QA Nurses Training Centre Aldershot

The History Of The QARANC Training Centre

Royal Pavilion Aldershot

All praise and thanks to God

The Father now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns

With Them in highest heaven,

The One Eternal God,

Whom earth and Heav'n adore,

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore. Amen.

The Blessing


Historical Notes

1854. Crimea. 1899. South African War.

1880. Zulu War. 1914-18. World War I.

1882. Egyptian Campaign. 1939-45. World War II.

Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of the employment of women trained nurses in Military Hospitals, formed her first nucleus of a recognized Nursing Service to the Army in the Crimean War.

On the return of the Army from the Crimea in 1856, Florence Nightingale devoted her organizing abilities to the formulation of a scheme for Army nurses. So successful was she that women nurses were employed in the general hospital at Fort Pitt, Chatham, to look after the soldiers sent home from the Crimea, and the question of an establishment of Army nurses was seriously considered. On the 19th May, 1856, Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, while a little later the building of the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, was begun. Each of these hospitals was staffed with Army nurses. In 1860 the Army Medical School was transferred from Chatham to Netley, and Lady Jane Stewart-Shaw, with her staff of nurses, was also transferred.

In 1866 provision was made for the appointment of nurses to all Military General Hospitals, but it was not until 1881 that an Army Nursing Service was formed. Meanwhile, in 1879-80 several sisters were sent to the Zulu War.

The Egyptian campaigns (1882) again led to a reorganization of the Nursing Service, sisters being sent to hospitals at Gibraltar and Malta. In the same year a staff of nurses was appointed to the Brigade of Guards Hospital, London, and later sisters were posted to military hospitals at Aldershot and Egypt. Finally, in 1883, every military hospital of 100 beds or more had a staff of sisters.

As the Crimean War led to the employment of nurses in military hospitals and the eventual inauguration of the Army Nursing Service, so the South African War and the experiences obtained during that campaign led to the reorganization of the Army Nursing Service and the formation of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Services in 1902.

In 1945 the further experience of World War II led to a period of reconstruction and reorganization.

In 1949 Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps came into being.


The Depot and Training Establishment has five main tasks:

1. Basic and Corps training of the other rank recruit.

2. Basic military training of the State Registered Nurse joining the Army on first appointment.

3. The training of Junior and Senior Officers in administration and organization.

4. Administration of a preliminary Nurse Training Centre.

5. Holding and drafting for the Corps.

The Corps flag, which is flown for the first time in our history, consists of the old Q.A.I.M.N.S. colours chosen by H.M. Queen Alexandra in 1904, with the new Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps badge superimposed.

The Q.A.R.A.N.C. march, "Grey and Scarlet", is played for the first time in public. This march was arranged by Captain Brown, Director of Music, R.A.M.C., from the suggestions given by Professor A. Lewis. of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham University, and members of the Q.A.R.A.N.C. Depot staff.

The brisk martial theme of Purcell's "King Arthur" is followed by the quiet, peaceful note of the traditional air, "The Gentle Maiden." The sharp contrasts of tune illustrate the dual role of the Q.A. within the Army structure, woven inextricably by history into the pattern of our life.


Remember!

"Remember when you are far away up-country, possibly the only English woman there, that these men will note and remember your every action, not only as a nurse, but as a woman; your life to them will be as the rings a pebble makes when thrown into a pond - reaching far, reaching wide - each ripple gone beyond your grasp, yet remembered almost to exaggeration by those soldiers lying helpless in their sickness. See that your every word and act is worthy of your profession and your womanhood."

(This message was sent by Florence Nightingale to the members of the Army Nursing Service on the eve of their departure to the Egyptian Campaign, 1882, and is passed on today to every new member of the Corps.)

