Winnie Maclennan shares stories of time spent as nurse during WWII

Winnifred "Winnie" Maclennan, a resident at Heritage Lodge, remembers her time spent as nurse during World War II as vividly as if it were yesterday.

Maclennan recently celebrated her 95th birthday and shared some of her recollections as a nurse from 1945 to 1946. She told her story to Bronwen Kathy Williams, of L'Orignal, who volunteers with the Reading Group at Heritage Lodge.

Williams said Maclennan provided her with a hand-written copy of her memories, which Williams then typed out and went over with her, to ensure there weren't any errors.

The following is Maclennan's story, told in her own words:

My Travels During the War - 1945 to 1946

September 11, 1945, at 8:30 a.m., Fern Steele, Jean (my younger sister) and I arrived in St. John Uniform at the Ottawa Union Station to join the travel-worn VAD's from Western Canada.  I proceeded to Montreal for transport to Quebec City and boarded the Empress of Scotland at 5 p.m.  
After baggage check of one year's luggage, supper was served on the upper deck. The lights of Fort Frontenac were fascinating.  The St. Lawrence waters were very calm.  Miles were covered before one was aware the ship was moving.  At 9 p.m. all gathered for a pep talk then went to cabins, 10 to each and so to bunk.  Wednesday pm Princess Alice and The Earl of Athlone were strolling on top deck.  Cabin entertainment was a movie.  Sea waters became rough followed by seasickness "ugh".   Docking morning was seven days later in Liverpool.

The Isle of Mann, the view of Wales, then of England was awesome.  It was good to smell earth again.  We boarded a double-decker bus for a cheery and educational drive to the train station.  An orange from Canada was most appreciated by the driver.  Trains were known as tubes.  We were billeted to an American Club where meals for the group of 37 were provided.  Next morning consisted of parading down to St. John Gate General Council House for presentation to Sir James Sleeman. We were assured that help in England's war-worn hospitals was much needed and welcomed.  The forenoon was completed by parading back to a lovelyAmerican canteen lunch.  The afternoon was spent exploring London onfoot.  It was exciting to see Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.  Friday was spent in Kew Gardens.

Posting followed the next day, two for Swindon Orthopedic Hospital, we three were met by an army transport in Bristol and proceeded four miles to Stapleton Burden Neurological Hospital where we were welcomed by Matron Burkolme who later made chutney for our toast for break periods in the Retreat.  We shared a dorm with two British Red Cross nurses.  For our breakfast four days later Jean and I were served breakfast in bed until 1:30 with a special treat of a real boiled egg.

One month later, at 12:30 October 25, 1945, I met Nurse Mundy at Bristol Center and proceeded to her Mother's home, picking blackberries on the way.  We entered through a green garden trellis gate to the sun porch entrance where Mrs. Fripnell was placing her daughter's meal on the table so she could return to work.  Ordinarily the daughter would have been in school, but this was war work.  After lunch and rest around the fireplace, sipping what was referred to as a dish or a spot of tea, we three strolled through the garden. 
Nurse Mundy picked a bouquet and snicked a few of her father's special hot house blossoms to take back to the Retreat.

A week later Jean and I had our day off together and bussed into Bristol, had a treat of a cup of Kamp (liquid) coffee and crumpet without the maple syrup, then kept our dental army appointment in the Victoria Building.

Following Sunday afternoon treat, which was a large piece of dried-egg raisin cake, I strolled along Stoke Lane to a little Baptist Church for 6:30 evening service.  Mrs. Wilcher, the Burden Neurological dining room supervisor and choir member here, gave me the church flowers for the Retreat and accompanied me back to the Burden.  Jean, Fern and I escorted Sister Burke to her cottage after 9 pm.  Sister is afraid of Stoke Lane with its locked, black iron gate and high stone fences.  It is a spooky lane.

There are still blackouts every evening, for which reason nurses on day duty have four hours off during the day.  Sunday November 11, 1945 was Fern's day off.  I was free to join her at 4:30 pm.  We walked along Stapleton Road to the midwives' home.  No one was there so we continued on to the Methodist Church at Easton.  After service, one midwife had returned and welcomed us with hot tea and soup.  Next day Jean and I hiked to Fishponds to buy our candy rations.  Bristol is known for the world's best chocolate.

We bought fish paste and scones, which required no ration coupons, for a surprise variety tea for Fern Web (Webby), a British Red Cross nurse.  When visiting, the items requiring coupons made welcome gifts as did the Woodbine cigarettes, a delight to Britishers.

Coming off night duty, I had an extra day's leave, so accepted Mrs. Beach's invitation to her home in Wells.  She came many times to visit her ill little son Christopher, the hospital darling, as did Mr. Beach.  We met Jennifer (9) and Angela (6 years of age) and then had tea and scones by the fireside in the den.  Only four large coals are allowed to be burned in an evening, so all retired to be wakened early for an English cup of tea in bed.

After breakfast we proceeded into the drawing room where a different fireplace was glowing.  November 25, 1945, and apples were still on the trees, not frost-bitten.  Mrs. Beach and I joined the fish line and then explored a great cathedral which originated in 900 AD.  There were lead coffins of the great Bishops of the past in one room.  A life-size replica of the body was on each crypt.  Several chapels were adorned with tapestry.  Shortly after returning to the Beach home, a lunch of fried fish, peas and mashed was on the table topped off by a serving of the hostess's perfect plum pudding.

