Chapter 4 - Memories of War

-{-tIY
SceinF i,ewLshanr a;-iain $,aE lllae conin,, back ft.om a
ho-!-Lday. ?erhaos the brer,k hadl bFen necesdary but tt
wae a joy to lie bsck vrl.th ti € r'cd bu9e6, Ghoppers, chLldrer,r
dogsr dar\et
tradersi and all tho ordinary
life
wo had
t1s-egd.
Tru€, the tidled-u!
t'uin6 of hou6€s and
dete:.Lct
Dace6 a1l looked woase aft6r
rortha awav
but SpainC l,ed co-e ltc: er loor and r,/.eds w€le
flouri6!:1n6
in caater6t
I facs and filies
in gardlenB.
Tbe hospital
hs.l a wounded but ordered look: pi1e6 of
brick€ bo!'e a fO.l::l rjtTt iilljir Ol !' 6ign, the doctorBi
{.uelters had been Jnail. h:bltai)1e
a|atn,
the Dispensary
looked alnrost nornal and bla,ted
tr.ee6 were irl ner, }e;f.
In the llurses irone no Lor.,tier dtai b--et1e drlv,s
anal
6peflint: bees foature on t.he notlcebosrd.
tn6tead
there lras a Vo?'l LI3OUR posler and t.e date of a unl-cn
seetlrB.
In !he town there $,ere pol-itl-cal
pocters with
picture6
of 6ervicemcni
IIIiL! tj{iii. }ftiIS}t ,l;EILi JCr}.
0M
fil!],:l ilo::f:; irti) IOn[:.
I (ieneral !,].ection rras
ini1lnent.
!o ou. group, ali under tlreniy-one ani not allowed a
vot6r It wa6 only of mild interest.
ir gbbrcbiLl
Detd
a vi6il
to LeHishsni he ua6 s l,F:.o ard no-on€ exp€;ted
Labour to vrin ariainst hinr irut ttre:,' dici in a land6ltde
vLctory.
ije knew lrl:at lt oeant for hospitals.
liven
those of us no! interested 1n poLltics knew of tho
19tA ';l.rite laper which had 6et out nen health servl-ce
propoBalsr
:hen .ost doclor6 llad :ruprorted l_tr but
that u,a6 in 1941. r:q'"?they .,.neurin jevan to contend uiHi.
'lut
thzll r",r,s on1)' pol"ltl.cr and our intelet6
lay e16en,her.e.
lior one thinu we !,ere back in ru1 s6sy roons anri now
that $,a had nothlni" Lo dllrtract
u€ ue were detefloined
to atudy to pass our. linals
Jnd be a cIediij to our patlent
Sigter Tutor.. ior another we we.e back to dillcipl-ined
lJaysr had our anrlual nedlcal and TD X-ray6r and rroae
two atripes
on our aras a6 befitted
selrior nulses with
Inoae corflc'lence and responslbllLty.
l.etr t'e could even
see sone pcint in lnstlllinf
ti-,e rules ilrto nescOder6.
l.rard Slsters
w6re more oblir;infl
in artan8l-ng tilne off I'i ine even a6ked .le vhicl: daJ/ otf Itd
likelii
saiC one
- and nou and then a Genior doctor!
otunneC girl
pioud
of an intereslin.
ca.e, $roufd explain iteatmerit6 anal
as lf he recomlsed
that 're were on the last
lrobfens
fap to beconing grorthwirlle helpers.
ione doctor€ had gfeut entlrusjLasir Ioy ne\,r tr'ert.rent€
and for antique methoda be{nl revolutionleed.
The tlve
Leechcs in lh6 lectu.e
roos h.rd been boitled
ut as
il^re of the 6u1pha dru!:s were no!.,
blr;toric
exhibits.
in use and penicillin,
i;he acci-dentaf won.leri no!., ]-ay
taeasulod in lrard r,.frid8eaatofs
tea(;y to counteraot
'r,/eu,ere irl alre
organismG a!1d the disoases tbey oau6ed.
of thla :nagicaL rub€tanc€ when !.r€ 6an rrhat it could do
(iiving it by
a.d how rev€rently
it was tr€at€d.
inJectiob
!^res a Geriou€ busine€E, oniy lo be done by
aenlo! nursesi syrlnfie6 had t. be steii
ised by fi|ling
vrith oil and enptyiog then niri tineGr
Leter
e tooii
to bollinnj .yiin{je6 and neeilfec for flfteen
mln[te6.
ile had 6 YD cllnic
dttacbed to the ruin cai'ualty vrard.
a diplomatic
arrange:l]ent :ro that patlente
coul"d be se.n
tLan be 6ti$?ati6ed
by a
ijoinpl into Casual"ty lather
VD cllnic.
;lefore tlre advenl of penlcillin
ihe tr6atment
niercuiy :rnd other
wa6 for a long course ol alcenier
Crug6, but now onfy a short eouli:e of iijectionE
w6s
needed. Ior this antlbiollc,
whteh transfolnred lediciner
the dlscoverers
uere awardod lhe ;i^be1 piire.
Lfl r,r.6 ar1
r,irae
opttnlBtLc
in bospital
nofir 'iben ioDe6 for the
plars
future of i:edicine foared and a1l the Sociali6t
for' chr,n, e r,,cro new.
C u _ g r o u p r o u r h a d L o a t p l e w a r C c n o t q 4 - s r . d r p l " e d rb u t
1o6t thinijs now? iie nele ttolt
surely we could cope uit
giv1n8
nedlcinest
!96.on6ible
for
writint
repoyte,
doind
probationers
complicateC tteatmentsr
even instructj-l8
'"hoae pitlfuL
j-nt.
thic€;6
the
lrnfledged
routinea.
I
Na6 goinit to work in :illeatpe, which :1.kn€w would be a
'Io
whola new r./oyld)and :aher oa6 iloln{: to Casualty,
our sutpriBe
Casual"ty had the
lt lerked her up,
!€pirt:tior
of a lli8 Dl.p?er, trhero you were {-'ither terrifiod
lluker w's kcen to get therel
or exhl.lar;ried by ii-e rrhirl.
lhe n€6o|tnent
i! would al"l
ahe teltsbed
of patlent6,
be eo varleclt rot Like the emer't'ency casualiy
wariis ln
the borbt-ar.
I'ftrG better thar al-f liio{je rr.rl end green fieldErrl
I ' I t r s j u s t L i k o 1 l f e r y o u n e v e r k n o v . rw h s t r r ,
she said.
roln.; to cone thrcuith the svrint .ioor:i."
In :bFatre we ktew whaL v/r' :oln
to con^ th: ou6h the
swing doors and i\,hen il wao conlnf and hoi4 to d€al ldth it.
ih ':lreatv6
It hacl none of the chaos oi aia6ual"ty.
lveryore
!,orked a6 a tean, I(nerr nliat they rnefe doins ,nd did it
Unless an elnertency c:rrae in it was
Xr, cnl:r and qulot.
iscipline
rnd qeticulotls
hyfiene.
e plsce of orderr
,
rltere $er6 tr,ro theat-er adJoinin8 erch olirerr oach wltir
thel-t olrn aaae.thetlc nrd fecovcry roomsr 6crub a!6ar
alul-ce6 anC Bhoser6. One wali of each !106 a lsrge lrosted
glas6 nl-ndo$r anoihdr ws.r lined with dle66 instrusent
Casear tho roct creBi:r-tl"lsd - aarl,ed dsily and ,tlal:l afte!
j, s€nlor :nd Junlor Slster oere
l-oDg opetatint .€s:rlons.
l"n ohargc of tha unl,tr wlth slx tralned iurses sad
probatloners of e3rious grades dolnt thsl-r stl-nt here.
glEce the place uas alwaye Lept warnr if not tropLcal.
t{s 6pent our day6 ln q,hite /ru6}Lne dressosr rubbe! boot6
and a!rot!6r muslLn squar€s to cover all hailr and ma5k6r
Only tr8tlred tlu!€€6 f,,ere allo$ed to scrub up to wait on
th€ Gurgson€ and they ha,] the bcat v{ew of operatlons.
Iiv dsyn were.,D€nt 6crubbiqi dirty instruaenta and
thee, fetcblnE rnythln8 neeilsdr naf:1.!C tho
6te.{li3lng
toa and oountLn{t the bloodl-stained swabr. thai, fell" to
th€ floor li;(e autuan Legves.
It i{a6 beln6 a raw aecruit :.11 over ,,Caln and 1lte th6re
corsl6t€d of a juobl€ o! lnstructlons.
