DIARY FEBRUARY/MARCH 1945
February 1st
Last day of leave.
February 2nd
Mum came to Goole with me and saw me off. Pat was in the train. Arrived London 8pm. Staying in transit hotel.
February 3rd
Off to aerodrome early. Did not fly as aeroplane out of order. Went round shops and bought pyjamas.
February 4th
Left for aerodrome early. Left U.K. at 10.30. Arrived Belgium 12.00. By lorry to Brussels. Had lunch saw Ryder, Ayers and Terry. Left Brussels 5.30pm arrived at unit at 2.30am Grave Holland.
February 5th
On duty at 1, on medical ward. Wet day.
February 6th
Working on medical and surgical wards relieving. Off duty 5-8, washing etc.
February 7th
Half day went for a walk across fields with Cameron and Paton. Raining and muddy.
February 8th
Relieving on minor surgical ward. Ironing etc when off duty.
February 9th
On medical ward relieving. A letter from Thornton (America)
February 10th
Still relieving. Went for a walk with Kay into a small village with a church and a windmill.
February 13th
Medical ward and minor surgical. Wards very busy. Buzz bombs over.
February 14th
Minor surgical ward. Bed at 2pm to go on night duty. Both wards busy. Win is in Brussels on her way back from leave.
February 15th
First night of duty over. 100 patients a busy night. Win still not back.
February 16th
Another busy night. 12 patients on surgical ward.
February 17th
Had a busy night. 120 patients. Win back from leave. Had an accident in Brussels and one on the way up here.
February 22nd
Matron from No.8 General Hospital in Brussels came to stay here for 4 days.
February 23rd
Mum’s birthday
February 24th
Got up early. Went to the baths and for a walk with Parker.
February 25th
Had a fur jerkin given, not a very good one.
February 27th
Up at 5. Win and I went for a short walk. Last night of night duty but still very busy. Rumours we move in a few days.
March 2nd
Finished night duty. Packing. Five French girls staying with us in transit.
March 3rd
Packing personal goods. Win and I went for a walk through Grave – bought postcards back in time for tea then went to baths.
March 4th
In ambulance by 10am. Near Nimegan? Saw Monty and Churchill pass. Went for a short walk. Messing with officers. We are in monastery. Service in Chapel in evening.
March 5th
Ready by 7am to continue journey. Through Cleve and into Germany. All houses down, no civilians. Arrived at 2 at the castle. Furniture still about, glassware, fruit etc. I began opening church as a ward.
March 6th
Working. Finished wards. No windows-very cold. Stoves in most wards. Patients began coming in 2pm.
March 7th
Ward full busy day.
March 8th
Busy on ward no off duty
March 10th
Kay, Esther and I went for a walk through lanes and across a stream. Through a minefield, saw unexploded bomb. Lots of German dugouts in the fields, camouflaged with straw. Saw a few German civilians and kiddies whilst we were out.
March 12th
Kay and I had a walk in the afternoon. A lovely Spring day. Found a bicycle but back wheel was bent. Woods very devastated. Lots of used ammo lying around and empty boxes. A few graves in the woods.
March 14th
Letter from Ma and Pa Kennedy
March 15th
Packing to leave Wesse. Handed over patients and the Schlosse to 28th Casualty Clearing Station. Called Win at 4, had half hour for a walk with Iris and Kay. No lights on using hurricane lamps. Bed early up at 5.30am
March 16th
Arrived at Bedburg, near Cleve after a short journey. Took over from a Canadian F.D.S. and 9 of their patients. I am on major medical ward. This is part of a mental home.
March 17th
Fairly busy day. Managed to get water from mobile laundry for a bath. Had a letter from Rider. Not allowed out of barracks.
March 18th
Not too busy, writing letters.
March 20th
Parker, Kay and I went out and saw a castle and horses herded in a field. Had a ride on a horse. Packed in evening for leave to Brussels.
March 21st
Win and I left for 48 hours leave in Brussels. Arrived 6pm at Hotel Acania. Had headaches so had dinner and went to bed early.
March 22nd
Stayed in bed til 10 then changed money. Went to Waterloo in afternoon. To pictures at Garrison Theatre in evening to see Old Aquantamen. Parker rang us to say we had to return the following day.
March 23rd
Win and I returned from 48 hour leave in Brussels with Major Nicholson and 3 M.Os. Had sandwiches on the way. Arrived back 6pm. Heard guns. First barrage of new push going on.
March 24th
Admitting all day. No off duty. First battle casualties arriving. On major surgical.
March 25th
Busy day no off duty
March 31st
Heard we are moving on again and a general hospital is taking over.
