|
Dear Ma and Pa
APRIL 6th 1945
It’s been a while now since I last wrote, but
it has been so busy here I have had little time to myself.
Until now we have been on the move, breaking camp and
re-establishing our hospital nearer to the front line. A
continuous rumble of artillery announced the start of this
new offensive and towards the end of last month the first
casualties began to arrive. It was a busy time and we
handled nearly two thousand patients in 31 days of
operation.
We moved again at the beginning of March and moved to
Straelen in order to be ready for the push across the River
Rhine. The whole country was low and wet but we set up on
the site of a German working camp. Access was easy for it
had gravel roads and concrete paths; unfortunately, most of
all the buildings had been knocked down. The buildings were
salvaged and the remains pieced together to be used for
messes, recreation, showers and supply rooms.
In the north the British were ready to cross
the big River Rhine at a place called Wesel. In daylight the
sky was full of Aeroplanes and Gliders, they flew right over
us and across the river, and the noise was terrific, the big
guns fired for hours. We found out later this was the big
airborne operation we were to support once we ourselves had
crossed the Rhine. The Ninth US Army that we were now part
of crossed the river on March 24 and five days later we was
able to cross the Rhine to join them. We set up in a field
near a place called Peddenberg, about four miles east of
Wesel. On the day we crossed our reconnaissance group was
real close to the front line. Bombs dropped near a convoy of
trucks from our unit which were being used to ferry another
outfit, it knocked out 2 badly-needed trucks and slightly
wounded 2 of our drivers.
Our Hospital was under tentage once more as a
part from one old wooden building we used as a ward there
were no suitable buildings available. The location was
nevertheless ideal except that the grounds were very wet, as
it seemed to be everywhere. Once the forward troops moved
rapidly forward the ambulance haul was up to 120 miles from
the front and that to the rear was also long so there was
always a shortage of transportation for our unit. The
Hospital could keep up with the work but we were very
worried about the availability of beds because of this. The
other major challenge for us at Peddenberg was the mud, on
arrival the Engineers were requested to construct roads but
before they could arrive, we improvised, using rubble from
Wesel and sand for roads to consolidate the receiving
section, and wide boards to strengthen the walkways. Squad
Tents and cots for personnel were welcome but as soon as
they were set up it started to rain heavily. For the first
time we started to receive not only our own boys but also
British troops, mostly Paratroopers and Commandos.
It was also the first time many of us had
seen German wounded prisoners, many were just boys and
although the enemy we cared for these as we would our own,
that maybe hard to explain to people when I get back home
but I am glad that is what we did.
During the last month or so I took some
pictures using that camera I brought in Paris. I hope by now
you have received copies of the pictures I sent.
Well Ma and Pa, we will be on the move again
of that I am sure, as soon as we stop again and I have time
to write I will, until then do not worry about me, the end
is in site and I will be home again soon.
1st Lt Carolyn Winchester
24th EVAC HOSPITAL
GERMANY
|
