The Base Hospital at Manning Depot, St. Johns, Quebec was a very busy place the winter of 1952 when I was told of my posting to 2 Wing in France. I was an acting Cpl. Medical Assistant and would have to revert to LAW rank, which didn't bother me, but where on earth was Grostenquin in France? I wanted to know. When I told my parents that airwomen were being sent overseas, my mother thought that would be "a great experience."
There were 48 of us with F/O Cox as our officer gathered at No. 1 Personnel Reception Centre, Lachine, Quebec for documentation and lectures in late February. There on one cool morning, in full parade dress including great coats, we marched into the frosty air to the rhythm of band music for inspection and an address by Air Vice Marshal Frank G Wait, from Headquarters. That took just long enough for the band instruments to freeze up so we had to make a quiet retreat. However, a delicious luncheon awaited us as we thawed out before packing off to Montreal to catch the evening train to Halifax. We then boarded the Cunard Liner Ascania on March 1 and set sail at 9:00 p.m. for France.
The six day voyage was like a holiday cruise for us, even tourist class seemed fabulous, as we spent time on deck, enjoyed the meals and got acquainted with others in our trade.
On arriving in Paris, we were met by S/L Pope with the news that our barracks in 2 Wing were not yet ready, and she had permission to keep us in hotels in Paris for two days. We thought this posting was going to be a hoot as we enjoyed the Follies, shopping and French cuisine. The lights of Paris soon faded and reality set in when we arrived by train at Faulquemont and were taken by bus along the winding roads of the French countryside, through the villages of Guessling and Hemering, where the houses and barns were joined together and ran down both sides of the road, and manure piles were located between the barns and the road. I thought of my mother's words, "great experience" and wondered what I had got myself into this time.
We were advised in Lachine that from the air the station at Grostenquin looked like one big mud puddle, and when we arrived we found it to be an accurate description. Many of the buildings on station had been completed and some were connected with wooden sidewalks. The water pipes were strung about the station on poles overhead which seemed a bit unusual nevertheless we were fortunate to have running water in barracks. The tap water was undrinkable so large containers of water, treated with purification tablets were set up in every washroom. We often preferred to drink bottled lemonade or Mousseau as pop was more expensive.
The rainy season was almost over when we arrived in early March so things were improving and the Mess Hall had been replaced.
The station had been opened in the fall of 1952 by a great crew of officers and airman, who spent a very bleak winter in this muddy area. They were so glad to see the girls arrive that the CO G/C Pollard and the service police thought it wise to guard our barracks for a few nights. That precaution wasn't necessary as the men were real gentlemen, considerate and friendly. Except for a very boisterous reception at Sunday supper in the Mess when someone brought their mascot rooster to greet us.
With the hospital not ready for occupation, we Medical Assistants helped out with sick-parade and the pharmacy which were in temporary quarters in a barrack block. After a lot of cleaning and hard work we were finally able to open the hospital in April 1953. We were soon in action with full health care for our service personnel, plus dependents who had come to join their husbands. This was a very rewarding experience as we took care of little tots, civilians, maternity cases, and new babies. Most were happy cases, but then we also had accident cases and accident victims which taught the harsh reality of life.
Service life was not all work. We had church services, the Glee Club, dances and some good shows on the station. Of course there were great opportunities to visit interesting places on leave. To take the train to Amsterdam for Easter leave was an adventure in itself, but well worth the struggle of learning the travel system and currency exchange. Learning the French and German languages was a challenge but broadened one's knowledge and interest of the people we met in the surrounding areas.
Romance also made life much more interesting. After having become acquainted with an airman over the months, he and I went to Amsterdam to get engaged, then later to London to be married. We lived in rented rooms in the village of Faulquemont for over a year, and I took my discharge from the Air Force on November 16, 1954. Our first son was born in the Station Hospital before we returned to Canada aboard the RMS Franconia in January 1956.
I enjoyed the Nursing experience and the adventure of finding Grostenquin in France.
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