Donrt toucb
anythr.nE! Cet the drlp 6tand, plu' l.n the trregtlett keap
tbat spoclflon add 6tal. aw&y fro'1 hidr hers sTE?ILEI
flurrteoEa would sn',tL when the wrong-sired glovas wore ln
pack€t, o? the l.igbt-ai3ed glot.eo irele ia
th€ rlght-dirod
ths !'lo[g-sr.red packot. or the rLltht-atlod Sloves neto
ln the rlflht-BL.ed packet but witbout dustina polrdor.
'r:,ho the hell packed the6o gloves?rt
I had sorae ghsBtly monentB: throld.n8 auay a vital Ball
bladder in6t€ad of savin8 lt and h?vlnt to fetrr.evo lt
f!o,:r 6 naus€ous wa6t€ bi.nr drolptng a dLsb coBtalnLEg a
lgnoveal ovar{an cyFt the eile of a footbaU atld havltlg
Sul.georls took littla
notice
to chasg Lt und€r tho table.
ot l,owly probatlonersr even lrherl we tled up thoir Sowncr
although on€ dial beckon mc to hi6 6iale to whiEper in ay
I thou8ht h€ bcd found 6o",e dr€sdful error but all
esr.
he saldt wa6r "Nur66r your alre.r] i6 too tl.Shtr yourre
dietractlog ne.I'
T,lks 6991y nurse beforo rne I socn becaoe l-unu!€ to surleons.
ilo|,.,and rgaln one niiiht havr a noo6nt of ragc and bupl
lnEtruoonts aad etplotlveE but nost lrs!'e qulet ald absorb€d
andl would €v€n explaln whet they woro dolnl]r if w€ sholued
And I $a6 intereBtedl.
There was faBoinatlon
int6ro6t.
o!
Ltr watchlrg th6 trspaniin8
a sl{ul-L to r@moves blood
cloti to as€ de1l"cst6 6ltveis of skiD cut flom a thl8h
for e grAft or a baby dellveteli by cae€arl-an sectloat or
the rsdlcal da6tecto4ieer gastrectoaisgr the tranaplalt
I leslrled alL the v lious pLecos of
of uroters...
and
all
th6 instlunents - the dtssectlngr boreoquipflent
suttl!!8r nibblingr nosqulto rnd crococile forcepar all
tbe Rcoops and ch16e1s anai cl.snps eni was 611otr6d to belp
I+ was a chanfle frosr nopoing up blood
1ay up trol1ey6.
andl carryin0 snputated legs to the lnclnerator.
a,
,,t fir
t l did nri66 contact witt
Drtient..l
I ca|| Llrcri nolr
cnf
$,hen tbey lrere unilel rnaesthetlc
or r€crJverltlg fr'o01
itr
bu:. I 600r becarie used to it
nd e[Jcyed q,orkin8
part of the hosrplt:,l, away
in this qul.et end cut-off
flon the everyday hustlo.
.'heatre wa6 another courtry.
,l?ter lonlj operatint
aessiois
we !,ouI.l 6m€rge as soLe6
ln ^tebruarlr, blinl.infi
at a].1 tho ll"fe goln . on around
u6 outElde our burroir.
Otten i,e $,ere lote for nea16
and had to eat thed f,fone 1n a deserted dinin . roor0r
b6c u6e we couldnrt
leave 'lheat1.e uniil
a caa6 wa6
fLnlshed,
iher:eby r4iasin$ i,11 tbe go66ip.
In tbe lloBe
ug would stare at new nurses as thejr st€feal at usl
r,;orks ir Tbeat!€r w.rs
lleither
of u. knew who we w€r€.
rwo?ks
tho equivllen!
of
in a Lepar colonyr.
lf wo lrere
late off duty fil ter would enter the time os,lng in a
neat notebook so that nhen :iae6 u€re s1.rck lrc could
Tlne6 r,,ere rarely
recoup this tin€.
slack and tro-oBe
bolieved l-n thj.6 notebool!r buL I hever nlnded.
!h€
worr( $ra abaorbLng, at tllles drai:.ticr
and never dull.
'trht
duty wa6 anotlr6r .1atter.
lil|rht iluty prove(l r-rhat cow:]ri.. vre werer
iie had to do tl,ro
wccks o.! ni6ht6t
uhen a {ltaff';ur:!e
ena a junlo!
werc on
duty for any energency that ,rit,rht cone Ln.
l,ihen that
tLe place lrould be 1lt up and fuU
hdppened 6f1 waa rrefll
llut on qulet nlt;ht6 it !ra6 ee.ie.
of p€ople.
The tr,ro
thgatres wlth the.':r narroo corridor's
linking
office6,
chansirrtJ roomsi sLulces - no6t roonr. hi,d two doors leading
ln and out - !,rot(] kept dark rrhen not Ln use.
l,'lll-le $re
cleaned stellLiae!€
oa patched punctuaed gloves lrltb rub ea
patche€ befo.c packLn
theor the t'aaliatore riaale 6i;range
no{6es, outaide 1iit6
wheozedr tho swlng aloors wou}d
people
floo!.
6sish and foot. teps . ound on tl-e tlled
comiag ln were aup'ro€ed to rlEt r, bell - we had even put
a notice on the doors llll'(j '!r ll 3IiLL ' but doctor:r never
In huntlnfi for rn intrucler
f cou1.l Jurp out of
bo hered.
my ajrin by reeting
ny iinace in a tlas6 ca6er
other nur.es
theLr
were lu6t as ne!v:/ and coulclnrt vralt io flnlsh
,lnJoie could cor,re in the -Jlacer they €aldr
nighta her€.
s1rp1y snyone waiderin6 aboul the l,o!?1tal
couLd coDe in
andl ateal dluras.
0f |uralel' nu!, es.
,:ne girl
lJe aU had our frighl
storles.
had fouad a
nale rlulso strlpp.d
off for 6n iL1e6a1 'rhorro!, anoLl er
hed chaaed footste]]o and m€l a man In pyJalBa6 Looklna fox
the Etatlon
to Ei,stboulne.
Baker had had nysteriouE
phone rin8inss
wieh no-on€ at the end of the line and
another nur6o had Leard sc!6llos outaide In tiie grouuals
and was terlified.
One nitiht I HaJ al]. alone uhile t:,c Staff l'urse welrt to
dutifu:.Iy
supper.
I wra 1! ttre nain theatre
teEting dlovca
rhen I looked ut) and r,svr a mcon fac€ wit| no6o and handa
the o'rt6l.1e frosted
wLndos.
It was a
squaEh€d afainst
:t€l
t_
who had heard
irasUlt/ 6i8ht arld i re e'bcred t|e ri.l
! r.,snt lnto the corridor
scroams out6ide.,.
to flnd a
phone, I srs6 olnil to ohonc lIe
opDooite,
and a
"Lard
wlLlto-coatod appatiLl.on cs.i€ out of aoiiio room and nado
rrsortyr
ne yell.
1 kDoi{ I yellodr
but ho Baid cheerily!
dld I stsitLe you? Ju€t 1oo inrj €lt tonorlowra 1i6t...rl
{![herer6 a face r)t th€ windovr" I saidi but ho
too. not the 6lighte6t
nolicer ju€t 6aid:
leahr that|t;
lloriy.rt
lie wa6 one of the
I 6oon tou!! I out about iirrry.
nl.ght porter6 uho on his rounCs peered Lnto all kind6
of place to see whatr if onythtn6r w:s goinE on.
I made
llirry
h.hen l went of' duty and 6aiai!
a point of fitqdi.I
i.,u€t you do that ln t].a r1tldle o: t'.e nt lht?
tourll
qive Eodeone a he,rrl .,ttack.'r
irDe what?rr he said"
rr,lbattrr I 6aid.
"Peering into wLndovsr l0aliLn6 that
awful face...tr
rle looked at oe as if I !ra6 a ludatic.
riston€ t e c10!,6r'r he 6aid. 'r,;hab a
thing
Jlttery
Perhaps I !ra6r but in l]ensible monents lh€ int6re6t
of,
frl$ht6
bedrable,
once l kcpt
the Job rad. a fevr ni6it
the outer theatre
door6 open and 6ot the nuases 9/ho
-'ut
pa6asd to weve to I!]e.
I lovcd workinS- theie and
-:be
I)L$tef sug,.esteil thai wtten I Ha qualitied
eaid
rwbenr and not rift - 1 6hou1d coae back there to work.
sbe 6aid this
!o a couole ot oth€r nurses who ahudder€d
at the ialea.
I dldnrt
shudderr thouEbl lt wr an
appealinF idea.
