War had been declared. The training was to take four years—from September 1939 to October 1943.

During my nurse training days, we had lectures from the doctors and the nurse tutor. We worked hard on the wards and departments including the Operating Theatre. There were air raids at night-time. The wards and departments were all blacked-out, and when the air raid sirens sounded, we covered the patients’ heads with little pillows. The training was hard, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was so interesting. At the end of my first year, I sat for my preliminary examination. After three years training I sat my State Registered Examination, I passed and was given the title ‘State Registered Nurse’ (i.e., SRN). I became a Staff Nurse. I was allowed to check drugs and to be in charge of a ward.

At the end of my four years’ training, I joined the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service. The Army, the Navy and the Royal Air Force were asking for trained nurses to look after their wounded men to serve in England and Overseas wherever the Forces were stationed. The Queen Alexandra's Nurses were serving with the Army in India and other places of the Empire before the War. This Service had a long history developing from the Army Nursing Service established by Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. Therefore it was a very well established Nursing Service. So were those serving the Navy and the Air Force?

On applying for the Q.A.I.M.N.S, I was interviewed at York and then returned to Chesterfield Hospital to await orders. After about one month, I was informed that I had to report to the Examination School in Oxford and to live in Lincoln College. When I arrived in Oxford, I purchased my uniform—both indoor and outdoor. I was given a full medical examination and various inoculations. The typhoid injection had nasty side effects. At Oxford, there were several Nursing Sisters and a well-established Military Hospital in the Examination School. After six weeks, a number of us Nursing Sisters were sent on embarkation leave (I think it was for two weeks). We were now in a grey and scarlet uniform—a very smart outfit. It was all very exciting for me and very upsetting for my parents. However it was war and we were eager to help.

On our return to Oxford, we obtained our tropical uniform and eventually were given orders to be prepared to move on. The orders came at midnight in December 1943, and we all moved from Oxford Station at about 2am. The huge long train was all blacked-out. We Nursing Sisters travelled First Class. It seemed a neverending journey. It was, because we eventually arrived in Scotland, at Greenock on the Cylde. There were several large ships on the Cylde. Our ship was to be the ‘Stratheden’. There were aircraft carriers, battleships, corvettes and two large ships. One was ours the ‘Stratheden’. We all boarded a light ship, which took us to the ‘Stratheden’. We stayed on board for one day; we did boat drill and were given other instructions. Finally, we set sail during the night. All ships were blacked-out. It seems but a dream. We all experienced sea sickness; however, we recovered. After several days at sea, we finally entered Algiers harbour on Christmas Eve 1943 and anchored there until Boxing Day. When all the convoy then set sail again out into the Mediterranean Sea, we could see only water for miles.

Eventually, we arrived at Port Said. The escort ships disappeared, probably to escort other ships. The personnel from the two troop ships disembarked and were sent to various places. The Nursing Sisters on the ‘Stratheden’ were transported to a transit camp. This was a tented place. After about a week, we were told to pack our bags, and we were transported by a large truck to Port Suez, where we embarked on a ship ‘The Sythia’. It had been damaged but repaired. On board were New Zealanders, Maoris and Australians. The troops had been prisoners in Crete and had also fought in the North African Campaign. We eventually arrived in Bombay, India. The Nursing Sisters, Doctors and other English personnel disembarked, leaving the New Zealanders, Maoris and Australians to sail on to their respective country.

At Bombay Station, where we assembled, we were given further instructions by officers, who were awaiting our arrival. We were all dispensed into various trains. I was posted with other Nursing Sisters to Secunderabad. It is in Hyderabad Province. Eventually, we arrived at our destination, after travelling several days in the train. We were tired and it was very hot and humid.

