Jon Halfhide

An understanding of some of the most remarkable unsung heroes of World War 2, those young women who enlisted into the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS/QARANC), QA’s for short. Wherever there was battle and blood-shed they were there, extraordinary brave girls who felt duty-bound to be in the forefront of war, the very eye of the storm. Most were girlie girls too, many of whom had dreamt of being a model or actress and played out the role with fluttering eyelids and splashes of make-up while admiring their beautiful reflection in a bedroom mirror. But these frivolous ambitions were abandoned to war due to a remarkable forbearance and altruistic strength of character some special women possess, perquisites of kindness. This was not a patriotic whim but a selfless gesture from woman to man to show a steel-hearted unflappable conscience of loyalty and compassion to the fallen and to mop up the brutal consequences of war. In short, they were unselfish angels who forsook the cosy family home-fires for the ravages of battle and who knowingly risked their lives to save others. To the men they nursed, allied and enemy alike they were simply QA, quite amazing or quiet angels.