'I
so lhe uoeks driftod
on whl-l-G we waiteal for the war LD
to como
the l'ar Eaat Lo endr for the flnal
celeblation
'.te kDew
l.rngn aLl th6 troop$ out tlrc,re would return.
fiahting
was goinfi on tlrere but not riany of us eiqve Lt
palnfully
a thou8htr it was all 60 dlitant,
leal only
or in
to thos6 who hdd huBbunds or "ons flghtlng
JapansBe prlson caops.
lt lJas now tht€e months llrce t o
Y+cto!.y teas
ond of tho $rr ln i;uro ie - ih,.re wer:e stil-I
parties
tlLere
on
bul
eas not auch
and cirl.fdrerst
6oil11,'
tdd ao did the
cheer around and we all noeded chee!.
io leave behild r:lonaoon5 and
6xlled seavieeDen lordin
jundleE and oid eifflelda
and leturn
bone.
ilere there,rere gfi psos of a tetuin to nornal life
a ban;tna, hovintj t)lentJ of bread and
althougL findln8
hores fof pecpLe without on6
buildlni:
cl-garettes,
i]ut evircuees anal it opean pl.isoners
aerleined a dlr€afi.
fir€denr
civil
defence !.torl.eia
art-tlme
of uar liere hone.
-rnd s1r raiC wardens were beinf dir blnded.
lieather
renorts !.rere on tho wlreleari aI: in :rnC F.i$npoata that hdd
4- 7{
b€ad taken dow! for yoar6 to fo! iDvadet'€ nolo being
put up again.
Plcturo bousos wcre rc-!unnl!t8
Oli.vlarrs
r8alry tt to spur u6 oB rdth eodr Bar.ry and St Cror8e
to! tho JapansBc to Blvo 1o, dosnirhlla
rhll6 rt6 taited
krap
aiaryoB6 kn6|' t.htt th6y had to dot keop rnlliu8,
for our toodr kscp
!.vttt$r keep di8ging allotdontr
itu6t oatry onr ;{onrt be loa8 lot r
Btvtng blood.
!{€ asid.
aJ
Eakeri gl.b6on ard f ngr6 alsayo tryiDg to Bot our off,
duty lorethei but only raloly did ue !1sn.g6 1t.
ono
dtyr though, we dld all hsve the se$e day ol! so $r
!U oauSbt the treitt to CbarLttg Croea, lto l|t Lyon6
Coln6r Bou6e, ioaded the later hBpocted golf,rl-daalr
lSnoloal Orforil Stlect apLva aad put 6tool down outsldo
s thgatr€ for a seat in t-he gods to t,ltoh t larco. (tlo
It l.a€ uploarlou€ 6!ld eqeD 8!ka!
lreo seat6 nor).
lau8bod. she aeaded auoh happler aon tbat wo *src
back La lordo! t.ltb ih. ira! ov€r.
rrllae€att wo b66n luoky?rr she 6aid to. u6. ulllhoa
you tbiak of r:,1 tltatrs 6one on J.n tbe wsr..,J dLdnrt
thLnk werd liv. to seo th6 snd of Lt.rr
ws .tdrtoa talklng of what we &ight do wh.n
traLnLng rraa flnLahed aod sh6 6a1d 6L6 would rtdy L!
Londoai but rot J,n ho6r,ital,.
{Ird 1i!e to do sob6tblDg l'trere I aoat a lot
of ?eop1€. . . bealttr vLsLtor oaybc...thcn I could lr.r.
at ho46.tr
thg trlLlt on our vay
It ya6 raloLnE $hod so loft
eloni; 916!al,a8 .ttaqts
hod6 enal irelkgd to tho hospltal
that loolod varDl.shgd. Tha rald had a 6tcot aRall atter
tbal
a alry day and Bak.r lnLflod
Lt and saidr rtB.tt.!
Sbe aesded a aliftqront
1,11y-of-th€-vaUey.t
ar.rl.
rrcen you bollove
rftra ca.ualtyrrr clbao! aald.
Lt? Sho lllres tho plaoo...'l
otr st|oth6r of dy days ofl I weni horae. v,l€oka no!, paaaed
betysen vL6lts, bul: not b€oaus€ f didnrt went to aqe dly
feotly.
t lraa elthor too ttlod or toc buly o! had a
that day...60 nstly eaouaee. But l'lhan r dtd
loct[ro
llie Journcy thqr!
go botn€ il ,as aleays s pleddule.
than I
od L6lalou ?lanoport bua6s lras brlShter
tba greJrna6o.
la!€nb€rldr
|tltb suode! lun baaiabilE
u61l6r prLgeig trl ned. psopla tlot lattles6
!o8o8 clldbfug
tou could al@ost soq tho olil
th€ ctro6t!.
fu yrlkillg
prc-uar ol.ty oonlag to lLle ag',ai! altbouStr thc !,at' scaro
Daaageal bou6a6 r€te unrapdirad 16
there.
Fara ltL1l
th6ra $ere not enou8h lubourelB to gork ou thaor and
tbore $06 sonothln8 6ed (althou8b tbey Foulibrt haY€
hrYt!6 to
seotr j"t so) l"tr poorly dreasedl peopl€ stiU
qlreu! at 6hops edth we'rry lto{ctsn.
,o- vq
y :.other wrs '.ti11 copin._ with ihc :thcrtittjeo,
lher€
thc lrar riras
seened to be 'Le6:'rf_od .borii :tow then 'rl
ah.r didntt kno'r lr|et arly coa]' rdould "nbe doliverecl
on.
anal was a1r€1dy rietttnlj rerrdy tor !rint.-'r by dtockpillnfj
gorden twi66, o1d bits ot llno and wads of newspa rers
erhl-chr r,,h€n rjixed ulth co61 dustr vrould ensute a fire.
D0 ll0T lluRlr FURL Ui'LlrSS YOI] l3T ordered the Coal
tsoard.
I wa6 allost
asha ed th;rt I Lived iri tbe
ard
hospltal
tool( food anc Naroth tor granted.
,rivlleded
,.'nd where once it was the hosnita]- that waa stranger
the
dtsplaced.
6tr.an8ane6s now itras in the real '.?or1d, I felt
rJe talked of frlendg
and happenings in the district
and
liIac
tieos dyin8 and when the Co-of wa6 ijolng to repa e!
a roonr ne laughed as we reme:lbered pant holtda;r6 and
for u6 all.
shows on the ple! h'hen thc irorl-d was di3forent
3ut I felt
that i belonged dore ln the !ea1l[ lrhero
rrtle canrt fet
6i6ht6r aoundB and facc6 reiused to fade.
I
'
f
t
r
6
any suga. luipsrri $t &other sald.
all Sranulated.tl
she had lrade a .eed cake for. tea.
Seed cakol
I hadnrt
::een lt fo! year6 and 6he 6ave ae a 1u:'rp of It to take
back l,llth nie. i.ly father
asl(ed if I wanted soo€ bookB.
rrThere!s Stevetrson and IJal-ter llcott in the cupboardrri
r . l h e nl . a i d
I didnt. eot:1uch time for roadin8
he 6ald.
he looked dl6appointcdr snd I llnew I6oundad ungrateful,
but I didnrt r.ean to be.
ilh6n the tj.re caae to leave it tras al.ost
a re1lef.
In
ncthini: much had chanS'-ed
this house ewarminir with nostalSia
y younger sLster had
it ir l(llf.
sinee I had lefl
groLn a bit,
i)ut the |a{e carpetc and curtalno
w6re therer
the 6a re llighland cattle
flamed on a wallr
th6 sano
clock rrplnnin
aofden brlLs and chiarinr every fifteen
aibutea.
Cven tile piato !ra6 open as if I wa6 gotng to
,ind ny parenta haalnrt
core tn fron Bchool and play it.
clldnged despiie the worrielr of !rar, only a fe& oore line€
lbe cat h.rd a grey whisker or tvro I
faces.
oD t;rsiler
hadn't noticed before but he still
6at in the sarn€ chair
r.rith the sane taiL dang':inj; over the ed8e.
8ut I had chanred. I had becol:e llorr-. vi6l-tor' tban aoceone
who belonBed and ii grleved mc to feel thi6 ln the hoEe
lacl( j.n the :iurJ:ea ;]or,1eothe! 61116
rvhere I hrd Broun up.
ielt
therer they 6ald !,,ilon
like a stringer
6a1d the oale.
'L'hey think
hoier
worre th6 ssfle girl6
talktng
of vlslts
irad a1L drl.ft€d ftolr the
but hon can we be?
erho left
"Ie
iut
coofolt
ot old 1ive6..,oe!'hap
ee bad ju6t groun up.
1t soeDed a lrind of trerchefy.
4
I
erl:aps ou!' ci-,orjetei1 lile
,lid Lrai.r us :.e ot(-. :tnd even
vrelrd.