The next day we commenced our nursing duties. I was posted to the Operating Theatre. We sterilized our instruments in large fish kettles, and the work consisted of casualties transported from the front line in Burma. The casualties were British, Indian, African and other personnel brought to Base Hospitals by train. Some had been shipped by hospital ships to Madras, then conveyed by train to various military hospitals. Some had travelled for days in the heat of India and were very weary. They had dysentery and malaria and other topical diseases, as well as their severe wounds. The Operating Theatre staff worked from 7.00am or before that time until 12 midday. No patient was anaesthetized during the heat of the afternoon, it was too hot. Therefore, work commenced again at 5.00pm or 6.00pm. There was no air conditioning or fans in the Operating Theatre. We were all sweating and it was very hot with masks over our faces. However, we survived and progressed with our work.

After nine months in Secunderabad, I was posted to a jungle hospital in Mysore Jungle, many miles away from Secunderabad. I travelled alone on the train to Bangalore. There were other travellers on the train, mostly natives of India and some British troops, but I was the only Nursing Sister. I was locked in my small compartment, and at every station we stopped, an officer came to check that I was safe. There were many incidents on the trains, chiefly stealing. However, I eventually arrived in Bangalore Station and was conveyed to the British Military Hospital by an officer, who had been awaiting my arrival.

At Bangalore Military Hospital, I met two other Nursing Sisters, who had been posted to the Jungle Hospital. We awaited further instructions from G.H.Q. Delhi. During this time, we worked in the British Military Hospital in Bangalore. The patients were similar to the casualties in Secunderabad. There were Italian prisoners of war, who were captured in North Africa, who were employed on general duties. They were very polite but enjoyed hiding away from work. One day, three of them had disappeared, and I went to search for them because we were short of staff. They were sitting outside the Quartermaster's Stores. I told them to come back to the ward. In a chorus of three voices, they replied ‘Madam, we do not make war, we make love’.

Eventually Eileen, Margaret and myself received orders to proceed to Gudalur in Mysore Jungle. We boarded a train to Mysore, and we were met by the Commanding Officer, Major Bathgate, who had brought adequate transport to enable our tin trucks and other luggage to be conveyed with ourselves to the Jungle Hospital, which was to be our home. It was a memorable time; we stayed in Gudalur for five months. It was a small hospital, 105 bedded in tents, Indian, Gurkha and English patients. The two Medical Officers were Major Bathgate and Capt. Henry Oaks. The Nursing Sisters were Eileen Bowman, Margaret David and Margaret Ledger. The Nursing Orderlies were mainly British with a few Indian and Gurkha. We were kept busy with various tropical diseases; accidents were frequent because there were many troops in the jungle, all preparing to go to Burma. This was 1944 and the Burma Campaign was in full activity. Many of the men were ill with various complaints; therefore, the hospital was always busy. The three of us enjoyed our daily tasks. We did not have days off, but we kept going and enjoyed the experience. We were all very happy in this jungle.

Everyone in training was taught to work in rough conditions and to be selfsupporting. I learnt to drive a Jeep and ride a large cavalry horse. We were supposed to have lessons in shooting a gun, but it did not materialize. Our outfit in the jungle was bush jacket and slacks, large boots and socks. It was a high malarial area; therefore, we had to take mepacrine tablets daily. It was an antimalarial treatment. Our skin became very yellow, but we never developed malaria, in fact we never contracted any of the tropical diseases. Our lighting was by hurricane oil lamps. The bath tubs were small canvas ones. The three of us slept together in a medium sized tent, we each had our own camp bed. There was no running water; it was brought to us by the Batman, Indian or Gurkha, in a large tin bucket. Three buckets would arrive and the water was very hot as there was no cold water. We were on restricted amounts of water. Our toilets were small pots elevated on a stand and emptied by the ‘sweeper’.

We lived with the wild animals; there were many—monkeys, elephants, wild boar, snakes and tigers, but we never saw any. The soldiers on exercise in the jungle met many wild animals. Bamboo and other tall trees surrounded us. There were large snakes around, but we never saw any. Scorpions were an every day appearance. There were white ants, which would build a huge mound over night. It was incredible how fast they worked. There were millions of them, they would sting our feet when they managed to invade our bedding and shoes. We slept beneath mosquito nets. A life that will never be forgotten, and I frequently recall the wild life that lived in the jungle. The birds and white ants were plentiful. The monkeys gave so many amusing moments with their inquisitive ways.

