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Army Nurses Group
The First Allied Airborne
Association has always had a female element within the group
but nothing quite as established as the newly activated
Army Nurses Group. Previously, the women have been
assigned to the 2010th WAC Company which was an
administrational sub-unit within the First Allied Airborne
Army based at Ascot England and never really had a role on
the ground and in the field when on show deployment.
The group has now grown in
size and with it more ladies have come into the group, at
this time all partners of male members of the group. Like
many groups, partners like to get involved from time to time
and our group is no different. However, it was decided this
year to form an established female group within the FAAA to
give the girls an opportunity to form a stand alone group to
display either co-located with the group or separately,
depending on the display or show scenario.
In reality, the girls have
known each other for some time, but the coming together as a
single unit took place at the “Prelude to D-Day” show in May
of this year at the Chiltern Open Air Museum. Since then
the group has grown and it has represented in the main two
ANC Medical Units.
The main unit the group has
chosen is the 91st Medical evacuation Hospital
of the US First Army. This unit saw widespread active
service and was the first ANC unit to deploy to Northern
France shortly after D-Day. The group’s second unit
impression is the 818th Medical Air Evacuation
Squadron, this unit fitting in well with the FAAA main
groups Airborne Impression. From time to time the “Army
Nurses” can and will represent other ANC units depending on
display scenario and will have the capability to cover the
2010 WAC Company and any Civilian tasks required of them.
At this time, the group is
commanded by a First Lt, the unit commander becoming the
FAAA groups Executive Officer (XO) who is a member of the
FAAA groups Executive Committee and is the link between the
FAAA parent unit and Army Nurses. For all administration
the group comes under the First Allied Airborne Association
of which they are full members. Within the group qualified
Nurses can be found, however in the main members have no
medical background, but basic First Aid and nursing training
is conducted at weekends with the Qualified Nurses becoming
the training officer.
Both groups work as one with
several of the men on occasion and depending on the
scenario, operating with “Army Nurses “as Corpsmen. Through
this the group have a competent prop and casualty simulation
asset.
This first year has seen a
strong presence at events by “Army Nurses” sharing many
display locations and scenarios. “Army Nurses” are also
involved in the many social activities the FAAA organise,
both 40’s dance related and away from the hobby too.
Like all associations, this
group are on the look-out for keen and motivated
individuals, Male and Female who want to represent the
Medical units of WWII. By joining this unit you will be
part of a group of people who not only look the part but can
also act the part. Being a member brings membership to one
of the longest established WWII American groups in the
hobby, The First Allied Airborne Association.
If you are interested in becoming an
“Army Nurse”, please contact 1st Lt
Amanda Ware via email:
sisterron@hotmail.co.uk
2009 brings with it some
exciting deployments and impressions.
Lee Bowden
First Allied Airborne
Association
Combined Re-Enactment
Association
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