)uril1j:r the war eveni:i 1i.1i sei:xed str.rnger tbar
,eopl"e buL nor', t::at there r,ras tine to nolice
thgre vrer'e
6or1e odd ?eor,le i?r hos,rit€rl.
lle ray hsve been pecullar
ou?Gefvear of coulse.r.but
we noticed tile nurso
fro
wben off duty 6poke notliinit but backslangr
tlre male
nuls€ $ho 6pent his days off si.tting
or the end of
Southelrd pier,
a Baid rrho sanJi hy$nF a6 fllre oleanedl
s alocto! so ri,ad on !'esrearclt that he r\,aG a cnarlin8
beast if prise.l out oi tbe leborotory
to €ee s patient.
rltrs
rrh'erre
iro€pita1 lit.ir
kiddosrrt 4llbson said.
all dobty.
.ir.rrit :Look at the :lister
on my wrrdr'l
:ie kner'i aboul thli
il6ter.
In turF ne all orperl-encsd
her - tireless,
.rii:Lini" ca-ftly l"hiough each day
?leasantr
and treatin"r
e1l he chronic clderlly maLes hrith care
ijE.i bed been on thiE (.rsfd fo! nineteen
and klndne.6.
yerr6.
It took ou! b?e::th
away:
ni-neteen yoals aoonll
old 1"11 r,len, feu of lrholl tecovered aald went hoae so
th;t death wtrs as regular as the b:riber !0ho cane in lo
€have then0. :lo!.r seird coul-d anyone 6et9
ilut 6he w.ruld
6ay that she r"rantod i;o 6tay on tlli.
lvsrd until
sho
reti!'ed.
rrlt is a rreat thinf in li-fe to "ind your nicherrl
she aaid.
Iiie v,ouldnrl be here in nlneteen
ljeU,
it Cocided u6.
yea!.sr or even tenr
,Jut tiere were o|lier Sisterg with
6ini]'at
dedLcatjonr
a,:teinfi eJomenwho would go on untiL
lufrour hed it that onc had Lo6t her parentG
tbey dropFed.
when yourget and hsd njde the ho, pital
her boriie, thst
rnother hr,d lost her fi.rnce ir the fir
t '"0orl-d war and
h d choeen a life
lfe 6ii1eA obout lhe.n buL
of r'luty.
it w.rs aad to 6ee rlat
1o$s could dor
An.l they weae a
r,ralnlng to uar
i.'eBenber the iihr:istna6 treer !,re saial.
the Chrigtna,i tree, .ut '"r! ln the lrur.jes lolxe every
prese.ts
Decenbe!, alrols
had tied to its branci!e6 llttI€
tea cories, ruched satlr 40 t hargersr $cented $oap
papeir a cirlendar fu11 of kitt€ns.
fi,.y
$,rapped i.r preity
nere to 5e given to the hospj-talrs
agod !'etirod l1urse6.
Iie used to look at these objectr
in ho!'ror.
A lLfetlxre
of ward dutj' for a rreeBre p.rn.ion and a nrcheal coat honger?
It !,,ss too f"i,.;htiul
to conte.plate.
l'le ,rere nob ljolnl: to ]-et the l'!o.pital
Yi6its
devcur. u6.
{ron the world
to oui llolree aele v,'!:rrnir,is of hcw isolated
outsiLle fi,e couid bocore e)]{1 no1,/ ll|at it r"r.s th€ dog days
sit i.n a parkr loll
of su!!de! we u.nted to be norllal ,
in the sun, r-o on hollda_r....that
waa l,rlet reo?le diii in
nFr this ye{rr ou. ,jroup were week6 off in July
Ju1y.
lrebruary o!' i.ovenberr so w6 lrere 311
in€tead ol freelin:;
I! ve1
ready to 6et avray, allhouith no-one was going fnr.
and holidey
at h.re .r1 the rage.
!r:6 stj-ll
diff-icu1t
ac
4.
1)r one of our cvGnlncs toUotner.isker
6nd I {rat 1n
. to her
tl-bsonrs roon li6te.in
ty now
S.a:rnhone.
rThls 16
che had forsaken Crorby lor Irank Slnatra.
,i Lov€Ly .ray io Spend ,,n iiveninii
he lrould croon and
we al-L telt
lrorset because evenin66 of h3lr-uashlnBr
dlarnlngi wrLtins up lectu!'e notes or t.ehe6hl_n8 ou!
wald day were far fro.t lovely.
llEcape beokoned r,nd
thla evenin8 re t?lked oi rrliat l.'e wouLd aio. ltothtne
''ot ln{- or-tl1la'..
cxcltln8.
:Lerc I"a6 11!t1e €xci;ino
or orlglnsl
to do, Lhe lrer -{.:ht be ovor but at t1fle6
it waE hard to boli.ve.
Baker had nade up her .xlntl lo r.penC a week l"n Sui6ex
ulth a school friend.
rrBut you donrt llkl1
hc cour,l,r/1,, v/o 6aLd.
rrOh, tiric i|j dlf,ferentr'r
cho s:ij.d.
")Jy friendr6
nother i€ a Bediun. r'
l'Ie fell
abouli lt sceucd the funniesi
tllin8.
tje h&d
seen i;oe1 Cowardrs t,l{lthe
lj*irttt.
::o vre sent llsk€r
on hef nay to the Suss€t. iladaoe .'.rcatl vLtb 6obe!'
advice.
'rDonrt traval on Frldayr,' rve 6aid.
"tonr. nea!
Ctreea.,.beware of crosE-eyad oo!...r1
Before aha left
she did lrhat Geened an odd thlnJ,r.
She slipled
under the door6 of e!€ry t1urs6 Ln our. group
6 arapEhot of irerself taken'jn th€ rockery of the lioner
tJust the
and on the back of eac[ one 6he had wrttten:
neilrory of u pal.r
;oreover she Gigned oach olle
rliar'Eare!t! a name we harCly ever c.rllcd h6r.
nJtts
ao lf shet6 not cor0lna backrt' s aeone 6aid, but v.e didnrt
bell-eve thatt
:Jaker wouldrrt. Io off forever without
tellinF
us.
lut j.: puzrled usl thls curiouE ?I ssage
gi!l.
:lut sure enou[h when the lreck
fr,.D a stfanle
wae u! lak€a did come backi loohing tanned and hoalthy,
She had been lyinil .id beacbc€ and even walktng on the
downs and no, she hadnrt b€cn tc an.t' scances.
r{aal lhe
photo€? iJu.t
thoujht yourd liice thenr" sbc eald.
:rib6on and I clan,rted to fet tlre jsre we.:li off nnal vre
decl"dod to fo Eorxe,.lhere to5ether.
rhce
1i had to be
ch6ap re cho6e a youtir bostel in ilarrey because lt
lras neer to filondB
of Cibsonr6 lairlly
r.rbo rrrornieed
picnics
;nd all klnda of trelt6.
irnd lt l.,.rs an
enloyable ti&e! out oI unifor.l anC into su:'ne. clothesr
wall:Inr ln trooi6, vr'iti..t
t:.cse f:.1(::js, flaylnL
olock golf on th€ir
laun, havinX les6ori6 ln b€o-keepin6
fro: a etra!/-h'.ited vLcar.
licre iiore a coupli of
&ale atudents wilor like usr had drlfted
into this
ho, pit, bL€ fsml-]-y.
ie llayed
tennls with lher.l
j pr]vrl-ed in deckchairs
ricke'l r', pberrlcr;,
dranl( cldrir
.nC free 1ove.
and a"8ued;,brut Iociallc!
Ior a neek
,ivo ihe hospitaf a tirou[ht an: we leturned
lre didnrt
.eariy for anythint.
c1l
&
.ly non it wa€ all alyone could t:-.Lk about, the ore
topLc to ousb goeEip and one nild with $leculatlon.
:lo-one told ui. anythinfi and rurour|! lcore f1ying.
:de
had only to thinh of al]- th6 peol)le the victies
had
been in conlact wilh...were
there nore case6 and Lre nc|e
lie turned
;;o!r
:lore?
not
beino
told?
n3ny
Juet
textbook page6, oeno?ised synltoo$,
at every
lanicked
cold o! hea(iach€ al1d I, for one, could trake in ths
nlght and feel Leit6 goin6 stifj.