Last day of leave.
February 2nd
Mum came to Goole with me and saw me off. Pat was in the train. Arrived London 8pm. Staying in transit hotel.
February 3rd
Off to aerodrome early. Did not fly as aeroplane out of order. Went round shops and bought pyjamas.
February 4th
Left for aerodrome early. Left U.K. at 10.30. Arrived Belgium 12.00. By lorry to Brussels. Had lunch saw Ryder, Ayers and Terry. Left Brussels 5.30pm arrived at unit at 2.30am Grave Holland.
February 5th
On duty at 1, on medical ward. Wet day.
February 6th
Working on medical and surgical wards relieving. Off duty 5-8, washing etc.
February 7th
Half day went for a walk across fields with Cameron and Paton. Raining and muddy.
February 8th
Relieving on minor surgical ward. Ironing etc when off duty.
February 9th
On medical ward relieving. A letter from Thornton (America)
February 10th
Still relieving. Went for a walk with Kay into a small village with a church and a windmill.
February 13th
Medical ward and minor surgical. Wards very busy. Buzz bombs over.
February 14th
Minor surgical ward. Bed at 2pm to go on night duty. Both wards busy. Win is in Brussels on her way back from leave.
February 15th
First night of duty over. 100 patients a busy night. Win still not back.
February 16th
Another busy night. 12 patients on surgical ward.
February 17th
Had a busy night. 120 patients. Win back from leave. Had an accident in Brussels and one on the way up here.
February 22nd
Matron from No.8 General Hospital in Brussels came to stay here for 4 days.
February 23rd
Mum’s birthday
February 24th
Got up early. Went to the baths and for a walk with Parker.
February 25th
Had a fur jerkin given, not a very good one.
February 27th
Up at 5. Win and I went for a short walk. Last night of night duty but still very busy. Rumours we move in a few days.
March 2nd
Finished night duty. Packing. Five French girls staying with us in transit.
March 3rd
Packing personal goods. Win and I went for a walk through Grave – bought postcards back in time for tea then went to baths.
March 4th
In ambulance by 10am. Near Nimegan? Saw Monty and Churchill pass. Went for a short walk. Messing with officers. We are in monastery. Service in Chapel in evening.
March 5th
Ready by 7am to continue journey. Through Cleve and into Germany. All houses down, no civilians. Arrived at 2 at the castle. Furniture still about, glassware, fruit etc. I began opening church as a ward.
March 6th
Working. Finished wards. No windows-very cold. Stoves in most wards. Patients began coming in 2pm.
March 7th
Ward full busy day.
March 8th
Busy on ward no off duty
March 10th
Kay, Esther and I went for a walk through lanes and across a stream. Through a minefield, saw unexploded bomb. Lots of German dugouts in the fields, camouflaged with straw. Saw a few German civilians and kiddies whilst we were out.
March 12th
Kay and I had a walk in the afternoon. A lovely Spring day. Found a bicycle but back wheel was bent. Woods very devastated. Lots of used ammo lying around and empty boxes. A few graves in the woods.
March 14th
Letter from Ma and Pa Kennedy
March 15th
Packing to leave Wesse. Handed over patients and the Schlosse to 28th Casualty Clearing Station. Called Win at 4, had half hour for a walk with Iris and Kay. No lights on using hurricane lamps. Bed early up at 5.30am
March 16th
Arrived at Bedburg, near Cleve after a short journey. Took over from a Canadian F.D.S. and 9 of their patients. I am on major medical ward. This is part of a mental home.
March 17th
Fairly busy day. Managed to get water from mobile laundry for a bath. Had a letter from Rider. Not allowed out of barracks.
March 18th
Not too busy, writing letters.
March 20th
Parker, Kay and I went out and saw a castle and horses herded in a field. Had a ride on a horse. Packed in evening for leave to Brussels.
March 21st
Win and I left for 48 hours leave in Brussels. Arrived 6pm at Hotel Acania. Had headaches so had dinner and went to bed early.
March 22nd
Stayed in bed til 10 then changed money. Went to Waterloo in afternoon. To pictures at Garrison Theatre in evening to see Old Aquantamen. Parker rang us to say we had to return the following day.
March 23rd
Win and I returned from 48 hour leave in Brussels with Major Nicholson and 3 M.Os. Had sandwiches on the way. Arrived back 6pm. Heard guns. First barrage of new push going on.
March 24th
Admitting all day. No off duty. First battle casualties arriving. On major surgical.
March 25th
Busy day no off duty
March 31st
Heard we are moving on again and a general hospital is taking over.