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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by a volunteer from the Actiondesk on behalf of Beryl Carroll and has been added to the site with her permission. Beryl Carroll fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

As I was in the Civil Service, I was in a reserved occupation, which meant I was not allowed to join any of the Armed Services. In 1943 I was released from my job to join the National Service as I had by then been awarded 2 certificates in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Nursing and First Aid and had done 20 hours on the hospital wards. This entitled me to join the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD’s). This was a nursing service performed in the First World War by well to-do ladies who did not get paid. We in the Second World War were paid a small salary, lived in the nurses home, had a uniform allowance and First Class Travel Warrants when we went on leave.

We each belonged to our local detachment. Mine was East Lancs 54, which I wore in brass on each epaulet. I was assigned to the Royal Navyand was stationed at a Royal Naval Auxilliary hospital at Barrow Gurney near Bristol. I didn’t actually do nursing, but instead worked in the Training Division, helping to organise training courses for sick-berth attendants. These probationers were billeted in Nissan Huts in the hospital grounds, 280 in 5 classes. The lecturers were 3 Chief Petty Officers and 8 Petty Officers and one Leading Hand. A Warrant Ward Master was in charge. Many a tale they would tell me about life at sea. There were also 3 Queen Alex Nursing Sisters who lectured the men in nursing.

When D Day was approaching in June 1944, I was due to leave when suddenly all leave was cancelled, but no-one knew why. Then the D Day landings took place.

In April 1945, when the war in Europe ended, there was great excitement and a friend and I were going to go to London to join in the celebrations, but we thought better of it and stayed put, we were afraid we’d get caught.

I actually enjoyed the war because of the companionship. I was demobbed inJuly 1946 and back in Civvy Street I kept in touch with the many friends I made as a Royal Navy VAD No 564407.

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