REMEMBRANCE DAY 2016
This year we decided to try a different church venue for our Remembrance Day Service.
St John the Baptist Church, where we held our National Corps Day Service in April, is a beautiful little church with a really friendly atmosphere in Cardiff city centre.
Marilyn & I were the only two from the Branch able to attend this year. We were greeted like old friends by those we had met previously in April, and the rest of the congregation were equally as welcoming.
We were included in the Act of Remembrance and proudly laid the QA wreath alongside others. We were surprised, during the reading of the names of local war veterans, to hear the name, “Edith Cavell”. Nobody, however, appeared to know how she was connected to the church, a topic for research!
FESTIVAL OF WALES REMEMBRANCE CONCERT
Twelve members & friends enjoyed this memorable Welsh event which takes place on the Saturday before the London Celebrations.
Welsh Branch Members joined together with QAs from 203 Field Hospital to mark this event, and the Welsh Branch Standard was proudly carried by Capt Lyndon Davies.
FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM AGM & LUNCH
This was attended by two Branch members, Marilyn & Beryl. A very interesting talk was given by guest speaker, Col Jim Ryan, about the History of Military Surgery.
It was a good reunion & informative day on the progress of the proposed new Museum of Military Medicine.
Pen Y Fan Walk 2016
On a misty day in August a few stalwart Branch members and Bertie, the dog, gathered together to climb Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons. There were varying ages and standards of fitness, with our very fit intrepid walker (and Treasurer), Marian, leading the way.
It was an approximate 1¾ hour climb and despite the miserable weather, the views during the ascent were amazing. All had a great sense of achievement and exhilaration on reaching the summit, and the QA Association badge and scarf were proudly displayed in the group photograph. During the descent the long expected rain set in and the lunch, provided at the Brecon Mountain Centre, was much appreciated.
Not Forgotten Garden Party 2016
I was extremely fortunate this year to be invited to the “Not Forgotten” Association Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, which was held in May. This is an annual occasion and is the last party of the season and much smaller than the other parties, only 2,500 guests in comparison with 4,000 for the others.
It is always attended by one member of the Royal Family; this year it was Prince Andrew and his two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
I met two QARANC Association members, Maj (Retd) Dottie Calderwood, and WO1 (Retd) Anne P Frazer ARRC in the beautiful gardens of the Palace on a lovely sunny day.
It was a joyful, colourful occasion, with the military bands playing and everyone dressed in summer outfits or smart uniform. The RSM was presented to Princess Beatrice, who was charming, friendly and very interested in the RSM’s hat.
We mingled amongst the crowd and met up with other QARANC personnel. There were also a number of well-known celebrities chatting and having their photographs taken. Tea was served at 2.15pm and consisted of delicate sandwiches, cakes and strawberries and cream.
A perfect day, “Not to be Forgotten”.
Marilyn Williams
In the early morning hours of February 26, 1918 HMHS Glenart Castle had just entered the Celtic Sea after leaving Newport (Wales) en route to France to pick up wounded, she was sailing with only her crew and hospital staff.
Operator: Union-Castle Line
Builder: Harland and Wolff
Launched: 20 September 1900
Completed: 6 December 1900
Tonnage: 6,807 tons gross
Formerly: The Galician
Fate: Torpedoed by German U-boat UC-56, 26 February 1918. Wreck lies approximately 10 mi (16 km) west of Lundy Island in 240 ft (73 m) of water POS - 51:07N 05:03W.
At about 0400 hrs two torpedoes hit the Glenart Castle on her starboard side, almost immediately all power was lost and all lights went out, the ship was plunged into darkness. Reports vary but it is believed that the ship sunk in about 7 minutes. One lifeboat had been destroyed by the explosions and others had much difficulty getting into the water, however seven boats were got away, but only one was ever found.
AMS Rugby
The Inaugural Inter-Unit Harriet Cup was played for at 33 Fd Hosp last week, with female teams coming from up and down the country.
A hard played competition eventually saw DMG(SE) take overall win, with RCDM as runner up.
If you are part of the AMS, Regular or Reserve and would like to get involved in Rugby please contact your Unit Rugby Officers to seek further details.