It was an agoniBlnij
tlne of gr.j-ef and die.d and it wss only ELor'rlyr a6 !,re
heard of no ftore casas, that fear
rvaned. lhe nulse
!,ith iha echea anil ,ains Goon tecoverc.l ftom 'rllat wgs
e nild *rfection
but :hc doctor: ua6 111- for nroDi;h6
a:1d never r'egainccl the use of hi$ p.iralJ6ed l"egs.
cur gra!1) '.ras ijlve|
ire off tc ;-rr to i&k.rrs
fr.tnerall
brother vJeLlad n.,vef
lrhere oe net ber lar'ents and:
linDl.rn about,
lh.y rierc .listdn:
rnd retj.cent and toLd
onl.y the:r ca1led hcr I arijaret - hadl
uF that llaker
never ]ijiedl : u!:{rin6, ahc had been urh€rppy and r}arted
lje had
]l\oy sa::d :iu8slna h3d jrj-lfed rre!.
to leave.
rev.r: thoutiht he!" unhappyi sbe hadnrt liiierl the
Southern but leioly
on Casu.ilty sile lrad b€en ro6itjvely
che€r:l 1...dld
ue rot l{norr her at al:L? 'fhen ilibson
the hospital
rone'nber.,d that on the no?nin$ after
hLt
Rakei had Eloken oi Bivin:
up, and thst wo had tal-ked
'rlf H^ hadnri .herd still
hc. ou' o tt.
he rllver'l
tlbson .,aj cl.
A few dnyc Later llat:.or'! call,.d aib.;on iind txe to her
./ffice
tc asl{ If we nould go and buy a Inlca sultable
',iintr
to be f:.roerl and hunl; on the sittl.nir roon wall
i-n nerory ol Ijake? snri the nur6e klllad
in the bonbinf,;.
Ilo IJe $,cni--to 31Ec<he,:th, v/:rcr'a tiere
ShoF.
rvss an lrt
lre dldnrt knor{ nuch abo t jisk!.rr, ta.,te in i,it - toln6
to the ga11exie6 6i'!e had preferred
the cafeE to to the
- aEd vre kne\.r even lefs eboul the olher nurse.
paintings
ilul a!onFj the oLd views of ftreenwich park, birde over
6panleL6 at s cottage 6atei there lrae a
estuarj-esr
visioi! of beechwoods in suturn,
Ilt
could be ;usse:4r'r cibson Eald rrer.l she alid
enjoy her last hDlLday there.!l
.{n(i lhat som.,hov.'lraa the real .oment of Srl"eft
when tre sald! IiFoor old 3akeirr and nearLy vrept.
;lut the
6i1op .rssistant
r'as r,raitinl
for u., to choose and 60
lftefwa?ds
beechlroodg in autu6
i,,as the one we boughl.
roon nalL l ui: hgd
whe! I looked at it on the sittinf
we had been anoae adventu!'ouat a'r lea6t we r,houl"d have
gone io rielfrlCees
to see vhat they aad to offc .
a1V
/5
q+
llut then desth as we expetienoed lt rje€.red al$o€t nothlhg.
cne morlrlnB et tho begl.nri.ng of Augu6t I woet lnto thc
sulgaolgt
rooo ln 1u€etlo to coUect 6oBe torral! 6ad
looklng aa lf h. hrd
foulal a doctor slunpod Ln a cllalri
lHave you hesrd the ners?rr he Bald'
b6€n there all ntAht.
I thou8btr oh qodi nhat norr? sinoe 61]. I hsd thought about
Th€n he told oo the nqn6.
for alays elr Bak€i 6!td pollo.
'rDroplCd
trtba tanks hav€ ilanneal sr€ll done Ltrit b€ sald.
an 6ton boob oa Japanrrt 116wa6 fiorrnlng aa lf ho wta
how aaay dor6?rr
1! paLD| Atytng ll9w nany rior6 strocitieai
Tr,ro dey6 lator snothc! atod bonb !rl.!od out lid8asa.kL. tbe
ld€a of rbat
holror !rs6 eaorooue, although lre b8d Llttla
soE1solteaaid it r,ould ond the var.
had beeD unleaEbod,
It dld end the warl a fe!, day.s 1at6r ildpan Burt€ndleroil.
vrt Det' tho
cn /1uglr6t llth
we had a alay of .ejolclng!
Faa
Eeat.
the
ir
the
It
a14oat
frraklshr
of
$rar
iras
end
th6 perties snil dlancee aDd lonalon full
of Joyoua crot,da
uhLle on the othsr sld6 of th€ lro!.Ldltho?o r,',aaatool,o
tsut het'e people had ldaited for thi6 rar
devadtation.
YJ Dayr thou8trr ras aot tb6
to endl fot a long tlne.
sane as VE Day. i'iith the t6rr{ble
end to aIL tbo
fl8htinS ou! r61L€f ua6 ovelshadordad. ilut at lea6t lort
all our troops would be con{nq hotrloandl prisonera in
th€ Japan€g€ ca4pa r61eas€d.
ft wa€ a dloy wlth no Bchoduled css€s in lh6rt?6 altd ua
- a 81a6a lf r'rino BDd a oake hed only a modl€at rololcing
untll an oncrgency arliv€dlr a man who had beea eeraymal(1n6
too Fell snd had fallen out of a rindoni btoakia8 h16
legs.
lhat ds)r oome of us tall(ed of the futurcr becauGe
i{e had a new BovorBoentr
Lt €ec&ed like 6 nol,, sta!.t.
we had ?aaoa. Oaly one glrl wa6 Solng to leaya - sbo
wanted to stay but she also wanted to naary a returnlng
soldt"r.
ft wss a proble& 6evernl. ot' u6 xoulal latet
If a nuF6e uanted a hu, band thg! gbe had
havc to fac€.
to leave the profas6lon.
lly eeek6 ln iheatre ended then ald I L:oved on to tha
to ne. gntll uov
Cynae neldr and it $rss a lovelation
nost of ny tlide had been spent on ualo 1l|ard6but hela
uelo Hodcrrr all young o. rLddlea8edr ttr for tfenala problorlBr
a8 they cal1ed theB. It was a ouch r!o!e 81adolous wald
tban othelsl the patLents patted on lnske-up anil fuslad
ovel tbeir h.1! o:. wole pr.tty bedJEchets r.rhl,le chattl!8
to aach other about huabands o! childron or Eboppi[8.
I becaae ulcd to bgar:ng thelr btash detallg of oafrtod
3 t beln8 fe6o1e gave the€€ e,oDenpalnful 6Bd
ltfo.
distresaing probletng and th€ daya w€!€ a €6riea ot
pr.o1a!6ear fLbroidsr renoval,er of ovalies or ut€luBail
breast ibtectlons!
dlsplace,nontsi
bladder lntoctlorrsr
carclnonas.. .
a>
I
j
r.'hile .orxe of the lromr;n could be der,lr,rndint,,others,
Bl-ad of u neek or twors rcst flo,lr iteln€s snd f r.il"iesl
wero ouly too thankfrrL to be in a ltospital
bed b€tng
loo,|ed afte?.
aone were l-1,1 becairBe they r''ere lrorn
out wil,h ua!, of alwa)s beinf in dan6e!, of tryin
to
feedl f.r4iiies
and often goj-rg uii.hout bhemscl.vesr of
br.oke_, ni,a11o in 6he1ter.s and endLe$$ queueo.
Tbey
never had any red,16, they neve. ..arl 1t a6 selfI;acrlfl-ce I but 1t $as.
One of the con6ultqnt.:
would co,,ie down from :Iarlef,
street and bellow at theso woroenr L h€althy dl"etr
no{sn, thatrE wirat Jou ne6d.
:iholemeal- blead and
cheeBe , , . whol-erneal bread' not ju6t, brown!'!
fie nas
a joke oo the wardr !l,en bres{i wasr ral,ioned and nany
lronan had to buy il,e cbearest.
thoujh/
to "ak3 a cat
lauJh, they 6sid.
Ihey all pleferred
tile fenaLe bl-onde
gJmaecologi6t ."jho was lolifh
and r',aodlooklnfl and LiabLe
to fiahe every doctor bftnjr !.rhen she appeaied.
Ibe
pai.iedtc diJnrt
resent.-Lrer fjcod lorh€ lrhen they often
looked t|eir
wor$t.
4..: kneu wirei .;he was talkilg
aboutr iheJ 6aid.
iihai di; flen kno$?
iiou and a;ain wc had.ld:lii;ied to t;re warl younti girls
who haC hal a niscr:rrriage.
ione of the'l we!6 unmarried
bui lt wds. l,a!d policy never to l6t it tre knovr[ - $re
Hould lut a curtain
.ing .,1. tileir
fin66r,
Sl-ster kelt
a bor of them in Iler de6k - and to tieat
then a6 any
other .stientr
llever to refl"ect aDy noral view.
rjut
6l)116i./o:ren on lhe \vard! with fcrrlnine $ueesworkr
knew they $rere unri!€rrfieii dnd refused to ia:Lk to such
glrls.
thr):. sirultned ilienr as if they had bfoken th€
ru1e6 ol a c lub.