Jennifer arrived home from school with a huge victory book made by the pupils and including Canada's contribution to the War effort.  Reluctantly I left the warmth of the fireside to return for duty at 9 pm.  After seven months, we were transferred to Stoke Mandville Emergency Medical Surgical Aylsbury in Buckinghamshire County.  Before being demobilized, Oxford and Buchs (Buckinghamshire) gave a farewell St. Patrick's party for 1946.  A special treat was trifle and green jello.

During the most glorious April-in-England weather (1946), a twelve day leave was granted.  We proceeded to London to revisit Kew Gardens, saw movies - "Caesar and Cleopatra", "The Virginian" and "Robin Hood" - then went on to Torquay in cherry blossom time.  We visited Windsor Castle on Princess Elizabeth's 19th birthday.  The Grenadier Guards Band played and the Royal Family, Queen Mary, The Queen Mother, The King and Queen, the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice sat by the picture window.  Last Sunday we attended service at Westminster Abbey.  Tomorrow we visit the Crown Jewels of England and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Jean's boyfriend treated us to dinner at the Regent Palace Hotel then escorted us on two tubes 150 and 200 feet underground, the quickest route to St. Paul's Cathedral where he left us climbing stairs to the towers.  We proceeded to Baker Street station and on our return were greeted by "The Boys In Blue", some four patients making their way back to the hospital from the pub.  A welcome party greeted us with treats from boxes from

home.  A 6:30 a.m. morning knock with a baton on each door awoke we three to duty again.

A later leave was spent at Birkenhead, Liverpool, New Brighton and the Isle of Anglesey via the Menai Straits crossing the Mersey River by ferry then underground rail for 12 miles (under the Mersey River) and over the water by a lift pulley bridge structure for shallower water.

August 10th, 1946, we three going concerns visited Stratford-on-Avon via tube to Princess Risboro and diesel rail car to Oxford.  I saw the spires of Oxford, the gray spires of Oxford against a pearl-gray sky.  We booked in at an All-Services Club walking distance from Ann Hathaway's cottage, saw "As You Like It" at the Royal Theatre and next day Henry VIII and Macbeth.  Next day we arrived at Wilcotte to visit Mary Arden's home, birthplace of Shakespeare and his new place "The Harvard House".  Professor Harvard was founder of the American Harvard University.  Warwick Castle (the second "w" is silent) was our last stop before returning to Stoke Mandville via Oxford again.

Another interesting leave was viewing Brighton Ice Capades and seashore.  Here the lady in charge at the "Y" served a special breakfast, packed lunch for our train journey and asked us to sign our names for entry in a little chapel which was being restored after bombing in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Our final holiday was to Scotland.  We had tea at the "Y" and made traveling arrangements at the Knights of Columbus.  Andre Maheue, on her day off, escorted us to the Opera.  The next morning event was boarding "The Flying Scot" for Edinborough, having missed seeing Stevenson's rocket, but had a view of York Ministerial Cathedral and did see Durham Castle and Cathedral.

We crossed the Tyne River Bridge via train.  Twice the North Sea came in view as well as Ayton (pronounced Eton) Castle while passing through the Firth of Forth then on to the Princess St. in Edinborough, where the Castle towered on a cliff.  A street dance was in progress but it was raining.  After lobster dinner, we returned to the Officer's Club as by this date they had mostly returned to their homes.  We proceeded by slow tube to Inverness, crossed the 1 1/4 mile Firth of Forth bridge, a noted feat of engineering at the time it was constructed.

Athol Palace came in view then sheep and gruesome horned, red highland cattle and goats.  We passed through Killicranky (about the centre spot of Scotland) and Ave Moore, then to the Kyle of Loch Alshe via Caledoniancanal and Clocknaharry, saw Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest peak.  The heliothrope heather covered the hillsides.

We crossed west to the Isle of Skye and sat on the Coolins viewing the rest of Eigg and Meigg.  In Glasgow, we looked up the Aunt of Marg Lynfesty, of Ottawa, and the sister of a former landlady, Mrs. Beaton and Mrs. MacKinnon in Ottawa.  Mrs. Beaton took us walking and on a bus trip of Canada Hill.  A pipe band was playing over the water.  The Captain of the Talisman described the bombing of the little coal boats in Rothsay Harbour through the war.

At Inverness we purchased plaid for a skirt and kilts for Jean and Fern.  We visited Edinborough and Holirude Palaces then returned by the Lake District in Northern England.  Derwent waters etc.  The supervisor asked us to dinner with the night staff on our return to Stoke Mandville.  A few days later was departure time for return to Canada.  After a long wait at Addison Road, a sideline of Easton Station, we bid farewell to Headquarters staff members who would not be sailing until October 8, 1946, then boarded a train for Liverpool dock, made up chiefly of war brides, children and our unit.

Five and a half days later we were watching the back of a spouting whale, viewing the shores of Labrador, the tip of an iceberg and Halifax Harbour bound for Home Sweet Home.  Our ship the Scythia sank on her next trip.

(Going over to England took seven and a half days.  Return was five and a half days.  My brother returned in three and a half days on the Queen Elizabeth.)

- By Winnifred Maclennan, Heritage Lodge, Vankleek Hill