Gale & Polden Ltd. The Wellington Press. Aldershot




50th Anniversary of the QAs

In 1952 another significant parade was held at Queen Alexandra Barracks to mark the 50th anniversary of the QAs on the 4 June. The date was delayed from the actual date of the Golden Jubilee of the QAs which would have been on the 27 March 1952, Sadly King George VI had died the month before and the ceremonial parade was delayed until the 4 June 1952.

This parade marked the first time that QA other ranks wore the new grey uniform. Previously they had worn the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) uniforms with a scarlet and grey lanyard and QA shoulder tabs and badges (cited in the book Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S) by Juliet Piggott).


The photo above is from the collection of Sgt Jean Miller. On the reverse is written This was taken on June 4th during celebrations of 50 years under Royal Warrant. The oldest and newest uniform of the corps.


There are more photographs of this 50th anniversary parade in the book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing.

Below is a copy of the Jubilee Souvenir Programme (with thanks to Terry Hissey).




The QA Jubilee Souvenir Programme had the emblems of the QAIMNS and QARANC on the front covers with the QA scarlet covers embossed along the right hand corner. The QA Jubilee Souvenir Programme read:

JUBILEE SOUVENIR PROGRAMME

1902 1952

DEPOT AND TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT

QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S ROYAL ARMY NURSING CORPS

Wednesday, 4th June, 1952


THE DEPOT AND TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT

Q.A.R.A.N.C

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Wednesday, 4th June, 1952

PROGRAMME

11.30am PARADE

12.15pm BAND CONCERT by the Royal Army Medical Corps, under the direction of Captain L.E. Brown, L.R.A.M, A.R.C.M.

1pm LUNCHEON

2pm CORPS SPORTS MEETING

4.45pm PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

by Lady Crocker

5pm TEA

8pm ALL RANKS' DANCE


ORDER OF CEREMONY FOR PARADE

1. Three companies of the Depot and T.E. Q.A.R.A.N.C.

March on parade in the following order:

Headquarter Company, R.A.M.C. and Q.A.R.A.N.C.

Officers' Training Company, Q.A.R.A.N.C.

Recruit Training Company, Q.A.R.A.N.C.

2. Parade Commander, Colonel H.S. Gillespie, M.B.E., R.R.C., arrives and takes over parade.

3. The Adjutant-General arrives, accompanied by Matron-in-Chief and Director Army Nursing Services, and is received with a general salute.

4. The Adjutant-General inspects Parade.

5. The Parade marches past in line.

6. The Parade advances in Review Order.

7. The Adjutant-General will present Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

8. The Adjutant-General will address assembled company.

9. The General Salute.

10. The Band of the Royal Army Medical Corps leading, the Parade marches off in close column of route.


CEREMONIAL PARADE PROGRAMME OF MUSIC

MUSIC BY THE BAND OF THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Conducted By

Captain L.D. Brown, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M, R.A.M.C.

1. March On. "Canyon" By Winson

2. General Salute

Inspection Music

(a) Regimental March "The Royal Tank Regiment"

(b) Slow March "The Duke of York" by S.V. Balfour

(c) Troop "May Blossom" by Weir

(d) Slow March "By Land And Sea" by Alford

3. March Past. "Grey And Scarlet" (Q.A. Regimental March)

4. March in review order "The British Grenadiers"

5. General Salute

6. March Past. "Grey And Scarlet" (Q.A. Regimental March)


SHORT HISTORY OF

QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S

IMPERIAL MILITARY NURSING SERVICE

QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S

ROYAL ARMY NURSING CORPS

1902 The "Army nursing Service" became Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and was established under Royal Warrant on 27th March. This date is now celebrated annually as "Q.A." Day.

Her Majesty Queen Alexandra graciously consented to be first President of Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing Board, and the Service came immediately under her control. (Nursing in the Army by women was originated in 1854 by Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War, and female nurses were on the establishments of all Military General Hospitals from 1866. In 1881 the "Army Nursing Service" was inaugurated.)