Cnp such ajirl uas adri:teC
with septicaeaia
t e
after
botched ef:orts
of a neiI lilouriiood .,bor{:ionisjt.
Slhe
w|,s till-rtecnr
a 6ch olrirl
fr:i{.ibtened and bleedlng
'.nd c"yin,. il.lde a iluby viith i,er fir$ei€
stuck lrr her
rrouth,
Tire doctor who oxaninc.l Ler was vounf; hinself
but such r{ght6 ;Aed hin.
Iie 6aid a hysterectoflt. would
have to be dooe and i;hai
lie wonid probrbll/ die.
11
hyaterectonry lsa€ done arid for irours atterwardB !,16worLed
hard lo kee, her alive,
tiiving ii:rood and glucose anal
rlninrisinL
$hocki Lul 6hc did die.
Jhe!.e she l-ayr
tl.1s Joun
irf,
or,e of l) e ci,.es ue wer, JII 6up:oced
to i;et useC to but nevor did, !,/liile :jleter breathed a
feu l'ioly woids over Ler and I 6ot evelyt lng ready to
lsy her out.
r'.'hirteenr for Codre sik6rI' the docto! 6aLd. {r{hy
I'ioul.d lhe7 do it if t;e
do theJ do j,t?
kneh, llthat the
Conse.tuenC€rsl.tere?rl
lie loohed deprasoed, and even !!oae eo al the
thou8ht of havini
to ;ell
the gir,lr6 pa.entsr
but Lre
luckJ
ihcre.
They
l,as
had nevef onc bccn to see herl jt
E(-ened the unaoriun3te
ai.1 i,ra6 a ohaiie to .r11.
qb
'ieitbr
.lrc?e was anotLe! rurse on thi$ wardr
and we
'ire both hEC days uhen ue long€d to bo
becade friendE.
to taklng ,ooeB
on 6ome other rardi tlrerc r.ras a lintt
to l'heatrc fo| D aid crs, seeinl: foetu6€6 $crapeal out
tnto a di6hr douchinEr caiheterisir g.,. but fottunately
there wa' ofJ duty.
e nana "ed to get some houra off
togethet' when r,,e lau€ihed ovcr a ,anny iiaye filmr ot 6te
sarsaSie gnd $ash in a Gr.eennich pubt or went to Bronley
ultra smBrt shopa arrd an atternoon
fot a look at lronleyls
llut our teal link wa6 thatr
tea ln s pink-carpet€d salon.
(ss of ccur,.e wo would) i.ro both
once !,€ had qualifigd
wanted to lrork in I batre.
-(o lre vrent throut!
1916,
I did sol]le weeks on the childrenst
wardr a srnall. roDo fu11 of cots in6|eaC ot bedst wiih doL].s
:r_ot nany of the
and teddy boars Ll-ned up on shelves.
patients
j,ou
Ihey crlod anal
te11
wa6
1rron6.
could
what
the bars of their
and
upside
do!.,n
or
raNt-Led
screanedl
sle:rt
juGt
and pale.
oi
lay
silent
ltke
aniqa]e
cot6
Bav6|:e
:oost oi tbese Enall tatlent6
went hone aflier a
i.l)rt'rnately
but
shoft stay, nlnus toh€i16 or !,ii lh limb:, in pLastert
no&ents.
i,re
awfL]
had
uo
sofle nofo 6efiou51y ill
Save
incubators
and one !16:r a spina
two prenatute babieE:n
biflda.
one of bhe worst caoe:: I ;raC seenr lrith protruding
6,ins1 cord and me,.1brane6. O9e oorning when I went to feed
and the docto! wets ::tandjn{, by the
this baby slster
lltto
noL tiae for a feedr nurserrr Sieter saldl
incuba€orr
?he
understand because it !,/a6 the tiore.
an.l I dldnrt
shoolc he? h€,ad ani 1 irnew
doctor stered at ne and Sister
liotbinS was
i'toihlnr' lt6s 6aid.
then lvhat rlas happening.
6he died.
cv€r said, but the brb:t itas fed only water until
llot Lhsn nor afterurard$ dld it 6eer the vrronc thlng Lo dor
Lt r,ra6 a compaEslonate deciElon by tlio doctor.
'',gl
wardt
d then it was changing !.rard$ agrin - the fractule
neared ite
inel"e chronic - and s1l the tid]e our trainln{t
;r" still
$ent to the occaaioaal
end alrd finaL ei{a!06 looned.
doctor caoe
dark-eyed forelgn
ati.i a dsrk-halredr
lecture
gurfiery.
l'l€ were
to te1l us the 6ectets of genlto-urinary
he
waa 6()
in hin than his subiectr
all- oore intereEted
llut then
he lras alsc naraied.
hatdsoure - unioriunatelJIie tol{i ua
eiliier.
he N.Entt too keen o! his topicr
- lhe t{harveg
.London
dock6
lrith the
about his fascination
junll"nl
uitil
the tide_
Lri[nouE
abour
andl g!€at sillpr, and
'r,'.ve
you
Ii6
threv,
to
Llnterouse?r'
been
aad Ll4ebous€
iopiu$
of
ol"d
who
Ile
told
us
ladlea
deDsl"
up hi6 hand6.
to
cure
oli
the
curl-s
a
6nd
useal bruiGed woodlice
8ra!,evine
anci chlldren
who rode fac'r to t;tjl
bladder ploblen6!
their
otr atonkeys !o ward off Jleas].es. rr;lers ouL ol the ari rrl
or enterL3jnluent?
?Jas Lhls a surt,jical lectule
we said.
:,'e ju6t hoited the exari papers uerentt
._icing to nenllon
arY
FLtrgerY.
Senito-urif
'z q1
I.
outsii:c r.rorld LhinA$ didnrr look very nuch
different
"he
liotlrin,. had changed duch in
to wartine.
o.dinary
SR
nany
lives.
leor)1e i.rere honeLeser aridl i,4ary
had taken to sq;attln8
in enpty f1at6 or' old arny ca&p6.
ilationinf
of food was r:ttll
ltoinS oni lre were told to
eat less and have a bor,1 of soup if hungry.
llut by now
$en !rer' bein8 deflobi1ised and tlre ?llF ha'd bro;ght
hode
gervioeden lron l]urra snd ffldi:.
?he nsn f had been
'rrltln6
to r"as bacl! and 6tatjored
ir lorl{ehlrei
we were
noae ofien ond plarnlnC
lr?iting
!,rhere ire i'Lit_hi; neet.
I had a spell of nllirt Cuty coni4:uij
sc T hoped a
'n€etlng woDl.dnrt her?c? until
I had flnished it.
llt6ht
duty not only linitad
ioul free tir,e bui grve Jru a
belfe face an, hol:Lov eyesi you look.,.rl in reed of a
blood tr)n6fusion.
Alld he had l-rst seen !e when I waLs
I {lidnrt lool'- cr feef eirtl,beon 1ny rore do
eightecn.
it would take sone effort
to lir):'ess hrn; buir :hen he
uaanrt elqhtean anydrre, either.
iour years is a long
tine to find lrordeone arrain.
a
.
iJlght dut:y nrhen tt cane waG on 'looen6
edicaL anal aithough
I preferred
sLrt:.ical war.r'is I erjoyfd
bcinil on this o.e.
tone of trre Datier!3
1re:'e in for a loni; ti,1e irn.r I calnel
to i.:no,r anal 1l!re tharn. 'lhey tal-1.:.d ao ne lf tlLey 6eu16.'t
: feep, or uh6n I tooh r:enl eraturas anLl nacle bedei I hearat
about their fanil-1e6r their job6.
"lle1lo, da.lLngl'r lhey
One wofia!! crocheted
woulil 6reot n€ wben f rent on duty.
l8e a lsce co11ar for a Cie6s andl another gave ne a poetry
t int I r,reB younij and Jool{rih, :lnC noh' an
book, quotinflr
t
fulL of t6ars.
I'I kne!'. 'l11llic Yeat6, i!{rarr'r Fhe 6ajid.
rilou reed hi':r.tr
.... nj hl or hpr rorrnd i I.L 'Jj:fpr rci ed .:c rrl'st I !.ras
r - r r: j r ' .
Ioin- to do \.'l,enI l.rC :i' j.h.n
I'lrot l€avi.ng t:re hasrrtill,
I hopel-_ So marl do.rl
''-hcn
I bold l-er 1 !r '.ll. Ljr,c lo !'c:. i.
faetrc rhe vss
tr:lut .,rorrrl.r, n(:ver Fcc nny ai,i{,ntG t}i.r.eltr
shockedr
/,nother ni'Lt
t h o h o u s e a a n a : . k e d l l 1 et h e . a n e q u e o t l o n :
what w.r6 I Coinf to do?