We spent Christmas in our jungle home, which was very interesting. Traditional Christmas puddings were served, but we ate wild boar. In January 1945, orders came from G.H.Q. Delhi that the Hospital was to close, and the three Nursing Sisters were posted to the British Military Hospital in Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills.

It was a great relief from the intense heat in the jungle. The effects of our primitive life were beginning to show; however, it was pleasing to be able to sleep without the mosquito nets and to have a good hot bath without fat floating on the top, as it had done in our jungle home. The Military Hospital in Wellington, South India, was a peacetime hospital, a hill station and our quarters were lovely and cozy. We had fires in our sitting rooms and we burnt eucalyptus leaves on the room fires. We were given fresh food and vegetables. It was a great joy to eat food which had not been cooked over an open charcoal fire. Tea and coffee are grown on the slopes of Wellington and Ootacamundoo. There is a notable railway to the Hill Station. It is one of the ‘great little railways’ shown on the television from time to time. The trees and scrubs around are beautiful. Night jasmine filled the warm night air with a delightful perfume. I learnt to play golf and squash in Wellington. Facilities were ideal. Army transport assisted if we were going to other medical sections in the area. Otherwise you rode a bicycle or had a ride in a rickshaw, but the latter was only taken if you were in a party, it was unwise to ride alone.

The sick patients in the British Military Hospital in Wellington, South India, were chiefly convalescents sent from Base Hospitals in other parts of India, i.e., Secunderabad, Poona, etc. The soldiers had served in Burma and had been badly wounded both mentally and had limbs, i.e., legs or arms removed or severe skull wounds. They were having rehabilitation treatment, and it was rewarding work to see their progress. There was a large maternity and family wing. This was for officers’ and other ranks’ wives, whose husbands were serving in India before the outbreak of the war.

On 8th May 1945, the war in Europe was over. We did not celebrate because the war in the East was still in progress, although a rumour was circulating that something was about to take place. Then, on 6th August 1945, we heard about the atomic bomb that was used. Japan surrendered on 14th August 1945; we were all jubilant because we would be going home to England.

Vocabulary

1. Inoculations: Vaccination, immunization
2. Aircraft carriers: A large ship that carries aircraft which use it as a base to land on and take off from
3. Corvettes: A small fast ship used in war to protect other ships from attack
4. Boxing Day: The first day after Christmas day that is not a Sunday. Boxing Day is an official holiday in Britain and some other countries.
5. Disembarked: To leave a vehicle, especially a ship or an aircraft, at the end of a journey
6. Sterilized: To kill the bacteria in or on something
7. Tropical diseases: Diseases found in tropics or tropical areas
8. Camp bed: A light narrow bed that you can fold up and carry easily
9. Inquisitive: Curious
10. Cozy: Warm, comfortable and safe

Reading Comprehension

1. Who was going to control Europe in 1939?
2. What was done in the hospitals when there were air raids at night-time?
3. Who were asking for trained nurses? Why?
4. Who established A.N.S.? For what purpose?
5. What was exciting for the speaker but upsetting for her parents?
6. How many types of ships were there in Scotland?
7. Under which adverse conditions did she work in operation theatres?
8. Which country did the patients belong to?
9. What was taught to the nurses during their training?
10. Name the wild animals the nurses had to live with.

Language

Study the following sentences:

1. After about one month, I was informed that I had to report to the Examination School in Oxford and live in Lincoln College.
2. I was given a full medical examination and various inoculations.
3. After six weeks, a number of us Nursing Sisters were sent on embarkation leave (I think it was for two weeks).
4. On our return to Oxford, we obtained our tropical uniform and eventually were given orders to be prepared to move on.

All the above mentioned sentences use passive voice. Passive voice uses verb ‘to be’ with third form of verb. We use passive voice when the action is more important than the doer.

Writing

Here is a chart. Study the patient's chart carefully and write down a report on the condition of the patient. Imagine that you are writing the report after you are done with your shift.

The patient had no sign of fever. Hypertension was controlled with anti-hypertensive drugs (Amlodepine 5 mg).