Cottrell, Evelyn Alma (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British nurse served with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in France, GB, French Syria, North Africa and Italy, 1939-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in France, 1939-1940: prior education and nursing training; background to joining Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit; setting up hospital in Saint-Jean-de-Bassel; learning of Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; escape from France; atmosphere in France; sight of refugees attempting to escape France; memories of Lady Mary Spears and Lady Frances Hadfield. Aspects of background in GB, 1911-1939: difficulties for German born father in GB, 1933-1945; attitude of mother towards German husband. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in GB, 6/1940-3/1941: re-equipping of Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit by American Quakers. Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt, 20/3/1941-2/5/1941: conditions on board ship; size of unit; attitude of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps nurses towards Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit nurses. Recollections of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in French Syria, 1941-1942: battles between Vichy and Free French Forces; attitude of Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit drivers towards nurses; proximity to front line; attitude towards dangers of service on front line; equipment; class background of Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit drivers; relations with Free French Forces; social life; later reaction of troops in North Africa towards women serving in front line; arrival of Friends' Ambulance Unit personnel in Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit; language difficulties; role of Senegalese personnel in unit; attitude towards Friends' Ambulance Unit; attitude towards pacifist beliefs of Friends' Ambulance Unit personnel. REEL 3 Continues: attitude of Lady Mary Spears towards Friends' Ambulance Unit; treating cases of gangrene in Damascus, French Syria. Recollections of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in North Africa, 1942-1943: arrival in Tobruk, Libya; work nursing burns cases; living and working conditions; difficulties of operating in desert; illness and treatment in GB; return to unit in Tunisia. Recollections of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in Italy, 1944: description of Monte Cassino area; dealing with high number of casualties; reception for Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit from patients treated at Monte Cassino at Victory Parade, Paris, France, 1945; memories of surgeon Colonel Jean Vernier; role of Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit at Monte Cassino; attitude towards nursing at front line. REEL 4 Continues: visit to Rome after liberation; attitude towards receiving Croix de Guerre. Recollections of period as nurse with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in France, 1944-1945: reception received from French people; marriage to Jim Cottrell; attitude of French towards returning to own country; disbandment of Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit in France, 6/1945; role of drivers in Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit; pacifist beliefs of Friends' Ambulance Unit personnel.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Smith, Lyn E (Recorder)
Cottrell, Evelyn Alma (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1991-07-09
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 12180

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Cottrell, Evelyn Alma
Cottrell, Henry Frederick
Spears, Mary
Hadfield, Frances Belt
Vernier, Jean Frederic
Relief Organisation, Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit
Relief Organisation, Friends' Ambulance Unit
British Army, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Free French Forces
Associated places

England, United Kingdom
France
Paris, Département de Ville de Paris, France
Saint-Jean-de-Bassel, Moselle, France
French Syria
Damascus, French Syria
North Africa
Libya
Tobruk, Cyrenaica, Libya
Tunisia
Italy
Monte Cassino, Lazio, Italy
Associated keywords

Medical Services
Associated themes

Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: War Work, 1939-1945

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Cottrell, Evelyn Alma (Oral history)

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