I'Th.at.e?x hc said ae Lf the vrord had a n3sty tarite.
ri othing to beat r'edi.ciielrr
i:e irent inio rap:ure6 about
all the nee dtug6 that v,ere tr:nsfornlng
c1i.6ea6esr all
the 6treptoEryecln for T3r the nev.' sullha
Cru8s, pen1ci11in.
',ihat
wl-th that and the lropo$od new herlth
6e.vice
lhes€
.:xcit{ng
tirne6.
were
I w a E l n c i . a . g e o f t h i - v . , F 1 4a : n i ! L t r n : r t L l : r e a l t u , a 6
pl.acc to be.
O.i nllht
Nc h:d adrrtirtdd a
a satiefyirq
"hl1e kre r",ere bust1id8,' ei:ound
noxren in a dirb.tlc
con6.
geti.ln6 her tnr.o bed,nd
teettrg urlne and ilie doctor r,ia6
eail.nratinia blood .: gar lo put up a :_lucose and Galine
drlp - $hile u,e r,rel'e Coln$ i:hat arother:ratlent
had a
',ie
vorniling bl-ood and noanin/Ji \iilh p,rin.
baeaoptyaist
kept her u,r:. anl c11:' r1C put rn ice foulLtce o ::et
chest l,,hile tl..e doctor Gaye norlhia..rlhen
the phone rat1lt
,5
:lne tire day wc ca.:e baci( xe fruad ilai(e. in bedl tJLth a
f€v.rr.6h 6o1d. IActusllyr
f lhtnk ltra 'flu,rr she 6ald.
rtlu
rut how coulcl Jrou Bet
ln JiIy?
5b€ bsdnrt fclt weII
trad Eed€ h6r atay in
enough to Bo on duty and lloEe slat€t
bed. w6 6at on h6r bod snd prattled on about our hou-day
ploasures but 6ho ahow6d no Lnteaoat and latcr Ln th6
day Boaq sl6ter .(lturneal $rlth a B€nior phyBlcLan who
ordlarail Baker to elck bay. l\1l hor beloD8in86 wera
then rcdoyod faoo her roo,x snd a aan caae to .fuar.Srte
IJc aeldt tr8ut hhy?
Ltl n. were told not to vlslt he!.
Wbatrs $rt'ong?ri /16 lf it t/ra6all obEcene rrord IIoOc St6i6r
yhl.spor"d to us: IPollo.tr
the day after that Baker ta6
Ln an lron 1ung.
oJ
C
Early !n ou! tlaining
!,re had been t6ken to 60€ on€ of the6g
oaorfloua Eachlneo at county !1a11[he!e Lt punpod aray and
It ',a6 explain€d to u6 how t!r16
took up ao6t of the roou.
iron llng could k€eF a patient aLive until paralyBod
It hras bad e[ough that Baker wE6 In
mu6clds r6covcred.
otre of theec dachLnes but :,he |lolld be lGolsted lltd elon€
llle decidod to buy aolle
and ire couldntt get to 6ee her.
f1os,cr6 andl 6end a bflgbt notc to ].el her knot,{xa would
cibson was goin8 into
come alal see her Lf we coulil.
l€wl6hal, to buy the f]-owe!a and ,e ln tho aitting
rooq
eer€ countl.ng out our noney when Hoeo sl...tot caira !n.
l,tltt:out prarDble sb€ seid! rrTherer6 badl Doi{ar nirlr;c6rrl
'!{s looked
tt hr! and knel., what she wda 8ol,n€; tt sayr and
I'fra gfraid Nur6€ Bake!' ira6 died.tr
she sald lt.
(I canrt bell.eve ltrrl
rrI canrf bell€ve Ltri eibsotr sald.
ft soeoed 6(' unfalr
I sal.d. llone of u6 could bell-eve lt.
thst havlag eurvlvodl all the boob{nt Beker hedl been d6dlt
th16 bl"o!r. It eas dcathr but lro dldnrt cry anydoro ovct
then 6on6on€ Eald
desth.
It just nade us urctcheal.
'Do you thj.nk she knee, sonethlng ].Lk6 this tould happen?rl
andl ue ronelnbe!€dl her plomonltioEe and the photos wLtb
aut it w6a too fancl.tul
the r!€ssa6c! rJu6t a nenory...r
lor us. we had bEen traineil to be1l.6ve {n aoioatillo
she w66 Ju",t unlucky.
evideace r Bot 6orccty.
Thstr before wo had cono to toflis wlth the nc$6 a boy
A Bu!6c t{ho had cared
oa otro of thc t'ardl6 died of polio.
ache6 aBd pal-Bs.
to! hL6 ra6 tske! to sLck bay sufterlng
A tsw drys afte! that orle of tha hou66 6u!.goon€ uaa takoD
ho had Lal"n ilown on atr
l11 Nhlle doLn8 a cllnlci
eia[tLaatton couch snd r€fusec to get up. l{u!6c6 haa
But he \ad a hL6h t€dpotaturor 6ore
thought hLE dluak.
?broatr achLn8 lLnbe end na6r lt l.ls6 soon rdaliGoalt
inothcr vl.ctln.
i
a'tv
c4'
to tell
u6 that a coroni,ly th.onbo6i6
\ras co|di!!t to the
watd.
It was one of those ni8hts vheB :1eltl:er 1 nor the
JuDl"or nurse could get to BrlpFe! oa the Co.rtor get to
bed.
But tt we6 erxhilatatlng,
wh6n aL1 throe
€gpeclally
pat{ents
were alive ln tbe lnorning, and shen th€ housenan
aat At the d--Bk wrLtlng up notes he iaugbed and aai-dt
{Thl.a l-s the 1i3e.'r
io" a monent I ahiost thought it }rao.
pstient6
LookLn$ after
w?rs enJoyable and roiurdirB
and
nig|t€
ltke thi6 lrhen wc nevet stopped bsdi r6$t.
rJut
there ,rere other nl8hts when the quiet routlle
nade the
houls long anal tane ard then the corrplex acttvl-ty
of
ourfery appealed sor€.
It .iras wintei
thenr one of tbe colde6t,
rartegt nintors
nade wors€ for io6t ?cople by ghorta es of coal and bread.
other foods stll.l
clothes Dot pl.entiful.
I{oneg
rationeCr
fot retulnirlg
troops were so acarce that piefabricat€d
onea serc bein: built.
llul ti,ere rras nolhinl
t,o d,) about
,\fter tbe f1!et
tt.
beautiful
flurrieB
$rherr sno$rfLakos
turned grey 5tr.,€t6 l.nto v.rhite ;antaBies everyone had to
make do and freore.
Snow lay in tuucl.y heaps for what
segm.d .nonth6 erhl1e we al.I waited for beiter
times to
cone.
Of cour'e thoy would-comei q,€ had vrolr the walr
aftcf
all.
llrt not yeL,
Nor,rwe had to put up trith a
wor.l.d of spiv6 and drled ecg and snow turninii
l-nto fLood6.
ahly for $e Lt waanrt haral.
e had walBth and food jn
p
i
c
t
u
r
e
s
n. had the
hospitalr
to cheer us,
alrd sodel;j.oeE
rilbGoh nould joitt Sniih and fle for an ele€iant tee in
rlrooley.
The 6a1on thefe i, d w91tr€sse6 in lailly
apaons
,rr.,tc:realtlre carpei.
and the oink tableclott!.,
Oibson wa€
tsker nlth all thia!
6he 6aid ln.ons had 6one downhiLl.
She was ta(en with lulte
a 1ot juat then, the waad sh€
rD for G{bsonr6
rdaa on, e party her nother lraa layilg
biiihday
and.,an
onaestheti€t
twenty-flrst
lrho had a
lIttle
red sports car^. 4 d for m€ there wa.j the pleasure
of a.e1n6 the RAf man-now bsck in clvvy stleet
and
Il r,ras a happy tinet
worlclnq ln l,ondon.
after
four yeai.s
we lad a lot to tafk and lauBb about. sLnce .l lras slways
, tarvLns he lrould iake me out foa me916! often et a cafa
ln Ler{lshar ?un by tro efder.ly lsdies.
It had lanps and
end check tablecloth6
cafe curtslns
andl bentwood chalrr
and lookad rot so dlfferent
froi
those lrencb fllma re 6a!,
wherer j.n the din{y stre€ts of ,alisr
ireat rom6ncr:g
'Ihen cane our }lnela,
a ll:!e to r€stock e.:pty baalnE for
fle sat the hosDital
tho6e vltsl
tests.
exaids run by the
London County counclLr rnd t!,o vi, ek. later
the stat6
ior ttreao l,le had
Counc11.
er^fis for t!e CencrsL llurEini
(he
ir1 who said
to llo fc another J.^ndor rot oltrl.
