How do I begin to tell you about my life as a VAD in the Navy?
Right here goes!
A VAD was a female nurse posted with the British Red Cross or the St. Johns Ambulance in one of the Armed Services during wartime.
I joined the navy in 1944 being almost the last lot to be called up in the war. My parents lived in Plymouth, and I had to nurse in one of the local hospitals for about three months before joining the navy.
VAD’s could be sent anywhere in the world. As luck has it I was sent to the very large navel hospital in Stonehouse just on the outskirts of Devonport. We were billeted in various houses in Plymouth ,and all travelled to and fro to the hospital in various types of navel transport. My first night was one I won’t forget! I was given a top bunk in a room with three other nurses who were very kind and helpful to me . One even brought me a lovely cup of hot chocolate which I promptly spilled all over the sheets! Anyway I survived my first night, and started on one of the wards the next day. Quite an experience having to cope with the comments of sailors of various ages when they discovered it was my first day in the navy.
After a few months in that hospital I was posted to a navel training establishment in Cornwall which had a sick bay comprising of four wards, two for medical patients and two for surgical It also had an operating theatre and an x-ray room. I was stationed there for two years before I was de-mobbed.
I thoroughly enjoyed it all. There were dances every weekend, though of course plenty of nursing in the sickbay.
All things come to an end, and I often look back and think what a great time it all was.
Here are some interesting links about the VAD's.
Wikipedia Article
BBC Article
Polly – June 2008