1904 Her Majesty Queen Alexandra devised the badge and colours for the Service, also its motto, "Sub Cruce Candida." The cross in the badge is the Danish Cross or the Dannebrog, meaning "The strength of Denmark." The badge was registered in 1905 as the official insignia of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service.

1925 Death of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra.

1926 Her Majesty Queen Mary graciously consented to be President. Amalgamation of Queen Alexandra's Military Nursing Service, India, which opened up a very much wider field for overseas service.

1927 Absorption of Queen Alexandra's Military Families Nursing Service, after which, "Q.A.s" were responsible not only for the nursing of the men of the Army but also their wives and children wherever stationed.

1940 Q.A.I.M.N.S authorised to wear relative badges of rank.

1941 Q.A.I.M.N.S granted emergency commissions in the Women's Forces.

1947 Q.A. Depot first formed at Anstie Grange for training, holding and drafting.

1948 Her Majesty Queen Mary became Commandant-in-Chief. A Controller-Commandant was also approved and appointed.

1949 Q.A.I.M.N.S. became a Corps of the Army, and officers were given regular commissions in it. The title was changed to Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, and the badge was altered accordingly.

1950 Officers were granted the same rank titles as male officers. Her Majesty Queen Mary became Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps, and the title of Controller-Commandant was changed to Colonel Commandant.

The Other Rank element of Q.A.R.A.N.C. was formed and the first recruits joined in July, 1950.

The Depot and Training Establishment Q.A.R.A.N.C. in its permanent home at Hindhead was officially opened in September, 1950, and renamed Queen Alexandra Camp.

Reserve: The first Reserve of the Service was formed in 1897 as a result of the untiring interest of Princess Christian, and this Reserve was known as Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve.

This Service was replaced by Q.A.I.M.N.S. Reserve formed in 1908 was renamed the Territorial Army Nursing Service in 1921, and the present Q.A.R.A.N.C. (T.A.) replaced it in February, 1949.

These services, before their present formation, had their own distinctive badges and colours.



Gale & Polden Ltd, The Wellington Press, Aldershot 3682-V



Aldershot Old Camp

Marlene Stoneman (nee Marshall) joined up in 1965 and this photo was taken at Aldershot in the old camp. Looking at the photo from the left top are the Kasher twins from Northumberland, Judith and Gillian, unknown and then the 5th person is Maureen Hayes. Marlene Marshall is next then Pauline Smith who she later shared a room with at BMH Iserlohn in 1966. Then there is Angela Sloman and Norma Watson. On the second row left to right are Mo Baker, Val Wallace, Janet Heslop, Wendy, Bunty, unknown, Sylvia Bailey, next 4 unknown, Jeanette and Jennifer Bullivent. On the bottom row left to right are Peggy, unknown but 10th from left is Carrie who said "like" so much that’s what they called her!





Marlene recalls that the QAs were moved to a new building not long after because when she was demobbed in March 1967 she went to the new barracks but cannot remember where it was. She recently uploaded this picture to a QARANC group site and someone mentioned the area was called Thornhill. She remembers a cemetery nearby because when they snuck out they hid there to not be seen when they made their way down the hill to the NAAFI.



Below is a copy of the Order of the Ceremony for the Parade with the Ceremonial Parade Programme of Music (with thanks to Terry Hissey).





The photograph below is of the QATC hockey team 1986.







The picture below is of the QATC permanent staff of 1986.





The image below is of the QA Corps Tennis Final in 1986.






The picture below is of the November 1969 intake at The Royal Pavilion Aldershot during a very cold winter:








A QARANC wall plaque and shield is available to buy through Amazon. The QA shield is hand made and ready to hang on the wall. .

Buy Now.






View British Army Nursing Books - with free delivery available.



If you would like to contribute to this page, suggest changes or inclusions to this website or would like to send me a photograph then please e-mail me.


For the official Army QARANC webpage please go to
www.army.mod.uk/home.aspx
For the QA Association website please go to
http://www.army.mod.uk/medical-services/nursing/30987.aspx


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