At the outbreak of WW2 there were about 640 regular members of the QAIMNS (Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service). This number was increased with the mobilisation of the QAIMNS Reserve and the TANS (Territorial Army Nursing Service).
At the start of WW2 members of the QAIMNS along with VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurses were mobilised to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In May 1940 the British troops had to withdraw across the Low Countries and France and this included the QAIMNS and VAD nurses who had set up hospitals in forward areas. The retreat was fast and rather than leave valuable medical equipment for the enemy the Royal Engineers destroyed the buildings and the nurses helped to destroy the equipment.
Many nurses made their way to Dunkirk to await evacuation and came under fire. One of the last nursing sisters to leave France was Lillian Gutteridge who bravely defended her patients. A German SS officer tried to take over her ambulance and ordered his men to throw out the stretcher bound patients. She slapped the SS officer's face and he stabbed her in the thigh with his dagger. He was killed by passing Black Watch soldiers. Despite her wound she drove the ambulance and her wounded patients to a railway siding and persuaded a French train driver to take on board her patients. They went to Cherbourg and during the journey took on board another 600 French and British wounded. Several days later Lillian and her patients arrived safely in England.
The QAIMNS badges, medallion and shoulder board was kindly loaned to us by our good friend Roy Towell.
At the start of WW2 members of the QAIMNS along with VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurses were mobilised to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In May 1940 the British troops had to withdraw across the Low Countries and France and this included the QAIMNS and VAD nurses who had set up hospitals in forward areas. The retreat was fast and rather than leave valuable medical equipment for the enemy the Royal Engineers destroyed the buildings and the nurses helped to destroy the equipment.
Many nurses made their way to Dunkirk to await evacuation and came under fire. One of the last nursing sisters to leave France was Lillian Gutteridge who bravely defended her patients. A German SS officer tried to take over her ambulance and ordered his men to throw out the stretcher bound patients. She slapped the SS officer's face and he stabbed her in the thigh with his dagger. He was killed by passing Black Watch soldiers. Despite her wound she drove the ambulance and her wounded patients to a railway siding and persuaded a French train driver to take on board her patients. They went to Cherbourg and during the journey took on board another 600 French and British wounded. Several days later Lillian and her patients arrived safely in England.
The QAIMNS badges, medallion and shoulder board was kindly loaned to us by our good friend Roy Towell.
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