'.he
v,,rong bus and there ve
ahe know ti)e wry led ur onto
re!.e i. the nL dle of Canbert{,ell tr'yi)ra t. find a taxl
AtY
t
)6'qq
io 6et us t: the exr'ninatlon r om ln tine.
iour of us
6at Ln the back of the cab countln.
ou'r noney - we had
Ju6t enougb fo. the farer a cheap lunch and a bu8 backr
irsoiryrrr ue said.
rworr€
but not cnou$h for a tlp.
^'he drlver
took no pl.ty oD u6
Ju6t hatd-up nur€eB.rr
and Bave ua a aouthfuL of Cociney curses as he alrovo
People arenrt as nl-c€ now as they $€:.e 1n the
offr
warr rt Gl-beoo sald.
Por thtae hcuts that norntnt
ue sa! paljer6 on llediciner
Surgery arld Cjfnaec.lo8yr
and after
a bean6 cD toa6t lunch
ln a neaibl' Lyon:r we 6at General Nulsin.
ir tb€ afternoon.
Bti the tlne lre resched Lewisha
ajalo we h,ete cold and
tlred anC - after
conparLn^ ou! al|svrerE - degr,oddalrt.
I+ had beena day lrhen re sfiiokedl too cuch arlcl r,r.rL€d too
tuch aljd lf lre had falLod lt clidnrl iJear tLLnliin8 about.
'.'fhat roulC we do the!?
SL! th€ exao rgain?
Say goodbys
Eut ',e dldnr!
to ho6iltz1?
beve to do aDJtLitrg buU Bo
on beln6 nutseFr as ".,h6n thc result:
cam€ throqgb we hsd
a11 pa6sed. lualifled
at last.
It wa6 Flsrch thEi tsul ra Cldnr+ notice
the €till
Lcy rulntet
that day.
It wa6 S?ring ond ue had to celebrate.
lut
nole than ;r bun l-n ilon6.
how? It requlrfd
Soeeole
flna one for whlcb
6rggested a shoe, but we couldnrl
evetyone xould pay non€y! and soneone 6aid the plcturesr
but tho cl.rlena rrs6 lnundano. then 'rhere w,a the piobled
of u6 al-I belng ab].e to 6et the same evenitJ off.
l.tg
dlalnrt a.rtla:e t. get togethe.
fo! ovei a (eek and than Lt
itr a transport
c6ae dodr to a chea! andl tacty iry-up
cafe
(Dog raoln;
near Catfo.d dog tracl{.
banreal to save fuel).
o
It .,{a6 a -tear."ry den of Srea!'€ snd s roker with football
girLs pasted up on
flxturea
altd lonC-1cg8ed ci0oret,te
lorry
!r:'!C bus drlver€ who atared
waL16r and claI!'led rith
at u6 a6 lf r,o feaalc hail evor before ente!€dl tbeit
1air.
Clro hursc
But after
o;re look they 1o6t interest.
fo! b6lng too
arrlved
1ate1 blaftlna a n€h, pf,obatlono!
cib8ont
dLfi to l,lrlt.i un 3 chart €nd calroing d€Iay.
and hair fluffed
out, had to Lrav6
r,lth brtrFbt llpstlclc
aerly aB slie hrrd a date with the rnaerNiletist.
'rstill
looking fo: itlr l?lcht?I we 6a1d.
illerIf
be arounC sonewhererrr ahe 6ai.al.
lle tlUied,
of cou,rser of vrh:t ve [ou].d all do nolrr no!|
tltst we lrere Staff llureeE lrith our bad6e6 anal bl,ack be1t6.
one gi!l- w s 6oing to
A new uorfdl hnd opened u:
o us.
prel'rC.e
Nur6L!8
llldrrlfery
to li6t:'ict
at Lanbeth as I
',nother
liursint.
tet
fancied
Induotrlal
aaothe!
andl
$as toying with belnc a nur6e on :r cruiEe 6bip - rrDo
they still
have ctul.se ship6?" - or even ioanin6 the
Navy and seeir. the Bea.
6-n
rc4' (
'y fate war decided.
:inith and I had Jone io iatron
about yacanciee ln i'lieatre and for onc€ l:atron snl"led.
'Ihe!€
ln flndin
sere always dlfflculti66
6lsle to
work ln ibeatrei
6he 6aid, not everyone 1lked thc workl
but there were vaclrncLes and \,re could 6tart
at once.
iLnd so thi6 nlght waa a dou)le colebr,rtlon
ss in tha
fl-rst week ln Theatte 516t€r had citonn ne hoH to wait
to haDd, a:ril iratohed
on a 6u1'8eon, vhich inBtrunonts
case - a routlne
hernia.
over rne \rhlle l took ny flrst
I founC the expcrience ne:'ve-sha t tering but afte..$ardg
the Eurgeor 6eidi rrThercr n'rriie I that was)'!rt 60 badr wa6
lt?
J cridllrt l'-notf wl,o u6s nior. relleved.
5iB or r0c.
C
qibson said Ehe ,.,ranted to ro.k in a priv::te
londoD clLnic
'r1he one Nher. the rlch anrl f nous goir 6he sald.
ItThen
',ihenfrr ti?eC of that Ir11 nar!'li a rich prtienti
livq
'ie
leujh.d snd
ln a blg house ,'?d ttrke up :ottery!'r
lut Just over a Jear l.3ter we rnet
d{Cnrt b€lieve her.
and
for a brunc\ ln l,yonE Ccrner iiouGe in lLle:trandt
rarrLed a rlch property
6he had dolre ex3.itly tirstr
developer she h;d nur6edr had a houss i-n li€nainglon and
yictorian
pottcr;r,
sbe seotled
h d taken to colleclliri
'
r
l
X
d
lletljcr than
I ent 1(1(ldor' che said,
happy thf:1.
r:logglng o'day .n tha worla.rl
hov, dJ-d anJt of .rs kno!,t ';here bre rdere
3ut this evenin
nnd t{ete even
;r:e bad ended our trelii'1J
Ioing?
4ry d.nrt we, Ee said, in five
abour lt.
ee.tl1.1tal
y6ar- i:i-4, al' 4^eL agajn in lhi.
6h iby c "e for a
r
)
r
l
1
l
l
8
n
t
l
d
e
a...
br:t of cou!6e
Ii s.unded a
reunion?
l;hile
i:r
touch
for a
ept
we r{ou1dirt,
9o'ne of u.
hospital
c,r1leag!e6
to drift
of
lrhlle lt !.ras tbe lattern
placegt
irlth
{.
clfferent
only
tobins
1lves
l-nto different
rer({r1d
us
cf
our
tl?e
to8eth€t.
on chri6t:xa.
cardii to
,'nd 1n five yearr: where wDulr we $L1 be? l,'heae woul-d
for bfave n€r, 6hops?
this cafe be? lione uncler bulldorer6
Lhis
lrere
dlunk on happl-ne$a
It was Just that
evenin8 l,te
tea.
an(l 1o!.ry-drivots!
sairli tilttr
a1'1. Itoing to be a blt fLat now.,.
Tlien ono glrl
!.{e knen uhat she
peacetl,ie
€|nd
or
our own.[
It.s
lr€rre
?hose
us.
aad beady yearo bod
?hs
ha.J
spolled
$eant.
war
peoplg ne Ehared
Lhe
forget
il6
bu.
lrou1d
bbver
changed
we
rr?he best yesls of out -rr soneone starteal
lheir wllb.
the cliche for
let ller flnlsh
tc say but we dldnrt
at tbo
I
a.
.e
er:bered
€cofflng
and
scoffinsr
lau6hln;
house Eurgeor h'hen he ,"ladc the siane ren,rrk '"tbe! butr-bomb€
I. rre€ried Jusl as absural nog.
l,|er]e c}rug8lng i'verhe.Id.
-
101
Thoao dangerouBr sor.owful-r hsrd-workLng yoar6...how could
they heve b€en that peak of, life whlch nothtn8r NOTIJIIIOI
would ever Bulpass? Th6re hsd to b€ bett6r' tl-ne6 ah6sdr
lre were aLl tnentJ'-one nou and the futuae 6tood brlsht
ond bappy^.. llut ',rhat L' tlrose years ha4 Leen the peak?
lnd ./c hrdn t i know!?
1,'Iellr i.re atidnrt dwell oh lt.
Ir was EettinS l-ato
a n d ao:to of us ueie on ni8ht duty, so we ate the chlps
at!dI draik tbe tEa and walked bsck a1on6.tbe chtuy tl18h
-1. e6t to lhe hosrttal.
\
c