The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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218423 VAD. Margaret Mary Botsford Royal Navy HMS Collingwood (Shore Base) from:Newbury, Berkshire Every morning at six o'clock the American Forces Network was switched on in the wards to familiar music from Elgar. The day staff came on duty at half past seven and although we had been aware that an invasion was imminent to us it was an ordinary morning. On 6th June 1944 I was twenty years old, serving as a full-time VAD nurse at a large naval camp HMS Collingwood just outside Fareham near Portsmouth. In the previous weeks in May all leave had been cancelled, we were not allowed more than five miles beyond the camp and the roads around were crammed with army vehicles and personnel. Eisenhower's headquarters were on the hill beyond the town and large staff cars with American flags were to be seen. On the particular morning our routine was similar to any other but half way through the morning it was announced on the radio that troops had arrived in France and the long-awaited invasion had taken place. At about twelve o'clock I was told to report to the Superintending Sister's office where twelve of us were to be sent to the base hospital at Haslar to help with casualties. On arrival we were sent to bed in preparation for night-duty. This started at seven thirty in the evening and we were directed to empty wards which needed preparation. Out of the window we could see the channel but as it grew darker nothing happened and the night passed. The following evening we were told to be ready as the operating theatres were full. The lift doors clanged incessantly during the night, all beds soon became occupied and we had little time to ourselves until going off duty, later than usual, the following morning. The patients were glider pilots, airborne troops and infantrymen and there were amputations, head and eye wounds most needing constant attention though glad to be safe. Some were anxious to talk and one boy attempted to write a letter with his left hand (the one he had left). After a few days evacuation to hospitals in less dangerous areas started along with a stream of relatives who were told they had further journeys to make. Many heartbreaking sights, tears and efforts to cope with the unknown. After a week we were sent back to camp. Sixty years later it is still fresh in my memory. 30/5/04 P/JX W502416 V.A.D Botsford M.M. Andrew Stewart Add to this record.  Related Content: Red Cross & St John's Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachments D Day and the Battle of Normandy Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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