The QARANC celebrated their Corps Day on Saturday 25March 2017 at Aldershot.
A service, officiated by Father John Harvey, was attended by over 200 serving and retired Corps members at the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints followed by a reception at the Royal Pavilion, the site of the former QARANC Training Centre.
The Corps were honoured that Sir Gerald Howarth (MP for Aldershot) who was accompanied by his wife attended.
The event also gave thanksgiving to the 70th Anniversary of the QARANC Association - further celebration will be held at the Annual Reunion in London on 6 May 2017.
For more details and an application form please contact the Regimental Headquarters.
The Operation GRITROCK prints are available through the museum of military Medicine (Keogh Barracks) at a cost of £50 per print.
Limited Edition prints, from approved oil painting, produce professional scan and print artwork (approx 70 x 50 cm) with border, title, caption and cap badges. Run full colour lithographic print on heavy 350gsm art board. Artist signed & numbered, supplied with certificate of Authenticity.
The painting was commissioned by the QARANC Association to help capture the significant contribution made by Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps on Operation GRITROCK which deployed in support of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone late in 2014. The unveiling formed part of the Chief Nursing Officer’s Study Day which was attended by over 150 QARANC delegates selected from the range of ranks specialities and locations.
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The Countess of Wessex Challenge Cup took place on 4 October 2016 and was hosted by RAF Wittering. The QARANC were delighted to participate for the first time in the competitions 6 year history.
The aim of the competition is to allow the respective units to participate in a competitive environment while developing bonds of friendship and mutual understanding. It is also the ideal vehicle for Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex to catch up with all her Unit Commanding Officers and meet members of the Units together.
As well as being Colonel-in-Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC, The Countess of Wessex is The Royal Colonel of 5th Battalion The Rifles; Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Wittering; Colonel-in- Chief of the Corps of Army Music and sponsor of HMS Daring. Competitors this year came from RAF Wittering, HMS Daring, 5th Battalion The Rifles, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, The Corps of Army Music & The Lincoln & Welland Regiment, (a regiment of the Canadian Army) who all faced a mixture of physical and mental challenges during the day.
The QARANC team who included servicemen and women from a variety of units enjoyed the day and despite the rigorous nature of some of the challenges in the competition left in good spirits. The QARANC congratulate RAF Wittering who were this years winners of the Challenge Cup.
HRH The Countess of Wessex is undertaking a 450 mile cycle challenge from the Palace of Holyroohouse to Buckingham Palace in aid of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
Even before the 'Diamond Cycle Challenge' started the Countess had raised in excess of £93000 for the charity and she hopes to raise even more as the event is publicised throughout the week.
Cycling for 60 miles a day it is hoped that the trip will take a week to complete, with regular stops programmed in the Countess is indeed confident that she and the team will complete the challenge in time. Before starting she said that "Standing here right now, i am very nervous. The prosepct of the 450 miles is pretty daunting."
Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex presents the Firmin Sword of Peace to 5 Armoured Medical Regiment
The Corps were honoured that Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, Colonel in Chief to the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, attended Robertson House at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 13 July 2016 to present the Firmin Sword of Peace to 5 Armoured Medical Regiment. The regiment is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Jackson QARANC who until the beginning of July was supported by another QARANC Officer, Major Jan Dodd as the Unit Second in Command.
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A Career in Army Nursing
The QARANC employs Officers and Soldiers in both the Regular and Reserve Army, as Registered Nurses, Student Nurses, and Health Care Assistants, and we are always looking for people. If you are interested in a career as a Nurse or Health Care Assistant which also offers other great opportunities then you are just the person we are looking for. A career in the QARANC is more than a job, you will have access to extensive training and development opportunities, not just related to your job, but personal development too. You will have the opportunity to use your skills in diverse settings – wherever the Army is employed health care professionals from the QARANC are there. Right now there are QARANC personnel working around the world, including Sierra Leone, Canada, Mali, Afghanistan, Germany, and Cyprus. Being in the QARANC you will have access to, and be expected to undertake adventurous training, and you will have access to free medical and dental care, as well as robust annual leave and pension package. For information contact a member of the QARANC recruiting team on: 01276 412741, 01276 412742 or 01276 412740 or visit
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